An aerial view of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has askedministries, agencies and localities to take drastic measures to boost thedevelopment of the Mekong Delta region.
The region accounts for 19 percent of Vietnam’s population and 12 percent ofthe country's size is the nation's biggest agriculture hub.
It contributes half of the national rice production, 95 percent of the riceexports, 65 percent of aquaculture production, 50 percent of fish exports and70 percent of fruit exports.
The region plays a key role in ensuring the security, political and economicdevelopment of Vietnam, so has received a lot of resources to make uses of itsadvantages and thrive, particularly as it is hard-hit by climate change.
To boost the region’s sustainable development, the Ministry of NaturalResources and Environment has been assigned to be a contact point to collectlocal and international contributions for a new national strategy onsustainable development in the Mekong Delta with climate change-respondingmeasures.
PM Phuc assigned the Ministry of Transport to work with agencies and localitiesto develop transport infrastructure in the region.
Resources would be given to key works expected to create a driving force fordevelopment and regional links, for example, the North-South expressway linkingthe region with the southeastern region, Chau Doc-Can Tho, Soc Trang route, An Huu-CaoLanh route, My An-Cao Lanh route, Rach Mieu 2 Bridge, Dai Ngai Bridge, thesecond phase of the Cho Gao Canal and the Ho Chi Minh City-Can Tho railway.
Agencies and localities have been urged to speed up preparations to fundinvestment for Tran De Port and Long An Port and to improve coastal andprovincial roads.
The transport ministry has been tasked with defining the river-based economyand making it part of a Government resolution to optimise the region’s denseriver/channel networks.
The ministries of education and labour, in cooperation with local authorities,must ensure people can access general education and job training.
Advanced training must also be promoted to help prepare high-quality humanresources to increase productivity, income and better manage challenges theregion is facing, especially those relating to climate change.
The Ministry of Investment and Planning is responsible for coordinatingministries/agencies and localities to boost links among localities within theregion and links between the region and HCM City and southeastern provinces.
PM Phuc also asked for solutions to improve the business climate,administrative reforms and increase the competitiveness of the region.
Agencies and localities must be more flexible in attracting investment,including overseas development assistance and preferential loans.
Investors are encouraged to develop or join projects relating to climate changeand adapting to seawater rises.
Localities must arrange funding to respond to climate change’s impacts.
The construction ministry was told to better control urban planning andrearrange residential areas to adapt to rising sea levels.
The environment ministry was told to review and amend land regulations to becompatible with natural changes. Rice growing areas could be shifted to othercrops which generate higher economic benefits and are better adapted to climatechange.
Agencies were also asked to improve disaster warning capacity and develop climatechange response scenarios./.
