After 20 years of renovation, the Mekong river delta’s economic development orientations have been changed. Apart from focusing on comprehensive agricultural development, the region has also brought into play its advantages in sea economy, trade-services-tourism, construction material production industry and oil industry. These achievements have created a firm foundation and trust for the government to raise high its determination in building and developing the Mekong river delta into a motive economic region of the country.

Looking back at the past 20 years of renovation in 12 provinces and cities in the Mekong river delta, we can see a process of gradual renovation from the leadership thinking to the people’s awareness on production habits, thus contributing to enriching the country.

The Mekong river delta has not only contributed to ensuring food security but also fast increasing exports with key products namely rice, fish and shrimps.

This affirms that the region’s economy has shifted on the right track with fast growth.

The Mekong river delta’s economic structure has also been shifted in an active manner. Agricultural production value proportion was reduced from 61.8% in 1995 to 51.38% in 2000 and 45.9% in 2005. During the time, industrial and construction value kept increasing from 11.7% in 1995 to 19.5% in 2000 and 23% in 2005. Also, service value rose from 21.3% in 1995 to 29% in 2000 and 31% in 2005.

The Mekong river delta has shifted a purely agricultural economy to a diversified economy with high quality agricultural economy and advancing forwards to an industrial and service economy.

Take agricultural production as an example. Before, provinces in region focussed in developing large areas of rice. In 2005, total rice area in the region reduced by nearly 300,000 hectares. However, rice output kept increasing by 14.3%, reaching over 18 million tonnes. Annual economic value per hectare also increased from VND 20 million in 2000 to VND 28 million last year.

One of the most significant landmarks in agricultural production of the Mekong river delta region is that land reclamation in the Dong Thap Muoi (Plains of Reeds) and Long Xuyen quadrangle has been basically completed, turning the region into a key area of effective agricultural-forestry and fisheries production not only of the region, but of the whole country as well. This is really a miraculous achievement of the renovation process.

Co-operation between farmers, scientists, enterprises and the State have been effective in settling the input and output issues in agricultural production.

Provinces in the region has also worked out effective models of production in the flood season which have brought about high economic value.

Socio-economic development has contributed significantly in the fight against poverty. The number of poor households, thus, has been reduced sharply, from 27.03% in 2001 to 7.85% in 2005.

There are new models of effective production and trading in the region including the Song Hau Plantation and the co-operative movement on hamlet scale in Tan Hiep A commune, Tan Hiep district, Kien Giang province.

The group of rice milling factories in Thoi Thuan commune, Thot Not district, Can Tho city has become a clue to purchase commercial rice from the Mekong river delta provinces. About 30-50% of the country’s total rice export volume is from this group.

The Mekong river delta provinces also top the country in terms of area, output and export value of aqua-culture and agricultural production.

Fisheries has been considered as the key economic sector of the region. Last year, aqua-culture area in the region totalled 660,000 hectares, harvesting around 1.8 million tonnes, up 700,000 tonnes against 2000. Shrimp exports increased from 36,000 tonnes in 2000 to over 80,000 tonnes in 2003.

Recently, Mekong river delta provinces contribute 50% of the country’s rice output, 92% of rice export value and more than 60% of seafood exports.

Many key works to serve economic development and the people’s livelihood have been built in the region, including the flood control works system in the Long Xuyen quadrangle with various canals to drain flood water to the sea, construction of residential areas for people in the  flood-prone areas. Many fishing ports in Nam Du, Kien Hai, An Thoi, Phu Quoc and Tho Chu islands have been built.

Key infrastructure works have been constructed including the Ca Mau oil, electricity and fertiliser project, upgrade and expansion of the National Highway 1A’s Trung Luong-Nam Can section and My Thuan bridge. In the coming time, construction of Can Tho bridge, Can Tho International Airport, upgrade of Cai Cui International Port and Phu Quoc International Airport will be implemented.

Can Tho city is recognised as the centre of the region. The city has been developing to show its role as the centre of the region in terms of industry, finance, trade, services, science and technology, hi-tech agriculture, education and heath care and it strives to be as the gateway city for the lower region of the Mekong river valley.

Those provinces in the region that border with Cambodia including An Giang, Kien Giang and Dong Thap have poured investment in upgrading border markets, border gates to national border gate economic zones. Thus, new border cities such as Ha Tien, Chau Doc and Tan Hong have been established along the country’s south-western border to promote trade and import and export activities and tourism.

All provinces in the region attach importance to developing tourism. Kien Giang province even considers this as their key economic industry. The region boasts potentials to develop cultural-ecological tourism.

The government recently has approved the development of Phu Quoc island into a high-quality ecological tourism centre of the region and the world.

The economic development of the Mekong river delta has affirmed its position as a key economic development region.

Source: Nhandan.com.vn