Illustrative image. (Photo: VNA)Can Tho (VNA) – The Mekong DeltaCity of Can Tho hopes to expand cooperation with overseas partners, includingthose from Australia, to improve production capacity as the city sets out to bea regional pioneer in hi-tech agriculture.
The statement was made by Vice Chairman of themunicipal People’s Committee Truong Quang Hoai Nam in a meeting with RobGordon, CEO of food producer and exporter Sunrice from Australia, on September7 where they discussed ways to boost the city’s rice production and exports.
Can Tho lies in the heart of the Mekong Delta,Vietnam’s largest rice basket, and exports more than half a million tonnes ofrice worth 300 million USD on average annually, said Nam. The region’s riceexports were estimated at more than 400,000 tonnes in the first eight months of2017, an increase of 3.9 percent from the same period last year, earning 190.8million USD, up 10.1 percent, he noted.
The city aims to lead the region in hi-techagriculture to reduce cost and enhance productivity and quality of farm produce,he said, adding that it looks forward to fostering ties with foreign companies,particularly from Australia, to access new agricultural technologies and moremarkets in Europe, North America and North Asia.
For his part, Gordon said Vietnam is capable ofgaining a larger market share in these markets thanks to its competitivelypriced rice compared to rivals in the region, with Vietnamese rice selling for300-400 USD per tonne less than Thailand’s.
He suggested that the firm will assist Can Thoin developing supply chains in rice farming. He also noted that the firm isinterested in some local hi-tech agricultural projects.
Welcoming the proposal, Nam vowed to work withlocal state agencies to support Sunrice.-VNA
VNA
