The message was released with the leaders’ commitments to carrying out administrative reforms and improving the business environment for domestic and foreign investors.

Vice Chairman of the Can Tho city’s People’s Committee Pham Phuoc Nhu said leaders from 13 provinces agreed to fulfill their five commitments which are also the five targets of their plans aimed at accelerating the construction and development of waterways, airlines and ports, building Industrial Parks (IPs) and Export Processing Zone (EPZs), developing power and water supplies, post & telecommunication, and banking services, applying preferential policies and improving administrative procedures in line with “one-stop shop” mechanism.

The Mekong Delta region is considered a potential provider of grains and aquatic products to feed half a population of Vietnam. However, the regional economy remains weak, local people still live in poor conditions and the quality of human resources and the level of education and training are still low. The regional economy is mainly based on potential areas and its growth rate is not stable due to the low competitive edge of enterprises and producers.

Joining the World Trade Organisation (WTO) will pose a major challenge to the Mekong Delta region, where the level of domestic and foreign investment, government support and international aids remains low. Opening up the delta for local and foreign investment will give the region a chance to take off.

Vice Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Bich Dat said along with joint efforts for co-operation by provinces, the Government will devise a preferential mechanism for the Mekong Delta region to attract investment. So far, the region has only attracted 3 percent (roughly US$1.5 billion) of foreign investment capital of more than US$60 billion registered in Vietnam and around 9 percent of the total ODA to the country.