Provincial authorities in the Mekong Delta provinces of Tiền Giang, Bến Tre, Trà Vinh and Vĩnh Long have developed a strategic vision for the sustainable development of the Delta’s Eastern Coastal Sub-region.— Photo petrotimes.vn

HCM CITY — Provincial authorities in the Mekong Delta provinces of Tiền Giang, Bến Tre, Trà Vinh and Vĩnh Long have developed a strategic vision for the sustainable development of the Delta’s Eastern Coastal Sub-region.

Dr Nguyễn Đức Lộc, from the Centre for Sustainable Development for the Southern Region, said that agriculture and rural areas in the south and the delta’s eastern coastal region would focus on coconut, fruits and seafood, all of which are considered “strong” products of the area.

The four provinces would work together to develop material production zones with big companies from Việt Nam and other countries..

The eastern coastal sub-region would also work with other groups to promote socio-economic development and environmental protection.

Other areas of focus would be major farm produce in the region; infrastructure development, especially road and waterway transport; and logistics and irrigation works.

Other concerns are the protection, management and exploitation of natural resources including sand and water; mobilisation of investment for agricultural and industrial production, with a focus on the processing industry, and the promotion of tourism and trade.

The provinces will issue regulations about sustainable development for the region, and map out common programmes in response to climate change, coastal and river bank collapse, and water resource protection.

The provinces in the Mekong Delta’s eastern coastal sub-region have targeted reaching these goals by 2030.

They also aim to have the sub-region’s residents’ per capita income reach the average income of all Vietnamese residents; new employment opportunities for the sub-region’s residents; and a reduction in the poverty rate to a level compared with the average rate of the country.

The sub-region’s also wants to improve ecological production and farming with the use of advanced technologies; and develop infrastructure for irrigation works.

It targets economic growth combined with social development, poverty alleviation, employment opportunities, social welfare, and environmental protection.

Dr Trương Minh Huy Vũ, from the National University in HCM City, said the Mekong Delta’s eastern coastal sub-region, which includes the provinces of Bến Tre, Tiền Giang, Vĩnh Long and Trà Vinh, is located in the coastal area of the estuary of the Mekong River, covering a total area of 8,788.9 sq. km, accounting for 21.5 per cent of the total area of the Mekong Delta of Việt Nam.

A steering board for the eastern coastal sub-region was established at the seminar. Trà Vinh Province was appointed the head of the steering board for the group in 2019. — VNS.