Mekong Delta calls for investment in tourism, agriculture

06/11/2018, 10:40

Localities in the Mekong Delta region have called for investment in 63 projects related to industry, tourism, agriculture and logistics infrastructure, with total capital of VND250 trillion (US$10.71 billion).

The sixth annual Mekong Delta Investment Forum (MekongInvest) 2018 was held

in Can Tho on November 3 by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Can Tho branch VNS-Photo Hong Giang

The projects were announced at the 6th Annual Mekong Delta Investment Forum (MekongInvest) 2018 in Can Tho City, hosted by the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) – Can Tho branch on November 3.

The forum, which connected Japanese investors with the 13 provinces of the Mekong Delta, drew more than 150 Japanese enterprises as well as local trade promotion agencies and businesses.

Cooperation potential in tourism and agriculture were the main topics discussed by participants.

Vu Tien Loc, VCCI’s chairman, said the region aimed to have 52 million visitors with total revenue of VND111 trillion, under the tourism development plan for the Mekong Delta approved in 2016 by the Prime Minister.

However, although the number of foreign tourists to Viet Nam has grown strongly over the last 10 years, arrivals in the Mekong Delta remain modest, with only 1/20 of total arrivals per year being foreign tourists.

Accommodations are also seriously lacking, as the entire region has only 60 3- to 5-star hotels, mainly on Phu Quoc Island and in Can Tho, and two major entertainment areas, Vinpearl Phu Quoc and Bac Lieu’s Nha Mat Resort. This has resulted in hotel occupancy of about 4 per cent, lower than in other areas of the country.

“This shows that the Mekong Delta tourism development has not been on par with its potential,” Loc said.

At the forum, localities in the Delta called for investment in major tourism projects in various provinces, including the U Minh Thuong Eco-tourism Area (Kien Giang), HAPPYLAND Commune Tourism Service Complex (Long An), Con Giong Resort and Tourist Area (Vinh Long), and Bung Binh Thien Ecological Tourism Area (An Giang), with total investment capital of VND15 trillion.

Takahashi Ayumi, chief representative of the Japan Tourism Promotion Agency in Viet Nam (JNTO), said that enterprises in the sector should improve linkages to avoid duplicative tourism products.

Attention should also be paid to improving the quality of human resources in the tourism sector, focusing on customer communications and foreign language skills.

Ayumi noted that tourism promotion activities in the region had not attracted many foreign tourists. Most tourists are not familiar with the region and would rather visit big cities like Ha Noi, HCM City and Da Nang.

He said the JNTO would work with local administrators to introduce Japanese culture through cultural exchanges with arts programmes and exhibitions of traditional Mekong Delta products.

The JNTO would also connect the local tourism sector with the Japan Association of Travel Agents to share information about foreign tourists’tastes.

Ayumi said that it was crucial that local provinces and cities step up their call for investment in expanding airports, improving power systems, and upgrading infrastructure to meet the demand of visitors.

As for agriculture, the Mekong Delta has great demand for advanced technologies to improve its farm production and seafood processing for exports, according to Nguyen Phuong Lam, deputy director of VCCI Can Tho.

With favourable conditions for agriculture, the Delta plays a very important role in the country’s economy. It contributes over 50 percent of food output, nearly 70 percent of seafood exports, 90 percent of rice exports, and 20 percent of the nation’s GDP.

However, "the per capita local income has not matched their contributions because most farmers still use traditional cultivation methods and depend on weather conditions," Lam said, noting that the rate of mechanisation in rice harvesting was only 65 percent and that breeding techniques remained poor.

Each year, rice growers suffer from post-harvest losses of VND3.2-3.6 trillion ($143 million – 161 million), or 12 per cent of total output, equivalent to 2.16 million tonnes of rice.

The limited application of advanced equipment in the processing stage has also made it difficult for locally made products to make inroads into choosy markets.

The region hopes to collaborate with foreign agri-tech companies to improve its competitiveness.

According to Takimoto Koji, chief representative of the Japan External Trade Organisation in Viet Nam (JETRO), the Vietnam Agricultural Information Centre Company in Japan (VAIO) is launching a project to build ideal model farms in the Mekong Delta, under the supervision of Japanese agricultural experts.

The main focus will be to establish an integrated farming system within the region, including organic farming methods, refrigeration systems for commodity circulation, frozen preservation techniques, stable harvesting techniques, and improved product quality.

Japanese agricultural businesses also use this kind of system.

The project will be implemented first on the campus of Can Tho Technical Economic College, using investment funds from the Japanese Government and enterprises of both countries.

The model will also serve as a reference for other provinces and will be replicated after it shows success.

To reduce production costs and create jobs, Japanese firms also have plans to expand investment in local farming factories.

Secondhand machines with high capacity will be imported from Japan after quality examinations, while “smart” and small machines will be used in the delta to help farmers take on dangerous jobs.

Speaking at the forum, Consulate General of Japan in HCM City Kawaue Junichi said that in recent years more Japanese enterprises had shown interest in investing in the Mekong Delta.

Japanese businesses hoped to receive support from local governments through clear legal regulations, and transparency and openness of local development planning, he said.

This would help investors accurately predict economic development, and thus better manage cash flow, while enhancing confidence in their investment decisions.

“With a high development growth rate, the Mekong Delta is expected to become an important hub for Japanese enterprises in the coming time,” he said.

Source: VNA


Related articles

(0) Comments
Focus
Unbelievable Victory
BTO - The 2025 UEFA Champions League final featured a clash between France's Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Italy's Inter Milan. It was the first time the two sides had ever met in an official Champions League fixture. What unfolded was an enthralling match, albeit a one-sided one. PSG pulled off a *stunning* 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in what many are calling an "unbelievable" triumph.
Do not miss
  • FA Cup Miracle: Crystal Palace Stun Man City at Wembley
    19 yesterday Sports
    BTO-On the morning of May 18, 2025, the most anticipated clash of the English football weekend unfolded at Wembley: the FA Cup Final — the oldest football competition in the world — between Crystal Palace and Manchester City. Despite...
  • The Return of a Legend
    29 yesterday Sports
    BTO-More than ten years since his departure, Xabi Alonso is set to return to the Santiago Bernabéu—this time as the head coach of the Royal Club. A former standout in Real Madrid’s illustrious history, Alonso now has the opportunity...
  • Vesak 2025 Grand Celebration: Spreading the Noble Values of Buddhism
    29 yesterday Culture
    As summer returns and lotuses bloom under the full moon of the fourth lunar month, Buddhists around the world joyfully celebrate the birth of Prince Siddhartha Gautama. In Bình Thuận and across Vietnam, temples, monasteries, and lay...
  • When the Guns Went Silent: Arsenal Stumbles vs. PSG
    one month ago Sports
    BTO-Arsenal and PSG, both chasing their first-ever Champions League title, were set for a historic breakthrough this season. But Arsenal’s hopes took a major hit with a 0-1 home loss to PSG in the first leg of the semifinals, leaving...
  • "El Pulga" Alone Can’t Secure Glory
    one month ago Sports
    Lionel Messi is currently playing for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS). With his exceptional talent, "El Pulga" has played a vital role in turning the young club into a rising power. However, Messi alone cannot carry an Inter...
  • Falling at the "Gates of Heaven
    one month ago Sports
    BTO-Carlos Alcaraz displayed remarkable form and composure throughout the 2025 Barcelona Open. The Spanish star made his way to the final without dropping a single set. However, at the final hurdle, the "Mini Nadal" stumbled at the...
  • Colorful Áo Dài and Folk Dance Showcase Marks 50 Years of Liberation
    one month ago Culture
    BTO – On the morning of April 26, the Bình Thuận Provincial Women's Union organized a mass Áo Dài and folk dance performance at Nguyễn Tất Thành Square in Phan Thiết City, featuring the participation of 600 female officials, members,...
  • Farewell to the “Bavarian Giants”
    one month ago Sports
    BTO-After a courageous 2-1 victory in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, Inter Milan returned home to host Bayern Munich in the second leg. Though a one-goal lead was far from secure, the Italian side left no room...
  • No Miracle at Signal Iduna Park
    one month ago Sports
    BTO-Barcelona has a reputation for collapsing under pressure, having twice squandered significant first-leg advantages in the Champions League knockout stages. That gave Dortmund hope for a dramatic comeback at Signal Iduna Park in...
  • Phan Thiết – The 50-Year Journey: From Liberation to a Dynamic, Modern Coastal City
    one month ago Business
    April 19, 1975 – April 19, 2025: A proud 50-year milestone since the liberation of Phan Thiết. Half a century may not be long in the grand flow of history, but for Phan Thiết—a land once scarred by war—it marks a powerful transformation....
  • Red Devils Hold Off Blue Tide in Manchester Derby Stalemate
    one month ago Sports
    BTO-On the night of April 6, a classic Manchester derby unfolded at Old Trafford in Matchweek 31 of the Premier League, where Manchester United and Manchester City clashed in a high-stakes encounter. Despite having little left to fight...
  • Nou Camp Nightmare: Dortmund Swept Aside by Ruthless Barca
    one month ago Sports
    BTO-Barcelona put on a dominant display in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg, thrashing Borussia Dortmund 4-0 in a one-sided encounter at the Nou Camp. The Catalan giants delighted their home crowd with a goal-fest, featuring...
  • Liverpool Bounces Back with Vital Victory Over Everton, Keeping Arsenal at Bay
    2 month ago Sports
    BTO-After consecutive failures in the FA Cup, Champions League, and League Cup, the morale of Arne Slot's squad has been declining. Facing pressure following Arsenal's victory in the early match the day before, Liverpool was compelled...
  • The Beauty of Hòn Cau Island
    2 month ago LANDSCAPES
    March signals the perfect time for a visit to Hòn Cau Island (Phước Thể, Tuy Phong) as the weather transitions and the golden sunlight bathes the island. Located about 110 km from Phan Thiết, Cù Lao Câu is a pristine, uninhabited island...
  • The Final Goal
    2 month ago Sports
    BTO-Manchester City now only has one goal left: winning the FA Cup to salvage what has been a “disastrous” season. As a result, Coach Pep Guardiola and his players have put all their energy into the world’s oldest football tournament....
  • Regaining the Top Spot
    2 month ago Sports
    Playing a day before their arch-rivals Barcelona, Real Madrid took full advantage of the opportunity to reclaim the top spot in La Liga with a comfortable 2-1 victory over Villarreal, thanks to a brace from Mbappe.
  • A Hard-Fought Victory
    2 month ago Sports
    BTO-On the evening of March 19, the Vietnam national team played their first international match since winning the AFF Cup 2024, hosting Cambodia in a friendly at Gò Đậu Stadium (Bình Dương). Given their superior standing, a victory...
  • Farewell to the "King of Cups"
    2 month ago Sports
    BTO-After suffering a 1-0 home defeat in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16, the French football powerhouse PSG was under immense pressure to win the return leg away at Liverpool. And they did just that, securing a place...
  • Surrendering the Title
    2 month ago Sports
    BTO- The highlight of Premier League Matchweek 28 was the showdown between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford. Arsenal desperately needed a victory to keep up with Liverpool, but they could only manage a draw, while the league...
  • Even Djokovic Can’t Defy Time
    2 month ago Sports
    BTO-Novak Djokovic has just suffered a defeat against Botic Van De Zandschulp in the second round of  Indian Wells 2025, marking the first time in seven years that he has lost three consecutive matches. At 37 years old, Djokovic is...
POWERED BY ONECMS - A PRODUCT OF NEKO
Mekong Delta calls for investment in tourism, agriculture