Nguyen Khanh Tung, director of Can Tho’s Center for Investment, Trade and Expo Promotion, said at least 27 groups representing 100 businesses from the four countries have come to the Mekong Delta city in the year to date.

 

Korean firms are keen on sectors like hi-tech farming, food processing and beverage. Some business groups from the Northeast Asian country have discussed with Can Tho’s leaders about their plans to develop Can Tho into a smart city, Tung said at a press conference held on August 23 to introduce the fourth investment forum in the Mekong Delta region in November.

 

Japanese companies have shown keen interest in agriculture and tourism while Thai firms have sought to invest in water supply and industrial wastewater treatment projects. Some Indian firms plan to open branches and stores to sell ploughing machines and crop harvesters before building manufacturing facilities in the city.

 

Nguyen Phuong Lam, deputy director of the Vietnam Chamber of Industry and Commerce (VCCI) in Can Tho, said foreign direct investment in the Mekong Delta has increased significantly in recent years.

 

The number of FDI projects in the delta in 2014 was 184 but surged to 371 last year with total capital of US$3.6 billion. Foreign firms registered a total of US$1.4 billion for 79 projects in the delta in January-June.

 

The fourth investment forum in the Mekong Delta, or MekongInvest, is set to take place in Can Tho on November 11 and 12. This is an opportunity for local agro-aqua-forestry enterprises to learn about modern technology and machines used to make value-added products.

 

Lam said most enterprises in the delta semi-process products for export, so the value of these products is low.

 

Foreign companies would be aided to introduce their processing technology and machines and then manufacture these machines in Vietnam to capitalize on high demand in the Mekong Delta, Lam said.

 

Organizers of MekongInvest will arrange field trips to farms and processing facilities in the delta for participating foreign businesses at the event upon request.