The forum was chaired by the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Ministry of Science and Technology; coordinated and implemented by the Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam High-Quality Goods Association, and the Can Tho Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI Can Tho).

With diverse content lines, the Mekong Connect 2023 Forum focused on opening up new directions for the business community as well as policy recommendations. In particular, in the context of connectivity and linkages becoming an extremely important factor between Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta region, the forum emphasized the need for action to enhance value chains in the areas where the two economic regions interact. The seminars, discussions, presentations, and reports throughout the two-day event focused on ways to take action to achieve the goal of green, sustainable growth and convey this message to society and consumers, while promoting sustainable development of the region.

On the morning of November 16th, contributing opinions at the plenary session of this forum, Mr. Tran Viet Truong - Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of Can Tho City - proposed some solutions to promote linkages, production and consumption of agricultural products in the Mekong Delta region and Ho Chi Minh City.

According to Mr. Tran Viet Truong, the National Assembly issued Resolution No. 45/2022/QH15 on November 11, 2022 on piloting some mechanisms and special policies for the development of Can Tho City and Resolution No. 98/2023/QH15 on June 24, 2023 on piloting mechanisms and special policies for the development of Ho Chi Minh City.

Studying to exploit the inherent strengths and applying the mechanisms and policies between the two cities under the Central Government has become urgent to share experiences, overcome difficulties, seek opportunities and unlock potential. In particular, the Project on the Hub for Linkages, Production, Processing, and Consumption of Agricultural Products in the Mekong Delta Region in Can Tho City is expected to benefit from special mechanisms and policies and is expected to create new impetus for growth in both the Mekong Delta region and Ho Chi Minh City.

According to Mr. Tran Viet Truong, in the past, the Mekong Delta has formed diverse linkages in production, processing, and consumption of products, such as Value chain linkages; industry and industry cluster linkages; production and processing chain linkages; linkages oriented towards domestic and foreign markets; transportation - logistics linkages; information technology linkages. However, the main ones are linkages by industry and industry clusters (aquaculture, rice, fruits, vegetables) but with low effectiveness, and lack of sustainability, there is still a situation of "breaking contracts" when market prices change. The remaining forms of linkages only stopped at the experimental stage. Therefore, the formation of professional high-value chains is highly necessary, limiting the lack of synchronization in supply and demand, overcoming vulnerability, and preventing disruption of the supply chain.

While in agricultural production in the Mekong Delta, there is always a shortage of high-quality plant varieties, a lack of technical capacity, technical skills, and management of farmers, agricultural technical infrastructure has not been invested in a synchronized manner. Processing agricultural products is the weakest link. Existing processing factories cannot meet the needs of raw material sources from farmers, causing waste and reducing the value of agricultural products. The Mekong Delta is facing difficulties in accessing consumer markets. Distribution channels have not been developed, making it difficult to access retail channels. In particular, the Mekong Delta lacks mechanisms and policies to attract large corporations to invest in agricultural product processing technology, so it has not created momentum for the development of the region, which has advantages in agricultural production.

Therefore, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Can Tho City believes that building the Linkage Hub into "A multi-service destination" will help form a linked production chain associated with 3 parties: farmers, producers (merchants, agricultural enterprises) and import-export enterprises; encourage the establishment of linkages between raw material production areas and processing industries to meet market demand, contributing to increasing export-import volumes and added value of products.

Chairman of the People's Committee of Can Tho City Tran Viet Truong spoke at the forum. (Photo: Le Hoang Hai).

The planned Linkage Hub in Can Tho City will cover 300 hectares, divided into 2 areas (Area 1 with 50 hectares in Binh Thuy district and Area 2 with 250 hectares in Co Do district, Can Tho City). It is expected that with 10 operational functions of the Linkage Hub, this project will enjoy special mechanisms and policies and is expected to create new momentum for the growth of Can Tho City and the whole Mekong Delta region.

On that basis, at this forum, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Can Tho City proposed to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to soon complete the appraisal and submit to the Prime Minister for approval of the Project on Establishing a Hub for Linkages, Production, Processing and Consumption of Agricultural Products in the Mekong Delta Region in Can Tho City; guide the Mekong Delta provinces to coordinate in implementing the Project, based on the potentials and strengths of each locality, as well as support Can Tho City with solutions to promote linkages, production and consumption of agricultural products in the Mekong Delta region.

Focusing on key steps such as forming wholesale markets, and modern agricultural supply centers; comprehensive logistics solutions for the Mekong Delta region including all stages from planning, forecasting, purchase support, production, proactive distribution logistics connection to multi-channel markets; paying attention to integrated online and direct solutions, connecting consumption, forming a Center for Direct Agricultural Product Trading (Modern Wholesale Market), connecting with the global agricultural supply network.

The Chairman of the People's Committee of Can Tho City Tran Viet Truong also expressed the desire to cooperate with the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City to analyze, assess breakthrough potentials from key industries and sectors, connect and elevate the influence of leading industries. Find opportunities to promote innovative start-ups, lead the public-private sector, from research forces transferring scientific progress to businesses, linking Startups with goals of elevating standards in the digital economy, green economy, experiential economy and inclusive growth.

He also expressed hopes that Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho City would jointly apply special mechanisms, opening up ecosystems that take advantage of ideas to promote inherent strengths and special experiences from localities to best mobilize all internal and external resources together for development.