At a working session with representatives of the municipal People’s Committee on
June 13, the Consul General said efforts made by local authorities and
businesses to develop the farming sector in chains and upgrade machines and
technologies have drawn the attention of many Dutch firms, including De Heus,
Friesland Campina and Nova Exhibitions.
He pointed out bottlenecks in the local agricultural sector regarding logistics
services and the planning of high-tech agricultural areas. Besides, investors
have to face challenges relating to capital, market and partners in organisation
and management, he said.
Against the backdrop, Simon van der Burg suggested Can Tho improve legal
documents, review planning schemes of agricultural production areas, raise
quality and competitiveness of products and focus on personnel training and
technological transfer to businesses.
The Dutch Consulate General would like to coordinate with the municipal
authorities to connect local businesses and farming households with foreign
partners, including those from the Netherlands, he said.
Besides, the Netherlands will send experts in post-harvest technologies to Can
Tho, helping the locality reduce post-harvest losses, while assisting the city
in importing state-of-the-art machines and equipment for agricultural product
processing, preservation and packaging, according to the diplomat.
He urged Can Tho to form a legal network friendly with businesses, improve the
local infrastructure system and the quality of human resources and intensify
promotion activities in order to lure enterprises that target sustainable
development, social responsibility and environmentally friendly operation.
Instead of devising planning schemes for short terms of five or ten years, Can
Tho should set forth long-term and specific goals, the Consul General
suggested.
Speaking at the working session, Nguyen Thi Kieu, Deputy Director of the
municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said Can Tho has
regarded high-tech as a key for the local agricultural sector amidst
international integration.
She briefed the Dutch diplomat on high-tech application in the city over the
past time, which, the official said, has brought about positive outcomes.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Truong Quang Hoai Nam
expressed his belief in cooperation prospects between the two sides, pledging to
offer the most preferential policies, and an open, favourable investment
environment to Dutch businesses.
Source: VNA