The Mekong Delta city of Can Tho plans to focus investment in the threekey sectors of rice, seafood, and garments, which are also its biggestexporters.

Duong Nghia Hiep, deputy director of the city'sDepartment of Industry and Trade, said milling, polishing, andpackaging plants of international standard would be set up to increaserice exports to demanding markets like the EU, Japan, and North Americafrom 17 percent of total exports last year to 22 percent this year.

Theremaining 78 percent of exports would be targeted at Asian markets likeChina, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan and SouthKorea.

The city hopes for increase overall exports to one million tonnes worth 412 million USD, he said.

CanTho will grow 1.4 million tonnes of the grain, of which half will beearmarked for exports. It will buy another 550,000 tonnes from provinceslike Kien Giang, An Giang and Dong Thap for processing.

The city will reduce exports of raw seafood and instead seek to sell processed seafood.

It will buy tiger prawn and tra fish from Ca Mau, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, An Giang and Dong Thap for processing.

It will foster co-operation between local businesses to enhance production and exports.

Hightechnology will be obtained for processing and preservation of seafoodto improve competitiveness and meet the requirements of buyers in Asia,North America and Europe.

Can Tho targets exports of 160,000 tonnes of seafood this year for 485 million USD.

Inthe garment sector, plants nearly Rach Ngong 2 bridge and Tra Noc IIndustrial Park will be upgraded, 6,500 new sewing machines will bebought, and 3,000 workers will be trained to produce items with highdemand – like shorts, sweatpants, shirts, vests, jackets, and sweaters.-VNA