Lacking infrastructure, aquaculture development and attractive tourism services, authorities in the Mekong Delta are looking for ways to generate development in the nation’s rice basket.

he Ministry of Planning and Investment held a forum in southern Can Tho city Friday to generate development of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam’s largest rice basket and aquacultural hub.

A Taiwanese trader said to attract more investors the Mekong Delta should improve communications infrastructure, build international seaport and airports, and strengthen human resource training.

He said Can Tho is just 169km from Ho Chi Minh City but it takes five hours by car, leaving investors to opt for HCMC.

The Taiwanese businessman suggested priority should be given to building a highway linking the two cities, as well as an international seaport to reduce transport charges and time.

Investors are also unhappy with the slow progress of large infrastructure projects in the Mekong Delta provinces like Rach Mieu, Can Tho and Ham Luong bridges, Can Tho airport and Ca Mau power-gas plant.

These projects are due for completion in 2008, while work on the O Mon thermopower plant in Can Tho, and the Phu Quoc and Ca Mau airports will only complete from 2009-12.

Lacking tourism

Most participating experts said the Mekong Delta tourism needed to be more attractive to correspond with the region’s potentials.

Tourism expert Paul Stoll said Vietnam’s Mekong Delta region remained unpopular among foreign tourists having neither attractive sites nor large hotels to host conventions.

He stressed a better vision of Mekong Delta tourism was essential for the Vietnamese government to bring a new face for the whole region.

Many participants proposed the establishment of the Mekong Delta Tourism Association to enhance cooperation between the 13 regional provinces in promoting tourism.

The tourism industry should concentrate on diversifying tourism products to lure more visitors.

Unstable fisheries

Currently the Ministry of Fisheries has yet to complete a zone map for sustainable development of the aquaculture sector in the 13 Mekong Delta provinces.

Without a master plan, provinces can not promote cooperation in aquatic production to ensure the environment and improve global product competitiveness.

This was also an obstacle for the local governments to map out policies and plans to call for investment, said the participants.

Le Duc Chinh, director of the Center for Aquatic Biology and Technology under the Aquaculture Research Institute No. 2 said the delta should focus on directing investment to seafood storage and processing and developing fleets and ports for offshore fishing.

By developing these areas of the sector, the region could offer far more services to draw investors.

Delegates agreed that the Mekong Delta provinces should enhance training of technical human resources as farmers were now in the majority in the region, knowing that it takes time for farmers to adapt to industrial production.

Regional authorities should focus on developing vocational training schools to assist in human resource development for farmers, delegates said.

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Source: Tuoi Tre – Translated by Thu Thuy