The Mekong Delta city of Can Tho is striving to become the economic hub of the region by 2020, said Tran Thanh Man, Secretary of the city’s Party Committee.

It aims to further raise the share of industry and trade-services in the economy to 48.8 percent and 47.9 percent, respectively, reducing agriculture’s share to only 3.3 percent, according to Man.

Garment-textiles is among leading sectors of Can Tho city

The city will also work towards becoming the socio-economic, education-training, science-technology, health, culture, and sports centre, as well as the key domestic and international transport connection, of the Mekong Delta region, he added.

Chairman of the city’s People’s Committee Le Hung Dung said in order to realise the goals, the city will focus on measures for intensive development.

It will improve its investment climate to attract more domestic and international funding while expanding its connection with Ho Chi Minh City and other localities and organising high calibre human resources training to further its international integration, Dung said.

Priority will be given to trade promotion activities to expand its consumption market both locally and internationally.

Over the past 15 years, the city has made significant achievements in socio-economic development.

The production value of industry, trade and agro-fishery reached 181.5 trillion VND (8.4 billion USD) last year, a ten-fold increase from 2000, raising the annual income per capita to 3,298 USD; the highest level in the Mekong Delta region, according to Dung.

Director of the municipal Department of Industry and Trade Nguyen Minh Toai said Can Tho has worked with Ho Chi Minh City and other regional localities to develop infrastructure facilities and leading sectors, including agro-aquatic product processing, garment-textiles, footwear, handicrafts, mechanics, and advanced technology electronics.

As a result, total investment capital of the city exceeded 38.5 trillion VND (1.78 billion USD) with 868 million USD in foreign capital, 166 times that of 15 years ago. Total export values from the city hit 1.35 billion USD, Toai said.

The substantial economic growth has fuelled improvements in education, healthcare facilities, and other social services, reducing the local poverty rate to 2.8 percent, down from 11 percent in 2000.

Source: VNA