The Mekong Delta Region (“Mekong Delta”) is identified as the key agricultural region of the country and the "rice bowl" of Vietnam. On 07/07/2023, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 816/QD-TTg (“Decision 816”) in 2023 on the Implementation Plan for the Mekong River Delta Region for the period 2021-2030, vision to 2050. The plan aims to effectively implement Decision No. 287/QD-TTg dated February 28, 2022 of the Prime Minister approving the Master Plan for the Mekong Delta region in the period of 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050. Accordingly, Decision 816 sets out three key target groups in the Mekong Delta development planning: (i) Development towards a high-value, high-efficiency agricultural economy; ( ii) Developing dynamic urban-industrial areas; and (iii) Building a good living environment and attractive destinations.
To achieve the above targets, the Government has determined the investment direction in the Mekong Delta is: emphasizing and focusing on infrastructure development projects with inter-regional and inter-provincial connectivity, specifically:
a) For public investment projects, priority shall be given to projects with inter-regional and inter-provincial connectivity;
b) For projects using other capital sources: priority is given to projects on transport infrastructure and technical infrastructure, including:
- Agricultural hub, inland waterway port, seaport, logistics infrastructure;
- Supply of clean water;
- Development of power sources;
- Education, health, cultural, commercial, service infrastructure.
In detailing the above investment direction, Decision 816 provides a series of programs and projects in each field:
1. Agricultural infrastructure: To develop 08 focal centers on agriculture, including a regional general hub
The goal is that by 2030, the Mekong Delta will have 08 focal centers for agriculture in Can Tho, Dong Thap, An Giang, Kien Giang, Ca Mau, Soc Trang, Tien Giang and Ben Tre. In particular, Can Tho Province will be a new trade center with regional general functions with the main functions of trade, logistics, research and development, training and technology transfer, deep processing industry, and high technology application to add value to agricultural products.
2. In the field of transport infrastructure: Development of a system of multimodal transport structures connecting inter-regional and international
The goal is that by 2030, the Mekong Delta will build and upgrade 830km of highways and 4,000km of national highways; to build 2 more airports in Rach Gia, Ca Mau; to build and upgrade 13 seaports and 24 clusters of inland waterway ports.
3. In the field of clean water supply: Developing a system of water supply plants, raw water pumping stations of inter-provincial scale
Accordingly, 06 water plants and clusters of water plants have been planned, specifically:
- Song Tien 1 water plant system (Tien Giang);
- Water plants supplying raw or clean water in Tien Giang, Long An and Ben Tre;
- Tien 2 river water plant system (Vinh Long, Dong Thap);
- Hau River 1 water plant cluster system (Can Tho, Hau Giang);
- Hau River 2 water plant system (An Giang);
- Hau River 3 water plant system (An Giang).
4. In the field of power source development: Focus on developing thermal power
According to the plan, the Mekong Delta will focus on deploying thermal power plants in Long An, Bac Lieu, An Giang (Song Hau II), Can Tho (O Mon I, II, III, IV). In addition, there will be many projects to build and upgrade the 500KV and 220KV transmission lines in parallel to meet the needs of the socio-economic life of the localities.
Decision 816/QD-TTg takes effect from 7/7/2023.
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