Ben Tre (VNA) – Prime Minister NguyenXuan Phuc urged Ben Tre to prioritise land funds for investors while attendingan investment promotion conference in the Mekong Delta province on July 20.

To attract investors, the province should alsoensure supply of electricity, develop transport system and providinghigh-quality human resources, the PM said.

He stressed that local authorities shouldaccompany businesses, share their concern and work together with them to removedifficulties.

PM Phuc particularly pointed to the motto ofturning threats into opportunities.

For example, Ben Tre is one of the localitieshardest hit by climate change, so the province must seek new policies,technologies and connectivity models to cope with the threat, the PM said.

He added that during his recent official visitto Japan, the Government had signed an agreement with Japan on a watermanagement project in Ben Tre worth nearly 9 trillion VND (396 million USD). 

In the coming time, PM Phuc will chair a meetingwith the participation of the Netherlands’ Government to study ways to adapt toclimate change and rising sea level in southwest provinces, including Ben Tre.

He suggested Ben Tre boost socio-economicdevelopment based on the sea and river system, one of the local advantages. 

Phuc also hailed the idea of connecting MekongDelta localities, which was recently discussed by Ben Tre, Tien Giang, Tra Vinhand Vinh Long provinces, saying the Government strongly supports suchcooperation model.

Mentioning the specialty of Ben Tre – coconut,PM Phuc said he hopes Ben Tre will become a coconut metropolis of Vietnam withregional-level processing industry and high economic values.

Apart from these solutions, the PM alsoemphasised on improving the quality of seafood processing and shrimp breedingvia high technology.

As one of the leading localities in the nation’sstart-up movement, Ben Tre hopes to create a start-up community in the time ahead.

In 2017-2020, the province will invite investorsfor 63 projects, mainly in construction and infrastructure at industrial parks,industrial clusters, tourism, markets, supermarkets and trade centres, urbanand residential areas, agriculture, rural areas, renewable energy, education,water drainage system, and solid waste treatment.

Since the beginning of this year, the localityhas granted investment licences to 25 projects with a total registered capitalof 17 trillion VND (748 million USD).-VNA