At the meeting, Vice Chairman Nguyen Thuc Hien expressed that Can Tho City has been keen on collaborating with Italian partners recently. In 2018, Can Tho sent a delegation to participate in a local promotion program in Italy. The city also frequently receives visits from Italian Ambassadors and Consuls General to work and explore opportunities in Can Tho.

According to Can Tho Municipal Department of External Relations, last year, Can Tho exported 3.2 million USD worth of goods to Italy, mostly rice, aquatic products, garments, farm produce, and processed agricultural products. Its imports totaled 0.21 million USD, primarily pharmaceutical materials.

Vice Chairman Nguyen Thuc Hien also outlined Can Tho's agricultural development plan, aiming for 2.5-3% annual growth by 2030, an increase of 5.5-6% in agricultural labor productivity, over 70% of skilled workers in the field, and a three-fold rise in the income of rural residents compared to 2020.

To such end, Vice Chairman Nguyen Thuc Hien expressed his hope to strengthen the cooperative and friendly relationship between Can Tho City and Italy. According to the official, the cooperation between the two sides should focus on fields such as garments, high-tech agriculture, transportation, logistics, etc. In particular, environmental protection, climate change, and sustainable development are top priorities for the Mekong Delta region, including Can Tho City.

Vice Chairman Nguyen Thuc Hien urged Consul General Enrico Padula to act as a bridge popularizing Can Tho's investment environment to Italian firms and investors while promoting investment through seminars, trade fairs, and exhibitions in Can Tho and Italy. The objective of these events is to provide opportunities for businesses to learn more about the investment environment and policies to attract business investments between the two countries.

Vice Chairman Nguyen Thuc Hien assigned Can Tho Municipal Department of External Relations to continue being the focal point for communication with the Italian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City. The two sides will cooperate to organize the “Italy Day in Can Tho” in 2024. This meaningful event will help strengthen understanding between the people of both countries. It will also promote exchange and cooperation between Can Tho City and Italian partners, especially in investment, trade, culture, and education.

Can Tho authorities received the Italian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City

Italian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Enrico Padula expressed his gratitude to the leaders of Can Tho City for their warm welcome. Padula, for his part, acknowledged Can Tho as a crucial partner of Italy and highly appreciated the significant role of Can Tho City in the development of the Mekong Delta, especially in agriculture.

The Consul General mentioned that during the Italian Minister of Agriculture's visit to Vietnam in March 2024, several memoranda of understanding were signed in agriculture. As a result, his visit to Can Tho aims to implement the signed cooperation agreements. He announced that a delegation of Italian firms will visit Can Tho later this year to explore the potential in high-tech agriculture and industrial machinery.

Informing the host about his attendance at a seminar on the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta earlier the same day, he affirmed Italy’s commitments to Can Tho and regional provinces via specific activities to adapt agricultural products to climate change and align them with the European Union market, ultimately increasing profits for this sector.