CanTho (VNA) - Can Tho boasts great potential to become a worth-living cityin the Mekong Delta region, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at aninvestment promotion conference in the locality on August 10.

The Government leader urged the municipal Party Committee, authorities, andpeople to embrace this new vision, turning the city into a riverside ecologicalmunicipality.

He congratulated the municipal authorities on their success in attractinginvestment for not only production and business projects, but also those in thefields of service, technology, and human resources development.

Can Tho’s strong development has contributed to creating an impetus for developmentin the Mekong Delta region, PM Phuc stressed.

Hehighlighted the city’s advantages in various fields, from its convenientlocation to the natural conditions favourable for agricultural development –especially in the rice and aquaculture industries.

Boastinga young and dynamic labour force, Can Tho is capable of rapidly adapting to technological-basedeconomic trends, PM Phuc stressed, noting that Can Tho is also an educationcentre – an important condition for attracting business investors to the city.

Regardingtransport infrastructure, Can Tho will see a breakthrough thanks to the TrungLuong-My Thuan-Can Tho expressways, as well as a number of other major trafficsystem projects linking it to other localities in the Mekong Delta, he said.

Once these road systems are completed, travel between Ho Chi Minh City and CanTho will be reduced to an astonishing 90 minutes, instead of the current 180minutes. Besides this, there are also seaports and airports, connecting thecity nationwide and internationally.

Inaddition, the city has made remarkable improvements in its businessenvironment.

Hecalled on investors to work together with the city’s authorities to achieve thedevelopment vision of the city in the next decade.

The Government will always work towards creating favourable conditions for enterprisesto invest in Vietnam and ensure their legitimate rights, he affirmed.

Investors at the conference were updated on the city’s strengths, futurepotential, investment opportunities, development plans, and projects callingfor investment.

The event included discussions on the development of high-tech agriculture, science-technology,and a new services centre. The talks heard officials from the Ministry ofIndustry and Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and theMinistry of Science and Technology.

The conference could be said a success with Can Tho’s leaders signing agreementsof investment cooperation worth 85 trillion VND (3.61 billion USD) with 19investors.

The local authorities also presented decisions on investment approval and licensesto 10 enterprises with a total capital of 8 trillion VND (340.3 million USD).

With a population of 1.5 million people, Can Tho’s per capita annual income isexpected to reach 81 million VND this year.

According to the Can Tho master plan for 2025, the Mekong Delta city will transformitself into a centre for industry, trading, services, tourism, education and training,technology, healthcare, and culture in the region.

It will also become a gateway city of the Mekong River’s lower course and animportant hub for intra-regional and international transportation.–VNA