Mekong Connect 2023: Expand links between Ho Chi Minh City and 13 Mekong Delta provinces

Information at the press conference introducing the Mekong Connect 2023 Forum on November 8, Mrs. Vu Kim Hanh, Chairman of the High-quality Vietnamese Goods Business Association, said the theme of Mekong Connect 2023 is for "Connecting the supply chain and value chain between Ho Chi Minh City economic region and the Mekong Delta towards a green and sustainable economy."

The forum is chaired by the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City, the High-quality Vietnamese Goods Business Association, and the Department of International Cooperation (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), together with coordinating organizing units. Mekong Connect 2023 takes place from November 15 - 16 at the City Party Committee Hall, 111 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan, Vo Thi Sau Ward, District 3 and Convention Center 272 Vo Thi Sau, Vo Thi Sau Ward, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City.

In 2023, Mekong Connect marks the first time the forum expands the scope of regional development links in Ho Chi Minh City and all 13 Mekong Delta provinces, aiming to become an annual public-private economic dialogue forum of the Ho Chi Minh City region economy in connection with the Mekong Delta region and the Southeast provinces. Thereby creating a space to access, discuss and propose opportunities, challenges, and solutions that directly affect the economic situation of the region.

According to Ms. Vu Kim Hanh, Chairwoman of the High-quality Vietnamese Goods Business Association, the world economic situation has a substantial impact on Vietnam. Among them, the most prominent trends of green transformation and sustainable development are leading the market. Many Vietnamese businesses have been taking action to adapt to this trend. In particular, recently, Ho Chi Minh City has also organized many forums and events discussing green economic sustainable development, providing information for businesses.

"To have content about green, sustainable development... in the Mekong Connect 2023 forum, the High-quality Vietnamese Goods Business Association has organized pre-Mekong Connect programs, seminars, factory tours, and green models, sustainable production model. These are documents for us to have more perspectives from businesses and experts in the field to communicate in the forum," said Mrs. Vu Kim Hanh.

Mr. Bui Ta Hoang Vu, Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade, said that connection is an essential action in the relationship between Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta and has shown very clear benefits. Currently, significant markets have set very strong requirements for green production and green standards. Therefore, Mekong Connect 2023 will aim to share experiences of successful businesses as well as market barriers so that businesses can take specific and appropriate actions.

To provide information to the business community on the green transformation journey towards Net Zero, on the first day of the event, Mekong Connect 2023 will have 4 thematic discussion sessions, including: Creating the Environment for the Business Community of the Green Economy; Emerging Markets: recycling and carbon credits; Solutions to expand markets for Vietnamese products in the world economic picture of 2024; Solutions to promote green consumption trends in society and green transformation in the business community.

In addition, 4 thematic sessions were gathering 50 speakers, including many businesses that have pioneered and achieved success in green transformation.

In the plenary session on Monday (November 16) it will discuss the impacts of the specific mechanism for developing Ho Chi Minh City on strengthening links for businesses in Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta in the supply chain of goods and services, challenges in implementing integrated planning in the Mekong Delta and propose supporting solutions. In addition, experts and businesses will also discuss taking advantage of policy leverage to strengthen economic and trade links between Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta economic regions.

According to Mrs. Vu Kim Hanh, in response to the wishes of a large number of agricultural businesses nationwide and with the enthusiastic support of Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan, Mekong Connect 2023 will have an additional activity "Activation selling to agricultural business forces with OCOP products on e-commerce platforms and social networks" on the morning of November 15.

In addition, within the framework of the Mekong Conect Forum 2023, 80 letters of commendation from Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan will be awarded to 80 agricultural enterprises, and 20 letters of thanks to experts who have supported agricultural enterprises throughout 2023 will be granted.