Mekong Delta master plan strives to bring breakthrough development and prosperity to people: PM

The Mekong Delta region will enjoy robust, breakthrough development in the future, bringing prosperity and happiness through whole-of-system efforts and support from international partners, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính said.

Aerial view of Cần Thơ City in the Mekong Delta region. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

The Mekong Delta region will enjoy robust, breakthrough development in the future, bringing prosperity and happiness through whole-of-system efforts and support from international partners, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính said.

The Government leader made the remarks as he chaired a conference held Tuesday on the promulgation of the newly launched Mekong Delta Regional Master Plan in the southern city of Cần Thơ, held by the Ministry of Planning and Investment with the theme "Mekong Delta: New thinking – New vision – New opportunities – New values”.

The Mekong Delta has many comparative strengths, with its large natural land area of nearly 4 million sq. km (13 per cent of the country’s total) and huge population (18 million, 19 per cent of the country’s total). The region also contributes 12 per cent of the national GDP; 700km of coastal line and 360,000 sq. km of the sea surface and an exclusive economic zone connecting major sea lines.

The region with 2.5 million of fertile land enriched by the Mekong River makes it the biggest agricultural production centre in Việt Nam – contributing 50 per cent of rice output, 65 per cent of aquaculture production and 70 per cent of fruits – fulfilling the mission of ensuring food security for the country.

The region also has strengths in renewable energy, year-round tourism, and other services.

However, there are limitations and challenges that “deter it from unleashing the full potential,” the Government leader said.

Human resource is a hindrance, with the rate of trained labour at 15 per cent lower than the national rate of 64.5 per cent (24.5 per cent with certifications, and qualifications). The scale of the regional economy is also small, accounting for only 12.8 per cent of the country, with average income per capita at 67 per cent of the national average (VNĐ53.98 million compared to 80.21 million, respectively), and an urbanization rate of 27.2 per cent, which is also lower than the country’s rate of 40.5 per cent.

Infrastructure in the region remains insufficient and unable to meet the growing demands of transporting the locally-produced goods to other regions in Việt Nam, or other countries, as well as a lack of proper education and medical facilities in various localities – especially the remote, border and island areas.

The region also suffers from inconsistent, ineffective, and low levels of administration reforms, digital transformation, and business environment improvements, according to PM. Its FDI attraction is fourth out of six regions in the country.

The region also is particularly vulnerable to climate change, especially adverse phenomena like flooding, drought, salt intrusion and riverbank slides, he said.

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính addresses the conference on the promulgation of the Mekong Delta regional master plan. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

Goals and solutions

PM Chính has laid out 10 core tasks and missions for Mekong Delta in the time ahead.

First, the region will need to strongly carry out the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, especially for children aged 5-11 and booster shots for adults, to avoid serious outbreaks and foster socio-economic recovery.

Second, the region must focus on plannings for infrastructure and investing comprehensively in education and training, including the building of national-level universities and vocation training centres to enhance the skills of workers.

Third, the Mekong Delta localities must carry out the regional master plan and consider it a central mission.

Fourth, there will be major efforts to upgrade and persify supply chains, and resolve transport and logistics bottlenecks in the region, with new expressways situated away from current residential areas to be built as fast and cost-effective as possible. Localities should also pay attention to land clearance and compensation for households affected, to ensure the progress of the projects.

Fifth, localities must work with ministries to promote public-private partnerships, especially in critical infrastructure projects, and speed up public investment capital to boost projects’ progress.

Sixth, the Mekong Delta will need to make more efforts in improving its investment and business environment, administrative reforms, digital governance, and competitiveness, to attract more investment and projects from both inside and outside the country.

Seventh, the Mekong Delta needs to take care of social welfare issues, leave no one behind, and not sacrifice social progress and justice in the pursuit of economic development.

Eighth, the region should strengthen border security, ensure political security, social order and people’s safety, and promote international integration – especially in terms of foreign trade.

Ninth, Party organisations in the region must be consolidated and corruption-free, and work towards greater unity, integrity, transparency, accountability, and democratic values, while putting the people and businesses at the centre.

Tenth, there must be detailed programmes and solutions to protect the environment, and further application of science and technology to fight climate change, landslides, and rising tides, protect the water and fish resources and promote clean energy (especially solar and wind powers). — VNS

Representatives of the six development institutions (ADB, KEXIM, AFD, KfW, JICA, and WB) committed to $2.2 billion worth of funding for the regional linkage projects, as part of the implementation of the Mekong Delta Regional Master Plan. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

Mekong's action programme

Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyễn Chí Dũng said at the conference that the action programme for the master plan includes four key missions; shifting to high value-added agriculture; developing intra-regional transport infrastructures, industrial parks and industrial clusters, and other projects in oil and gas and renewable energy; building a liveable, attractive environment, including investment in healthcare, education, competitive tourism, and conservation of mangrove forests and maintenance of regional biopersity; and the management and coordination of the implementation of the regional master plan presided over by the Mekong Delta Regional Coordination Committee and localities, ministries.

Minister Dũng said the budget allocated for the projects in the Mekong Delta region in the 2021-25 period is VNĐ320 trillion (US$13.7 billion), up by 23.3 per cent compared to the 2016-20 period, including VNĐ178 trillion from localities' budget, VNĐ82 trillion from State budget, and VNĐ60 trillion from official development aid (ODA). This has not taken into account VNĐ140 trillion for projects in the Mekong run by ministries like transport, health, agriculture and rural development.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment has coordinated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Transport and 13 provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta to work with a group of six important development institutions (ADB, KEXIM, AFD, KfW, JICA, and World Bank) and obtain their agreements to commit $2.2 billion in funding to implement 20 regional linkage projects in the period of 2021-25. — VNS

Source: VNA
vietnamnews.vn

Related News

Coconut is expected to become a billion-dollar export item

Coconut is expected to become a billion-dollar export item

VCN - Talking to the press at the ceremony to launch the first train carrying fresh coconuts to China, Mr. Luu Van Phi, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Tien Giang province, said that Vietnam's agricultural export potential, especially fresh coconuts, is expanding with the appearance of international railway transportation from Song Than station.
Japanese businesses seek investment opportunities in Mekong Delta

Japanese businesses seek investment opportunities in Mekong Delta

The Can Tho branch of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) on October 10 organised a meeting between Japanese businesses and Vietnamese firms operating in the Mekong Delta, aiming to provide them with opportunities to connect and seek cooperation.
Joint efforts needed for sustainable development of rice farming in Mekong Delta

Joint efforts needed for sustainable development of rice farming in Mekong Delta

The Vietnamese agricultural sector is calling on all parties to join in the sustainable development of 1 million ha of low-emission high-quality rice production in the Mekong Delta so as to improve the quality and efficiency of the rice industry.
PM presides over Government’s September law-making session

PM presides over Government’s September law-making session

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on September 28 chaired a monthly Government law-making session to discuss a proposal on drafting the Law on Management and Use of Weapons, Explosives and Supporting Tools.

Latest News

Prime Minister to attend 8th Greater Mekong Subregion Summit

Prime Minister to attend 8th Greater Mekong Subregion Summit

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will lead a high-level delegation to the 8th Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit in Kunming, China’s Yunnan province, from November 5 to 8, at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
PM's visit a significant milestone in Vietnam – Qatar relations: Vietnamese FM

PM's visit a significant milestone in Vietnam – Qatar relations: Vietnamese FM

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son has granted and interview to Qatar's Asian Telegraph Newspaper on the outcomes of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to the Middle Eastern country from October 30 to November 1, as well as the cooperation prospects between the two countries.
Cuban top legislator concludes Vietnam visit

Cuban top legislator concludes Vietnam visit

Politburo member of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the National Assembly of People’s Power Esteban Lazo Hernandez and the Cuban delegation successfully concluded their visit to Vietnam on November 3.
State President welcomes top legislator of Cuba

State President welcomes top legislator of Cuba

State President Luong Cuong met with Politburo member, President of the National Assembly of People’s Power, and President of the Council of State of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez in Hanoi on November 2.

More News

Remove "bottlenecks" for economic breakthrough

Remove "bottlenecks" for economic breakthrough

VCN - In recent articles and speeches, General Secretary and President To Lam has repeatedly mentioned that the country is facing a new era of national growth. General Secretary and President To Lam also requested that the “bottlenecks” of the economy must be quickly removed, creating innovation and breakthroughs to complete the set tasks.
Int’l organisations, experts remain optimistic about Vietnam's economic outlook

Int’l organisations, experts remain optimistic about Vietnam's economic outlook

International organisations and experts have made positive comments on the Vietnamese economy, affirming their optimism about Vietnam's economic outlook.
Party chief clarifies major issues on new era of nation

Party chief clarifies major issues on new era of nation

Prof. Dr. To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV)’s Central Committee on October 31 had a discussion with participants of a training course for officials planned for the 14th Party Central Committee, focusing on a number of issues on a new era – the era of the nation’s rise.
Vietnam, others call on US to immediately end embargo against Cuba

Vietnam, others call on US to immediately end embargo against Cuba

Vietnam calls on the US to immediately end its embargo against and remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, moving towards normalising relations between the two countries based on equality, mutual respect, and respect for each other's national sovereignty and political independence, stated Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN.
Vietnam

Vietnam's economy is recovering well

VCN - According to Dr. Nguyen Quoc Viet, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Institute for Economic and Policy Research (VEPR), by the end of the third quarter of this year, Vietnam's economy had recovered relatively well amid optimism about the overall growth of the world economy in late 2024 and 2025.
“Carbon footprint” reduction needed for sustainable tourism development: insiders

“Carbon footprint” reduction needed for sustainable tourism development: insiders

Vietnam's tourism industry is making efforts to reduce its “carbon footprint” in pursuit of sustainability, focusing on developing “green tours”, upgrading transport infrastructure, and developing renewable energy-used vehicles, said insiders.
Concerted efforts underway to prevent IUU fishing

Concerted efforts underway to prevent IUU fishing

Vietnam is making thorough preparations to welcome the European Commission (EC)'s inspection delegation with the hope of having its “yellow card” on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing against the fisheries sector removed, thus boosting seafood exports to the EU market.
Vietnam needs to diversify supply chains for sustainable growth: economists

Vietnam needs to diversify supply chains for sustainable growth: economists

The diversification of global supply chains is creating significant opportunities for Vietnam to engage more deeply in international production networks. However, along with market expansion prospects, there are challenges posed by trade tensions, the reality of climate change accompanied by natural disasters, and the requirements for carbon emissions reduction, according to experts.
PM arrives in Abu Dhabi, beginning official visit to UAE

PM arrives in Abu Dhabi, beginning official visit to UAE

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, his spouse and a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam arrived at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi at 11 am on October 27 (local time), starting their official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the invitation of President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Read More

Your care

Latest Most read
Prime Minister to attend 8th Greater Mekong Subregion Summit

Prime Minister to attend 8th Greater Mekong Subregion Summit

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will lead a high-level delegation to the 8th Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit in Kunming, China’s Yunnan province, from November 5 to 8, at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
PM's visit a significant milestone in Vietnam – Qatar relations: Vietnamese FM

PM's visit a significant milestone in Vietnam – Qatar relations: Vietnamese FM

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son has granted and interview to Qatar's Asian Telegraph Newspaper on the outcomes of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to the Middle Eastern country from October 30 to November 1, as well as the cooperation prospects between the two countries.
Cuban top legislator concludes Vietnam visit

Cuban top legislator concludes Vietnam visit

Politburo member of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the National Assembly of People’s Power Esteban Lazo Hernandez and the Cuban delegation successfully concluded their visit to Vietnam on November 3.
State President welcomes top legislator of Cuba

State President welcomes top legislator of Cuba

State President Luong Cuong met with Politburo member, President of the National Assembly of People’s Power, and President of the Council of State of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez in Hanoi on November 2.
Remove "bottlenecks" for economic breakthrough

Remove "bottlenecks" for economic breakthrough

General Secretary and President To Lam requested that the “bottlenecks” of the economy must be quickly removed, creating innovation and breakthroughs to complete the set tasks.
Mobile Version