Creating momentum for development

The leaders of An Giang province emphasized that the province is stepping up its foreign relations and international integration in the context of global competition and digital transformation. The province is implementing its foreign policy and international integration guidelines in a comprehensive, effective, and synchronized manner, and is effectively deploying its socio-economic development policies and strategies, while strengthening the attraction of resources to serve the sustainable development of the locality.

Simultaneously, the province is promoting economic diplomacy, enhancing the effectiveness of promoting the province's cultural values, image, potential, and advantages. At the same time, it is strengthening and expanding friendly cooperative relations with countries, international organizations, localities, and territories around the world, especially cooperation with potential markets.

On the other hand, it is important to maintain and develop friendly relations with localities of partner countries with which we have signed cooperation agreements. We must improve the effectiveness of foreign affairs activities across all three pillars of foreign policy: Party committee diplomacy, government diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy.

In the context of increasingly deep international economic integration, especially with Vietnam's participation in many new-generation Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), the province has achieved significant results in international integration.

According to the Department of Industry and Trade of An Giang province, to date, the province has signed cooperation and friendship agreements with 21 localities in 9 countries in the fields of economy, investment, trade, agriculture, fisheries, tourism, security, etc.

Specifically, these include: Kampot, Kep, Preah Sihanouk, Koh Kong, Kandal, Takeo provinces, Phnom Penh city (Cambodia); Salavan, Champasak provinces (Laos); Chanthaburi, Trat provinces (Thailand), Jeju Special Autonomous Prefecture, Buk-gu district - Ulsan city (South Korea); Kobe city, Yamaguchi prefecture (Japan); Lorient city, Val d'Oise prefecture (France); Piteå, Växjö cities (Sweden); Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state (Germany); Oss city - North Brabant province (Netherlands).

Accordingly, in the field of investment attraction, the province has so far granted investment approval for 1,507 projects to investors, with a total investment capital of approximately VND 727,631 billion (including 57 FDI projects with a total capital of over USD 2.7 billion); of which, Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone accounts for 312 projects with a total investment capital of VND 431,576 billion, representing nearly 60%. This will create momentum for socio-economic development, structural transformation, and promote economic growth in the 2026-2030 period.

Investment projects focus on high-tech agriculture, processing industries, services - tourism, logistics and high value-added sectors; infrastructure and urban development.

In particular, large-scale projects in Phu Quoc and key areas are creating a modern transportation system, urban areas, seaports, airports, entertainment areas, and industrial zones,… contributing to making An Giang an economic, service, and tourism center of the Mekong Delta region, improving and enhancing the quality of life for its people.

According to Mr. Nguyen Thong Nhat, Director of An Giang Department of Industry and Trade, the province has expanded its export markets and trade relations to more than 60 countries and territories worldwide. The total export value of goods is estimated to reach USD 10.4 billion in the 2021-2025 period, with an average growth rate of 7.34%, and is projected to reach USD 2.43 billion in 2025 alone.

Traditional markets in Asia (China, Cambodia, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia), the Americas (USA), Europe (EU), Africa, and Oceania are the main markets for An Giang's goods. Market diversification has been promoted through leveraging new-generation FTAs, opening up opportunities to access other potential markets. In particular, businesses in the province have exported rice to 60 markets and seafood to 71 different markets worldwide.

Strengthening international cooperation

To promote international integration in the coming period, the province will focus on training businesses and cooperatives on rules of origin and FTA standards, combined with providing regular market bulletins; and supporting businesses in accessing preferential loans. At the same time, it will organize trade delegations and trade fairs in FTA markets; promote products on international e-commerce channels; improve procedures and infrastructure at border gates/ports, simplify customs clearance, and invest in quarantine equipment and temporary warehouses.

The leaders of An Giang province affirmed that the implementation of the Action Program of the Provincial Party Standing Committee to implement Resolution No. 59-NQ/TW of the Politburo on international integration in the new situation has achieved positive results.

Accordingly, the province is focusing resources on investing in trade and logistics infrastructure, upgrading seaports and border gates, building logistics centers and cold storage facilities at border gates and seaports, and modern warehouses; completing inter-regional transport connections, and synchronously connecting road, waterway, and maritime routes between production areas - border gates - seaports.

According to Mr. Le Huu Toan, Director of An Giang Department of Agriculture and Environment, the province is developing standardized raw material areas, planning production and farming areas that meet GAP and organic standards, applying high technology and digital traceability. It is promoting value chain linkages, linking production - processing - export, and attracting investment in the deep processing of agricultural and aquatic products.

In addition, the province maintains and expands traditional markets such as Cambodia, ASEAN, and China; strengthens the exploitation of niche markets and high-standard markets such as the EU and Japan through FTAs. The province supports businesses in promoting deep processing and increasing the added value of key products such as rice, pangasius fish, fruits, and vegetables; encourages green exports, develops environmentally friendly products with international certifications (ASC, BAP, GlobalGAP, etc.); and supports businesses in applying cross-border e-commerce, developing digital business models, and logistics services in the border gate areas of An Giang province.

Furthermore, the province is enhancing the capacity of businesses, building export brands, organizing training in international integration, negotiation, and marketing skills for local businesses; supporting the registration of geographical indications; building strong brands for rice, seafood, and processed products; and promoting them internationally. It is also applying digital technology and training officials in international integration and border trade management.

The province is strengthening international cooperation and regional linkages, proactively and actively participating in regional and international organizations, forums, and cooperation mechanisms, and enhancing its role in these activities. At the same time, it is meticulously preparing the conditions to successfully coordinate and organize the APEC Summit in 2027 and related events in the Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone, creating a positive impression on international friends.

The province is expanding cooperation in trade, services, and tourism with Cambodia, Thailand, and Singapore, and organizing international trade fairs at major border gates. The province is making the most of the benefits from FTAs to expand exports of agricultural and aquatic products and processed goods. It is also linking with other provinces in the Mekong Delta to form a supply-processing-export chain.

Coordinating investment in inter-regional transportation infrastructure, connecting road, waterway, and sea routes; strengthening cooperation between An Giang (Vietnam) and Takeo, Kandal (Cambodia) in the coming time to develop border trade./.

News by Le Huy Hai

Translator: Thi Huynh