BenTre (VNA) – Leaders of four Mekong Delta provinces, namely TienGiang, Ben Tre, Tra Vinh and Vinh Long, jointly held a conference in Ben Tre onJanuary 10 to announce a vision for sustainable development of the eastern coastalsub-region of the Mekong Delta.

Openingthe event, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ben Tre Cao Van Trong saidthat through the conference, the localities will inform officials, investors,businesses and locals of connection activities among the four provinces, aswell as a roadmap for cooperation.

Theevent aimed to raise awareness of businesses and locals of each province of thesignificance of connectivity.

Dr.Nguyen Duc Loc from the Southern Institute of Policy and Strategy Agriculturaland Rural Development said localities in the eastern coastal sub-region shouldfocus on developing the production of fruit, coconut and seafood and fosterlinks with businesses.

Underthe agreement signed by the localities, the strategic vision of connectivityfocuses on socio-economic development and environmental protection.

Specifically,the provinces will foster connections in eight areas, including developing valuechains for major agricultural products and connecting infrastructure systems aswell as production regions for products of each province.

Theywill connect with each other in protecting, managing and exploiting resources,including sand and water, while linking up in calling for investment inagriculture and industry, with greater attention on agricultural productprocessing, as well as trade and tourism.

Thelocalities will work together to build regulations in coordination andinformation sharing as well as making joint programmes and projects related toclimate change response and prevention of river bank and coastal erosion.

Thelocalities aim to become a region with high development level compared to theMekong Delta region and the whole country by 2030, with per capita incomeequivalent to the country’s average level, stable livelihoods for locals and apoverty ratio below the country’s average.

Alongwith increasing models of hi-tech agriculture production, they will developcomprehensive irrigation infrastructure to adapt to climate change and develop themaritime-based economy.

Theeastern coastal sub-region of the Mekong Delta region has a total area of morethan 8,788 square kilometres, 21.5 percent of the total area of the MekongDelta.

In2019, Tra Vinh will head the management committee for the sub-region’sconnection activities.-VNA