Tra fish havesting in Can Tho. Illustrative image (Source: VNA)Can Tho (VNA) – Mekong Delta localities collected more than243.2 trillion VND (10.46 billion USD) for the budget in 2016-2018, and made up18 percent of the country’s GDP, according to an official from the Ministry ofPlanning and Investment (MPI).
In the period, the region’s average gross regional domestic product(GRDP) growth reached 7.5 percent, while per capita income in 2018 is estimatedat 2,217 USD, said Nguyen Tuan of the MPI’s Local and Territorial EconomyDepartment at a recent conference in Can Tho city.
Tuan said that in 2016-2018, the region earned 45.8 billion USD from exports,achieving 47.6 percent of its target for 2016-2020 at 96.3 billion USD.
He said the Mekong Delta has experienced good economic growth andpositively transformed its economic structure.
The region is the country’s top group in terms of the provincialcompetitiveness index (PCI), thanks to its improved investment environment andreformed administrative procedures, he said.
The Mekong Delta comprises Can Tho city and 12 provinces – Long An, DongThap, Tien Giang, Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, Ben Tre, An Giang, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, BacLieu, Ca Mau and Kien Giang.
Known as the country’s rice bowl, the region has seen low foreigninvestment, ranking only fourth out of six major economic regions in foreigndirect investment attraction, reflecting inefficientsupport policies forenterprises, noted Tuan. He added that only 58 percent of labourersin theregion are trained, lower than other regions.
Under the public investment plan for 2016-2020, the Mekong Delta wasallocated 184 trillion VND (7.91 billion USD). So far, the region has received57 percent of the funds, or 105 trillion VND (4.51 billion USD).
In 2019, total capital demand of 19 localities in the Mekong Delta andSoutheast Region is estimated at more than 136.5 trillion VND (5.86 billionUSD), up 11.4 percent compared to 2018 and equivalent to 69 percent of thecapital planned for 2019-2020.
A report by the MPI showed that demand accounts for nearly 32 percent ofthe total planned investment of the country in 2019.-VNA
VNA
