Mekong Connect promotes economic and trade cooperation in the Mekong Delta and across the country

Leaders from An Giang Province and Ho Chi Minh City co-hosted a press conference on December 10 at the An Giang Provincial People’s Committee Hall. During the event, leaders from local governments provided a brief introduction to the key themes and series of activities planned for the Mekong Connect 2024 Forum.

The forum will take place over two days, December 17 and December 18, 2024, at An Giang University in Long Xuyen City, An Giang Province, under the theme: "Enhancing economic, trade, and technological cooperation between the Mekong Delta region, Ho Chi Minh City, and the rest of the country, with the common goal of sustainable development amid a new competitive landscape."

The An Giang Provincial People’s Committee and the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, with support from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Science and Technology, are responsible for organizing and chairing Mekong Connect 2024. The event will also receive support from the provinces of Ben Tre, Can Tho, Dong Thap, Hau Giang, and Vinh Long.

Vu Kim Hanh, President of the High-Quality Vietnamese Goods Business Association and Director of the BSA Center, noted that Mekong Connect 2024 marks the first time the forum arrives in An Giang Province, a key economic and agricultural hub in the Mekong Delta. She emphasized that the keywords “cooperation,” “linkage,” “integration,” and “development” have consistently guided the forum over the years. These principles serve as strategic orientations to enhance the quality of value chains and supply chains within the Mekong Delta region.

This year's event will focus on three key areas: economy, trade, and technology. Activities at the forum aim to strengthen linkages between Ho Chi Minh City and Mekong Delta provinces as well as promote green and sustainable development in a new competitive landscape. With its three main themes—“linkage,” “sustainable development,” and “new competition”—Mekong Connect 2024 promises a wealth of engaging content and a platform for encouraging innovation.

Notably, the forum will feature outstanding agricultural startups from across the country and the launch of the Green Agribusiness Club’s Steering Committee, which unite representatives from three regions.

In addition, a series of discussions will introduce diverse perspectives, incisive analyses, and innovative solutions to strengthen collaborative partnerships within the region and with Ho Chi Minh City.

Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Minh Thuy highlighted that after its inception in 2015, Mekong Connect has become a reputable annual forum and a bridge linking the Mekong Delta provinces with Ho Chi Minh City and the rest of the country. Originating from the regional ABCD Mekong initiative (An Giang, Ben Tre, Can Tho, Dong Thap), later joined by Ho Chi Minh City and expanded to include Vinh Long and Hau Giang in 2024, the forum serves as more than a gathering of ideas and innovations. It offers a collaborative space for local governments, businesses, experts, and policymakers to deliberate and propose practical solutions for sustainable development across the entire region. 

“We hope Mekong Connect 2024 will provide An Giang with the opportunity to utilize the unique local potential of each province, enhance connectivity, and expand cooperative relationships among cities and provinces within the Mekong Delta region, particularly the core provinces of the ABCD Mekong alliance,” commented Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Minh Thuy. “The forum aims to facilitate the formation of value chain linkages, capture market trends, provide direction for agricultural products, and promote the application of technology to enhance value chains, increase added value, commercialize agricultural products, and strengthen market integration. It will also foster connections in tourism, promote economic cooperation along the Vietnam-Cambodia border, and support regional development.”

Mekong Connect serves as a regional networking forum for entrepreneurs, farmers, policymakers, investors, media professionals, experts, and others with a vested interest in the Mekong Delta and Ho Chi Minh City. Every year, the leadership of the core provinces meet prior to the event to discuss the forum's theme and action agenda for the year. To date, Mekong Connect has been held eight times, with the 2024 event marking its ninth iteration.