Representatives of the People’s Committee of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho held a working session with Australian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Karen Lanyon on September 14 to discuss cooperation in diverse areas in the near future.
Speaking at the event, Lanyon hailed Can Tho as an economic hub of the Mekong Delta that attracts Australian investors who want to form long-term strategic partnership.
She wished that Can Tho and Australia would mutually benefit from a common strategy with a priority given to agriculture, renewable energy, environment protection and climate change response.
Since this year, the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) has sent agronomists to Can Tho to conduct studies and seek feasibility plans to clear barriers in agriculture, focusing on food safety, climate change, land quality improvement and tree nutrition, market connectivity, value increase for agricultural products and aquaculture.
ACIAR will assist Can Tho in adopting technological advances in high-tech agriculture, attracting the private sector in creating opportunities to the poor in both rural and urban areas to benefit from advanced farming models.
It aims to improve the capacity of Can Tho farmers, agriculture extension officials and scientists from research and training establishments.
Via a cooperation scheme, Can Tho will work closely with ACIAR to improve farm produce output and quality, protect land and water resources, and ensure food safety and hygiene, Lanyon said.
In renewable energy field, the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) will conduct a full and detailed report on the development potential of wind power, solar power and biomass energy, thereby proposing suitable policies.
AER will also help the city pilot a new project on tapping and manufacturing renewable energy in hi-tech agriculture or aquaculture processing, then review its efficiency and spread to other cities and provinces in the southwest, making Can Tho a vanguard in the region in terms of clean energy development.
Both sides will also work together on clean air, greenhouse gas emission, water drainage management and wastewater treatment projects.
The clean air project will target inner Can Tho areas, including Ninh Kieu and Binh Thuy districts, Tra Noc 1 and Tra Noc 2 industrial and processing zones, focusing on monitoring air quality, reviewing greenhouse emission and building an action plan.
Australian experts will also study water drainage in the locality and work out proper solutions.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Truong Quang Hoai Nam agreed with the Australian Consul General’s proposals and pledged to improve business climate, reform mechanisms to attract investment.
He expressed his hope that the Australian side will serve as a bridge connecting Can Tho with Australian government-funded projects, and hold regular meetings with Australian investors to introduce the city’s strengths and potentials.