Can Tho (VNA) – New Zealand investors want to develop strategicrelations with Can Tho city - an economic hub in the Mekong Delta region thathas produced a wide range of high-quality agricultural products, said NewZealand Ambassador to Vietnam Wendy Matthews.

At a working session with the city People’s Committee on June 24, the NewZealand diplomat recommended Can Tho to cooperate with the New ZealandInstitute of Agriculture and Horticultural Science Inc (NZIAHS) to removebottlenecks in the city’s agricultural development, given local exports havebeen hampered by poor post-harvest technologies.

She said that the NZIAHS, a prestigious research centre, will send agriculturalexperts to Can Tho city, helping it figure out possible measures in foodsafety, climate change response, improvement of soil quality, market connectivity,promotion of forestry product value, and better aquaculture.

The centre will support the city to develop high-tech agriculture whileencouraging the private sector’s engagement to create more opportunities forthe impoverished in both rural and urban areas to get access to advancedfarming techniques.

She hoped that Can Tho city and the NZIAHS will find out new incentives for thelocal agricultural development like improving quality of farm produce,protecting land resources, and ensuring food safety and hygiene.

Also, she suggested the local authority work with the New Zealand Embassy tocarry out programmes connecting agricultural businesses and farmers in Can Thowith New Zealand and other foreign partners, explaining this as a good chancefor local firms to use the world’s advanced technologies in increasingcompetitive edge for local staples.

Particularly, she advised the city to build policies to lure investors whoexercise their corporate responsibility for sustainable development throughimproving infrastructure facilities, and local human resources, among others.

She took the occasion to invite Can Tho city to attend Fieldays, the largestagribusiness event in New Zealand, saying it will help the locality introduceits farm produce while exchanging information about modern technologies andmachines in cultivation.

For his part, Chairman of the city People’s Committee Le Quang Manh committedto bettering the business climate, as well as facilitating New Zealandinvestment in the locality.

He wished that the New Zealand Embassy will help connect the city with NewZealand partners, and create opportunities for the city to introduce itspotential and strengths to the investors, thus making the city become a gatewayfor New Zealand to enhance shipments to the Mekong Delta.-VNA