Mekong Delta leaders outline trade plans

01/07/2010
by Xuan Hiep

RACH GIA — Provinces in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta must create formal linkages among their trade promotion centres to attract more foreign investors, the region's leaders recommended during a conference held last week by the Mekong Delta Economic Cooperation (MDEC) in Kien Giang Province's Rach Gia city.

MDEC held earlier meetings in Can Tho City in 2008 and An Giang Province last year to discuss trade promotion plans and raise the profile of the Mekong Delta region.

Trade and investment promotion activities in the area lacked business and marketing information as well as formal linkages among provinces, according to Tran Thanh Moc, director of Kien Giang Province's Centre for Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion.

Most businesses in the area are small or medium-sized and lack capital and awareness of the importance of trade promotion. In addition, consultancies for businesses in the Delta operate ineffectively.

Moc said a fund should be set up by the Government, that would lend money to businesses at favourable interest rates.

These loans would help the growth of businesses involved in agricultural production and companies located in industrial parks.

Each province's centre for trade and promotion should act as a counsellor for businesses in Delta provinces by making plans to increase the competitiveness of companies, Moc said.

The departments of Planning and Investment, Natural Resources and Environment, and Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs should also co-operate in trade and investment promotion, he added.

Moc said an information centre about the Mekong Delta should be set up in HCM City to offer reliable marketing information.

To better integrate with the global economy, provinces in the region need to work together to build up brands of agricultural and aquatic products.

In addition, provinces should take turns to organise festivals at the provincial, national and international levels to promote tourism as well as trade and investment.

Regulations on the operation of centres for trade and investment promotion should be developed by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, according to the department of Planning and Investment's Centre for Promoting Investment and Supporting Business of Tien Giang Province.

Officials from Can Tho city said it was vital to conduct research on opening representative offices of Mekong Delta abroad to promote the region's potential and collect information on foreign partners.

Can Tho officials also said they wanted to take business trips abroad every year so they could learn about international markets.

Leaders from Soc Trang Province said the government should create the most favourable conditions and policies to lure investment to the Mekong Delta because of the region's shortcomings, including lack of infrastructure.

Experts at the conference also asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade to work with the Cambodian Ministry of Trade to simplify customs at the border gate to enhance trade between the two countries.

They said it was also important to have new strategies to promote trade and investment with Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.

The conference, held as part of the MDEC Kien Giang 2010, was organised by the Southwest Steering Committee, Kien Giang Province People's Committee and the Ministry of Industry and Trade's Department of Trade Promotion.

MDEC promotes co-operation and connectivity between the provinces and city in the Delta with ministries, industries, localities, international organisations and other countries, with the aim of promoting socio-economic development, the region's potential, and improving foreign relations. — VNS