Attending the event were Member of the Party Central Committee, Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat; Former Member of the Party Central Committee, Minister of Science and Technology, Chairman of the Vietnam Automation Association Nguyen Quan; Former Member of the Party Central Committee, former Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee for Culture, Education of Youth, Adolescents and Children Phan Thanh Binh; Deputy Head of the Central Committee for External Relations Truong Quang Hoai Nam; Former Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Federation of Industry and Commerce, Economic expert Pham Chi Lan; Mr. Kayzad Namdarian, Economic Consul, Consulate General of Australia in Ho Chi Minh City; Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai; Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of An Giang Provincial People's Committee Ho Van Mung; Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of An Giang Provincial People's Council Le Van Nung, ... along with experts, speakers representing ministries, branches, institutes and schools; Representatives of leaders of provincial and municipal departments and enterprises of the High Quality Vietnamese Goods Association from localities across the country.

Speaking at the Forum, Chairman of An Giang Provincial People's Committee Ho Van Mung said that the Mekong Connect Forum 2024 is the 9th time the Forum has taken place (the first year was held in 2015 in Can Tho city, formed from the initiative of the regional network of 4 provinces: An Giang - Ben Tre - Can Tho - Dong Thap and later added Ho Chi Minh City). This year, the Forum is co-organized by the People's Committees of An Giang province and Ho Chi Minh City, with the support of the People's Committees of the provinces and cities: Ben Tre, Can Tho, Dong Thap, Hau Giang, Vinh Long.

It can be said that the Mekong Connect Forum is the largest annual economic forum in the Mekong Delta, with a very positive meaning as an annual activity for businessmen, farmers, managers, and experts. At the same time, it also aims to connect and promote comprehensive economic and social cooperation between provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta region with Ho Chi Minh City. In addition, it creates conditions for businesses to access and grasp opportunities and challenges when participating in the international market and strengthen connections and cooperation to enhance competitive advantages and build appropriate business strategies. Localities, businessmen, farmers, managers, and experts at home and abroad meet to build connections, establish contacts, and introduce their strengths and potential products.

Mekong Connect Forum 2024 with the theme on "Promoting economic, trade and technological cooperation in the Mekong Delta - Ho Chi Minh City and the whole country, towards sustainable development in the new competitive context". This is a good opportunity for An Giang province to introduce to domestic and foreign investors the potential and advantages of the province: Agriculture, tourism and border trade economy according to the approved planning of the province, promoting regional linkages and the support of the Central Government to invest in economic development of the province's border economic zones.

In addition, it aims to strengthen the connection and expand the cooperation between An Giang province with Ho Chi Minh City and provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta. At the same time, to create favorable conditions for the formation of value chain linkages, grasp market trends, orient agricultural products, apply technology to connect value chains, increase added value, promote commercialization of agricultural products and enhance market integration.

Chairman of An Giang Provincial People's Committee Ho Van Mung emphasized that through this Forum, An Giang province wishes to convey a strong message to the leaders of provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta and Ho Chi Minh City, partners, domestic and foreign investors that "An Giang is ready to cooperate and share responsibility with all parties in all fields from mobilizing and effectively using investment capital, cooperating in technology development, training high-quality human resources, promoting regional connectivity, developing transport infrastructure, irrigation, water resource management, responding to climate change and sustainable development".

Speaking at the Forum, Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat said that Mekong Connect is a prestigious annual forum, a solid bridge between the provinces of the Mekong Delta with Ho Chi Minh City and the whole country. At the same time, he acknowledged and highly appreciated the organization of the Forum with a creative, inheritable approach, with clear goals to solve practical problems. Originating from the ABCD Mekong regional connectivity initiative (An Giang - Ben Tre - Can Tho - Dong Thap), Mekong Connect is not only a place to gather ideas and initiatives, but also a space for localities, businesses, experts and policy makers to discuss and propose practical solutions to promote sustainable development for the whole region.

The Minister of Science and Technology believes that the close connection between the Mekong Delta and Ho Chi Minh City - the country's leading economic, commercial and technological center - is the key to overcoming challenges, optimizing resources and adding value to the region.

At the same time, through forums such as Mekong Connect today, the Mekong Delta is gradually affirming its interest, promoting activities and start-up models towards sustainable development, green economy, green technology, promoting sustainable trade, making good use of local available resources. This is the right direction, to catch up with the world trend in responding to climate change, improving the region's competitiveness.

News by Reporters’ Group

Translation by Hoang Oanh