The remark was made by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung during his working session with Can Tho’s local authorities on April 29 to review the city’s socio-economic development after three years of establishment.

Over the past three years, the city has recorded an annual economic growth rate of 15.6 percent, nearly double the national average, and a yearly per capita income of VND15.6 million. It has also attracted VND21 trillion (US$1.3 billion) in investment, and reduced the rate of poor households to 9.46 percent. However, all sectors have not been developing equally, PM Dung assessed.

He instructed the local authorities to give more incentives for future investment in the region and work out a plan to develop industries, services and tourism. In addition, attention should be given to hi-tech industries, and processing industries combined with agriculture development.

The PM emphasized that authorised agencies will help Can Tho to refine its infrastructure development plan, including ports, airports, roads and urban areas close to its industrial zones.

The PM ordered an early start of construction of a cluster of sea ports in the area, the My Thuan-Can Tho highway, and Tra Noc Airport, in order to facilitate further investment.

VNA