Mekong Delta master plan strives to bring breakthrough development and prosperity to people- PM

Mekong Delta master plan strives to bring breakthrough development and prosperity to people: PM

CẦN THƠ — The Mekong Delta region will enjoy robust, breakthrough development in the future, bringing prosperity and happiness through whole-of-system efforts and support from international partners, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính said. 

The Government leader made the remarks as he chaired a conference held Tuesday on the promulgation of the newly launched Mekong Delta Regional Master Plan in the southern city of Cần Thơ, held by the Ministry of Planning and Investment with the theme "Mekong Delta: New thinking – New vision – New opportunities – New values”.

The Mekong Delta has many comparative strengths, with its large natural land area of nearly  四 million sq. km ( 一 三 per cent of the country’s total) and huge population ( 一 八 million,  一 九 per cent of the country’s total). The region also contributes  一 二 per cent of the national GDP;  七00km of coastal line and  三 六0,000 sq. km of the sea surface and an exclusive economic zone connecting major sea lines.

The region with  二. 五 million of fertile land enriched by the Mekong River makes it the biggest agricultural production centre in Việt Nam – contributing  五0 per cent of rice output,  六 五 per cent of aquaculture production and  七0 per cent of fruits – fulfilling the mission of ensuring food security for the country.

The region also has strengths in renewable energy, year-round tourism, and other services.

However, there are limitations and challenges that “deter it from unleashing the full potential,” the Government leader said.

Human resource is a hindrance, with the rate of trained labour at  一 五 per cent lower than the national rate of  六 四. 五 per cent ( 二 四. 五 per cent with certifications, and qualifications). The scale of the regional economy is also small, accounting for only  一 二. 八 per cent of the country, with average income per capita at  六 七 per cent of the national average (VNĐ 五 三. 九 八 million compared to  八0. 二 一 million, respectively), and an urbanization rate of  二 七. 二 per cent, which is also lower than the country’s rate of  四0. 五 per cent.

Infrastructure in the region remains insufficient and unable to meet the growing demands of transporting the locally-produced goods to other regions in Việt Nam, or other countries, as well as a lack of proper education and medical facilities in various localities – especially the remote, border and island areas.

The region also suffers from inconsistent, ineffective, and low levels of administration reforms, digital transformation, and business environment improvements, according to PM. Its FDI attraction is fourth out of six regions in the country.

The region also is particularly vulnerable to climate change, especially adverse phenomena like flooding, drought, salt intrusion and riverbank slides, he said.