Mekong Connect 2017 seeks to increase value of local products

Themed “Developing local resources in association with technology strength”, the Mekong Connect 2017 was jointly held by the Vietnam Association of High Quality Products and the People’s Committees of four Mekong Delta localities of An Giang, Ben Tre, Can Tho and Dong Thap.

The forum aimed to seek measures to make full use of advanced technology to optimise the value of local products.

At the event, speeches delivered by 25 domestic and international scholars, policy makers and businesses discussed the role of local resources, as well as measures to develop local resources in the Mekong Delta region.

The highlight of discussions was the debate on how to promote local products such as coconut of Ben Tre, rice of Can Tho, fish of An Giang, and lotus of Dong Thap.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Quoc Doanh suggested the Mekong Delta focus on the development of farm produce, aquatic products, animal husbandry and mangrove forest plantation and protection.

Both he and Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Dai Duong emphasised the need for the region to intensify the application of advanced technology in production and processing.

The Ministry of Science and Technology is studying new technologies to help increase the value and quality of products, Duong said, adding that it also ordered the Korea Technology Centre to research and make a technology suitable to the Mekong Delta