The Mekong Delta needs a breakthrough in production and business performance with agriculture as spearhead in order to contribute to sustainable economic growth of the country, said President Truong Tan Sang.

President Truong Tan Sang (L) works with the Steering Committee for Southwestern Region. Photo: plo.vn

President Sang made the instruction during a working session with the Steering Committee for Southwestern Region in Can Tho city on July 29, as part of his tour of Mekong Delta localities.

He was told that that the delta’s economy expanded by 9 percent in January-June. Rice output in the last two crops reached 13.5 million tonnes while aquatic products totaled 1.4 million tonnes, up 3.7 percent.

Also in the period, industrial production rose 6.6 percent to 223 trillion VND (10.4 billion USD), while exports grew 11.4 percent to 5.4 billion USD.

Total social investment hit 99.6 trillion VND (4.68 billion USD), a year-on-year increase of 12 percent.

The committee is preparing for the 2014 Mekong Delta Economic Cooperation Forum (MDEG) scheduled for late this year in Soc Trang province.

Source: VNA