Look at the Mekong Delta with a different mindset

Mekong Connect is an annual forum for entrepreneurs, farmers, cooperatives, government managers, experts, and other interested parties related to the Mekong Delta.

For the Mekong Connect 2021 held on December 17^th, the co-chair positions include the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), and Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee.

Making the opening speech at the event, Mr. Phan Van Mai, Chairman of and Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, said, “Mekong Connect 2021 aims to jointly discuss and find solutions for the 2022 economic recovery and create development linkage under ‘New Normal’.

The two words ‘recovery’ and ‘linkage’ have expressed the strong determination of all parties on the combination of forces, gathering the strength to bring prosperity to regional and local economies after the difficulties caused by the impact of Covid-19… When designing the content for Mekong Connect 2021, the Organizing Committee chose the main theme ‘Economic recovery and development linkage’. We hope that the Forum will not only result in a great drive but also effectively bring back the socio-economic development of regions in general and localities in particular. Mekong Connect 2021 will open a new path to development and expand the link between Ho Chi Minh city and other provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta.”

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan also shared his view on those two words.

There are articles stating that Ho Chi Minh has more opportunities to recover after the pandemic. According to experts, Ho Chi Minh city is an economic entity, so its initiative and leadership coordination are stronger than the other thirteen provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta.

These thirteen areas are not economic entities but thirteen fragments, thirteen separate administrative boundaries combined into a delta of 20 million people. “Economic blood vessels” are scattered throughout these areas. For example, pangasius and fingerlings are produced in Long An but processing factories are located in Can Tho, and one must go through the gateway of Ho Chi Minh city to reach the consumer market.

The Mekong Delta must be seen as one unified economic entity.

Mekong Connect cannot solve all problems, but the collection of ideas at the forum may open a path for the localities and leaders of ministries and branches to think and operate differently.

We have to look at the delta from a broader perspective. The head of provincial Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development needs to have a new approach and catch up with new trends. Local agricultural industry leaders are those who will act as key factors in the circle of connections.

In particular, the connection between farmers with businesses should be among the top priorities. Agriculture without collective action means obstructing the overall development.

Mr. Tran Van Tung, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, said, “For the Mekong Delta, considering the linkage with Ho Chi Minh city or with other regions and territories, creative innovation is a way to mobilize maximum resources in service of the socio-economic development of regions. The forum itself can be considered as an important component which contributes to building the regional open innovation ecosystem."

Mr. Bui Ta Hoang Vu, Director of Ho Chi Minh Department of Industry and Trade, explained about being the host city for Mekong Connect 2021:

“The desire to promote linkage with western provinces was ignited after Ho Chi Minh city witnessed the recent disruption of commodity supply chains in the region. Ho Chi Minh city is both a place to consume agricultural products and process food for Mekong Delta provinces, thus bilateral trade holds a deep meaning for all parties. This is the main reason Ho Chi Minh city joined the forum as an official member.”