Vietnam develops Mekong Delta to maintain sustainable development ranking

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Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc addresses a meeting of the Socio-Economic Sub-Committee of the 13th National Party Congress with 13 Mekong Delta localities and Ho Chi Minh city.

Vietnam is currently ranked 54th among 162 countries and territories on the UN’s SDG Index. 

The Socio-Economic Sub-Committee of the 13th National Party Congress has recently held a meeting with 13 Mekong Delta localities and Ho Chi Minh city to discuss measures for the Mekong Delta to attain fast growth and contribute to Vietnam’s sustainable development.

In the 2019 Sustainable Development Goals Index, Vietnam ranks second among ASEAN nations, after Thailand. The indicators on poverty reduction was 95, climate change response 94, education 91, and energy access 82. Vietnam has been successful in poverty reduction. In the future Vietnam will be known for its successful response to climate change.

A new vision for the Mekong Delta

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told the meeting that the government’s climate change response will ensure sustainability, safety, and prosperity in the Mekong Delta, a fertile region and Vietnam’s biggest rice hub.

He said that over the past five years the Mekong Delta economy grew  rapidly, its business environment improved and its poverty rate was lower than the national average. 

Prime Minister Phuc pointed out the need for the Mekong Delta to envision its development future. 

“The Mekong Delta has to identify its own vision in line with the national vision to 2045. All localities in the region should collaborate to make breakthrough changes in mindset and actions, especially amidst severe climate change impacts, so that it could attain fast and sustainable development and be on a par with other Vietnamese regions in all aspects”, said PM Phuc. 

Prime Minister Phuc asked the Ministry of Planning and Investment to coordinate with relevant localities, ministries, sectors and experts to build a development plan for the Mekong Delta, which will be connected with HCM City, for mutual benefits and addressing regional issues.

Government pays attention to the Mekong Delta

The government has reserved resources for developing the Mekong Delta. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc approved a proposal of the Ministry of Planning and Investment to allocate 2 billion USD in the next five  years to push forward urgent projects on inter-regional infrastructure development, climate change response, fresh water supply, and other pending matters in the Mekong Delta. State budget will invest 8.3 billion USD in the region  until 2020. 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc emphasized the tasks to be accomplished. “The government will build a strong, effective regional coordinating mechanism for the Mekong Delta. We have not fully tapped the potential of a region of 13 provinces and cities and a population of 20 million people. Agriculture will be restructured on the basis of technology and focusing on processing and consumption market. Production chains and trademarks should be strengthened. Agricultural production should take in to consideration climate change with the spirit of turning challenges into opportunities.”

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc agreed with ministries and localities to mobilize various resources to rapidly develop transport infrastructure between the Mekong Delta and Ho Chi Minh city.