Gia Lai (VNA) – Australian and Vietnamese experts gathered at aworkshop in the Central Highland province of Gia Lai on April 4 to discuss waysto create important valuable chains for the two economies.
Addressing the event, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Vo NgocThanh said the event is expected to help connect Australian investors and businessesin the province to join the global value chain in the framework of theComprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership(CPTPP).
He also called on foreign and domestic investors to explore cooperation andinvestment opportunities in Gia Lai to fully tap its potential.
Thanh introduced the province’s policies and mechanisms designed to assistinvestors and businesses, voicing his hope that investors will bring newvitality to the province, stimulate local comprehensive development, thusrealising its goal on sustainable poverty reduction.
Severalresearch projects on hi-tech agricultural production and potential investmentoptions were made public at the workshop.
NguyenHuu Minh from Australian Newcastle University suggested the processing of gacfruit (Momordica cochinchinensis) in Vietnam to produce supplementary food. Heexplained that the fruit is abundant in Vietnam, and together with green tea andturmeric, products from the fruit can give Vietnam an edge over other importedsupplementary food in the domestic market.
Gia Lai boasts favourable natural conditions to grow long-term industrialplants, with more than 100,000 hectares of rubber, 94,000 hectares of coffeeplants, over 16,000 hectares of pepper, 17,800 hectares of cashew, and 42,000hectares of sugar canes.
The province plans to focus on promoting hi-tech agriculture, agriculturalproduct processing, renewable energy, tourism, and supporting enterprises fromnow to 2020.
Gia Lai also has huge wind and solar power potential, with a capacity estimatedat 1,800 MW and 7,500 MW, respectively.
In the framework of the workshop, the Vietnam – Australia Business Councilsigned memoranda of understanding with the Hoang Anh Gia Lai JSC and An Khetownship on the production of organic gac fruit powder and safe vegetables.-VNA