Dong Thap (VNA) – The Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap will organisean investment promotion conference in Cao Lanh city from December 18-19 to callfor investment into 33 local projects.

Theseprojects involve hi-tech agriculture, the processing industry, urbandevelopment, industrial park infrastructure and manufacturing, in addition totourism, trade and services.

Speakingat a press conference held on December 9 in Ho Chi Minh City to announce theevent, Nguyen Thanh Hung, Vice Chairman of the province’s People’s Committee,said Dong Thap had recently become an attractive investment destination formany investors due to investment incentives and long-term commitments fromauthorities in facilitating investors.

“DongThap will continue to create the most favourable conditions for investors witha focus on bettering its investment and business climates, perfectinginfrastructure construction, reducing administrative procedures and improvingpersonnel resources,” he said.

Dong Thapis among the most dynamic economic provinces in the Mekong Delta with greatadvantages in natural resources and geographical position, he added.

Itcontributes to the nation’s rice production as well as produces many otheragro-forestry-fishery products for export every year, he said. “The businessenvironment in the province has also improved recently.”

Accordingto Hung, the province’s economy will continue to achieve a high growth rate inthe future, fuelled by the rapid improvement of transport, electronics, lowlabour costs and abundant food sources.

In orderto attract more foreign investment, experts suggested that the province shouldcontinue to invest in infrastructure development and reduce logisticsfees. 

Truong Hoa Chau, Directorof the province’s Department of Planning and Investment, said 21 projects wouldbe granted investment certificates and 16 Memorandum of Understandings worth 23.9trillion VND (1.05 billion USD) will be signed during the conference.

“The conference aims topromote the potential and opportunities for local and foreign investmentin hi-tech agriculture, processing industry, trading, services andtourism,” he said.

The conference will alsopromote exchanges between investors and international organisations and promoteco-operation among local and foreign enterprises, he said.

Many businesses said thetraffic between HCM City and Mekong Delta, especially to Dong Thap, has beenimproved significantly.

Nguyen Van Tien, Directorof the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said most enterpriseswere interested in the potential and advantages of Dong Thap province inagriculture, ecotourism and traditional craft villages.

“We are optimistic thatinvestors in Dong Thap’s agriculture sector will take the lead in restructuringthe sector, making it a prosperous province,” he said.

In addition to theinvestment promotion conference, a forum on developing international marketsfor Vietnam’s fruit and vegetables sector will also be held in Cao Lanh city.

The forum aims to promotethe potential of the fruit and vegetable sector in Vietnam, thus calling forinvestment in the value chain for the sector.

Dong Thap in Mekong Deltais about 160km southwest of HCM City. It takes more than three hours by carfrom the city to the province.

With its mild climate,widespread irrigation systems and abundant fresh water and fertile sediment,the province owns an abundant agriculture resource. It conserves diverse ecosystemsof many precious species of fauna and flora.

Having a number ofhistorical sites, ancient architecture monuments and traditional craftvillages, the province has great potential to become a popular touristdestination in the region.-VNA