At the reception, Mr. Tran Phu Loc Thanh, Deputy Director of the Department of Planning and Investment of Can Tho city, provided the Dutch delegation with necessary information regarding the Center for production, processing, and consumption of agricultural products in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho. Specifically, Deputy Director Tran Phu Loc Thanh said that the Mekong Delta region was allowed by the Prime Minister to establish 8 focal centers for agricultural products and Can Tho city is allowed by the National Assembly to pilot the establishment of a center for production, processing, and consumption of agricultural products in the Mekong Delta. Through many contributions from ministries, central branches, and localities, the Mekong city of Can Tho is focusing on building the project to establish the Center with the goal of developing a modern agricultural economy, improving the value chain of agricultural products in the whole region; thereby, exploiting and promoting potential advantages, economic growth, improving the quality of agricultural products, affirming the central role of the Mekong Delta region of Can Tho city.

According to the project, the Center for production, processing, and consumption of agricultural products in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho is expected to cover an area of 3,300 hectares, located in Binh Thuy district and Phong Dien district; in which, the phase 1 of the Center will be deployed on an area of 450ha. By 2030, the Center will become the nucleus of the modern agricultural economy in the Mekong Delta with the function of linking the production, processing, and consumption of agricultural products in the Mekong Delta. By 2050, the Center will become the central transport node in large metropolitan areas with smart technology. About 50 - 70% of the products will be processed automatically.

Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Can Tho city Duong Tan Hien said that the Mekong Delta has strengths in agriculture. However, the linkage to create agricultural value chains has not been effective since there are still some difficulties. In specific, the small scale of agricultural production leads to uneven quality of agricultural products and low investment capacity; the processing industry and post-harvest preservation technology have not been improved; the source of raw materials still depends on the season; logistics services have not met the needs of the region;

Therefore, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Can Tho city Duong Tan Hien has called for investment from Dutch businesses in mechanization in agricultural production; post-harvest preservation technology as well as processing technology of agricultural and aquatic products to create high value-added products.

Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Can Tho city Duong Tan Hien said that in addition to offering preferential policies for investors who pour capital into the center for production, processing, and consumption of agricultural products in the Mekong Delta, Can Tho city is also carrying out many supporting policies to attract investment in the agricultural sector, especially those relating to the development of value chains of agricultural and aquatic products.

Regarding the establishment of a logistics center for linkage, production, processing, and consumption of agricultural products in the Mekong Delta, the draft project has been submitted to the Prime Minister for approval. Once it is approved, the local administration will publicize information on mass media, Vice Chairman Duong Tan Hien said.

Mr. Christoph Prommersberger, Deputy Ambassador of the Dutch Embassy to Vietnam, highly appreciated the development potential of Can Tho city as the hub of the Mekong Delta and the Center for the production, processing, and consumption of agricultural products in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho. Netherlands Deputy Ambassador to Vietnam Christoph Prommersberger expressed his wish to promote cooperation with Can Tho city in many fields where the two sides have in common, especially agriculture, environmental protection, and climate change adaptation.

The Dutch diplomat also invited the municipal People's Committee to arrange a working delegation to visit and learn about agricultural production and processing centers in the Netherlands to have a better view of this model.