Cooperation with EU hoped to help Can Tho become central city of Mekong Delta

Chairman of the Can Tho People’s Committee Tran Viet Truong (L) speaks at the working session with the EU delegation on March 22. (Photo: VNA)

Can Tho (VNA) – A leaderof Can Tho has called for more cooperation and investment from the EuropeanUnion (EU) so as to soon develop the city into the centre of the Mekong Deltaregion.

Chairman of the municipalPeople’s Committee Tran Viet Truong made the call during a session with visitingEU Ambassador to Vietnam Giorgio Aliberti and ambassadors of EU membercountries on March 22.

He expressed his hope thatthe ambassadors will help Can Tho introduce its investment potential and opportunitiesto EU business associations and investors; provide information about theirmarkets’ standards, preferential tariffs, demand, business culture, and exposfor local businesses; and organise mutual visits to learn about each other’sinvestment environment.

The city also hopes toreceive more technologies transferred from the EU, particularly in its priorityareas such as information and communications, industry, agriculture, construction,transport, health care, and natural resources and environment, Truong noted.

Ambassador Aliberti said theMekong Delta is the world’s most vulnerable region in the face of climate change,which is threatening the livelihoods of millions of people. Meanwhile, thisregion is the agricultural and aquacultural hub of Vietnam.

EU Ambassador to Vietnam Giorgio Aliberti (L) addresses the meeting. (Photo: VNA)

Among the EU programmes and projectsin Vietnam under the 2021 - 2027 plan, there are 70 related to the Mekong Deltawith total funding of 548 million EUR (604.2 million USD), two-thirds of whichare loans and the rest is non-refundable aid. Eleven of those 70 programmes andprojects, with estimated capital of 26 million EUR, are directly relevant to CanTho, including a 20 million EUR programme on sea level rise and climate changeresponse

The EU has also assisted withthe preparation of an action plan for climate change response in this city,thereby helping the Mekong Delta become a role model in dealing with climatechange impacts, the diplomat went on.

Meanwhile, he added, the EU -Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) will create considerable opportunities forEU investment in Vietnam, including Can Tho.

The city exported 125.92million USD worth of goods to the EU in 2021, mainly rice, fishery products,farm produce, processed agricultural products, apparel, pharmaceutical, veterinarymedicine, and handicrafts. Meanwhile, its imports from the EU stood at 14.45million USD, mainly medicinal materials, agricultural and veterinary medicine, andfabric, according to the municipal Department of External Affairs.

In the recent past, Can Thohas carried out many investment cooperation programmes and friendship exchangeswith EU countries like France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Germany, the CzechRepublic, Denmark, Spain, and Norway./.

VNA