Description

On June 21, a conference on “Announcing the Master Plan and Investment Program for the Mekong Delta in 2021-2030” was held in Cần Thơ under the leadership of Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính.

This master plan is the first regional plan developed under the integrated multi-sectoral approach to concretize the viewpoint , orientation, and development goals in accordance with the Socio-economic Development Strategy of the Mekong Delta Region for the period until 2030.

In particular, the Mekong Delta Master Plan has provided spatial orientation and nature and climate change adaptive development of key sectors and areas in the region in line with the Government Resolution 120/NQ-CP.

Accordingly, the following strategic priorities have been identified:

1. development of the Mekong Delta towards sustainability, green growth and climate change adaptation, and protection of natural ecosystems.

2. to proactively cope with “flood, inundation, brackish water, saline water”, and to use these challenges as opportunities for transforming the growth structure towards increasing efficiency and value, and promoting the green economy and the circular economy

3. rethinking regarding food security, i.e. from moving from rice-based agriculture to more diverse agriculture with aquaculture – fruit – rice production, designed according to the water and soil quality of each area and according to market needs.

4. transforming the scattered and small economy to concentrated development, both in agriculture, industry and urban development; It is aimed that the Mekong Delta region becomes a sustainable, dynamic and highly efficient agricultural center of the country by 2030.

5. infrastructure development, especially transportation infrastructure as a foundation for socio-economic development and promotion of regional linkages.

6. developing the industrial urban corridor from Can Tho to Long An, linking with Ho Chi Minh City and the southeast region and the eight agricultural priority centers

7. rethinking the extraction and use of water resources, considering not only groundwater but also saline and brackish water as resources

8. preserving the landscape, ecology, traditional ethnic culture of the river region, especially establishing biodiversity corridors in coastal areas from Ca Mau Cape National Park to Can Gio Biosphere Reserve; developing specific cultural spaces of the region such as river culture, ethnic minority culture in the context of tourism development.

9. strengthening development links between localities in the Mekong Delta with Ho Chi Minh City and the Southeast region.

The total investment of the state budget for the period 2021-2025 is estimated at 460,000 billion VND (about 20 billion USD).