At the working session, Mr. Carlos Brandão, Deputy Governor of Maranhão, sent thanks to the leaders and representatives of departments, divisions and boards of Can Tho city for their time to welcome and work with his delegation. Mr. Carlos Brandão shared the idea that the mission of the State would like to know and learn more about the rice, fish and shrimp production of Can Tho city. So, in this visit, he hoped that the state government of Maranhão will establish a cooperative relationship with Can Tho city through signing a Letter of Intent.

Specifically, Can Tho city and Maranhão state will cooperate in supporting technique for rice production to ensure food safety, sharing information on the demand and taste of consumers for rice of Brazilian farmers in order to orient the research of breeds accordingly, providing information for the two on plant quarantine objects when exporting or importing to the remaining country, on pesticides and other substances under food safety criteria for management in production.

In addition, the two sides will cooperate to support technique in the development of aquaculture adapt ting to the climate change, transfer the technique of aquatic seed production, international cooperate on sustainable capture fisheries and protection of fisheries resources, share information on the Brazilian market, develop the export market of fishery products (fish and shrimp) of Vietnam, to raise the brand of Vietnam’s aquatic products on the international market.

Speaking at the working session, Mr. Vo Thanh Thong – Chairman the People’s Committee of Can Tho city said that the city was very happy to welcome the Deputy Governor, the delegation of Maranhão State and representatives of Brazilian enterprises to visit and work in the Can Tho city.

Chairman of the People’s Committee of Can Tho city emphasized that signing the Letter of Intent for the establishment of friendly and cooperative relations with Maranhão was a special event, because this was the first time Can Tho city signed cooperation with a country in Latin America. Mr. Thong also shared that he has known about Maranhão, a state in the northeastern of Brazil, which has great potentials in many areas, such as wet rice cultivation, fish farming, telecommunications, mining, garment manufacturing, wood, electronic. These above characteristics and potentials of Maranhão had many similarities with these of Can Tho city, creating favorable conditions for cooperation between the two localities.

Mr. Vo Thanh Thong, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Can Tho city, hoped that the signing will be the basis for the two localities to strengthen the cooperative relations creating a bridge for agencies and enterprises to cooperate and invest in many different fields.

* In the afternoon, the delegation pays the visit and work at the Rice Research Institute of the Mekong Delta.