TVU – On September 30, 2022, Tra Vinh University, in cooperation with the University of Economics (UEH – Ha Noi) held a national scientific seminar with the theme “Domestic and international context: Opportunities and challenges for trading and investment in the Mekong Delta region”. The seminar is sponsored by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in Vietnam.
Attending the seminar were Assoc.Prof.Dr. Lê Trung Thành – Rector of UEH, Hanoi; Dr. Phạm Hùng Tiến – Deputy Country Director of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in Vietnam; Assoc.Prof.Dr. Phước Minh Hiệp – Former Director, Head of the Standing Committee of the South, Communist Magazine; Assoc.Prof.Dr. Hà Văn Hội – Dean of Faculty of Economics and International Business – University of Economics (Ha Noi). On the side of TVU, there was Assoc.Prof.Dr. Phạm Tiết Khánh, Chairman of the School Council; Assoc.Prof.Dr. Diệp Thanh Tùng – Vice Rector of TVU chaired the seminar.
The scientific seminar attracted more than 300 delegates including experts, scientists, lecturers, and postgraduate students in and outside Tra Vinh University; provincial leaders; representatives of agencies and sectors; businesses; teachers, and students to attend.
Assoc.Prof.Dr. Phạm Tiết Khánh, President of the School Council said: “The workshop helps organizations and individuals of the Mekong Delta and the whole country to understand the opportunities and challenges for trading and investment in the Mekong Delta. Henceforth, there are proposals and recommendations to the Party, State, local authorities, and businesses in the region on basic solutions to create a new foundation and resilience for the development of trading and investment in the new period.”
The conference received more than 50 papers from scientists throughout the country, and after the review from experts in the field of research, the conference organizers selected 28 articles to publish the monograph on “Economic Development of the Mekong Delta in a New Context” with three chapters: (1) General economic development issues in the Mekong Delta; (2) Trade and investment development; and (3) Development of economic sectors. This is a useful reference for scientists, policymakers, and readers who are interested in the Mekong Delta region and the Vietnamese economy.
The scientific seminar consisted of 2 working sessions with the topics discussed in session 1 including Current fluctuations in the world economy and implications for the Mekong Delta; Economic zone space – the driving force of investment attraction of Tra Vinh province; Solutions to develop small and medium enterprises in Tra Vinh province from 2021 to 2025.
Dr. Vũ Thanh Hương – University of Economics with the presentation on the world economy, the recovery and adaptation after the Covid-19 pandemic, the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on global prices, financial markets, economic recovery of countries and regions, political tensions; the process of reshaping global supply chains and value chains; the importance of digital transformation and automation, global trade and investment…; analyzing the resources of the Mekong Delta in agriculture, industry and services; thereby giving implications for the development of export industries such as high-tech agriculture, renewable energy, tourism, health care; developing human resources through digital skills training, investing in education and training; green development and circular economy; embrace the shift of the supply chain by taking advantage of the location and natural conditions, receiving green and high-tech FDI; promote international economic integration through strengthening GMS cooperation and taking advantage of FTAs.
Dr. Lê Thị Thu Diềm – Tra Vinh University with the presentation on “Spatial economic zones – the driving force for investment attraction of Tra Vinh province” analyzing the spatial zoning of Tra Vinh province’s economic development, the attraction investment of Tra Vinh province, strategic perspective on spatial development of an economic zone of Tra Vinh province in the period of 2021-2025. Thereby proposing solutions to attract investment; solutions on mechanisms and policies such as promoting socialization of investment in infrastructure development, proposing management models, exploiting industrial clusters, industrial parks, seaports, increasing connectivity and inter-related coordination area for Dinh An port; Solutions on the business environment, effectively using the information technology system of the one-stop shop to create favorable conditions for investors; Training and fostering human resources, enhancing the attraction of quality human resources, studying the training order mechanism…; Increase investment in monitoring the economic spatial planning that is invested and exploited according to the correct functions, ensuring synchronization between the superstructure and infrastructure.
Presentation on “Solutions to develop small and medium-sized enterprises in Tra Vinh province from 2021 to 2025” by MSc. Phạm Văn Bé Sáu – Department of Planning and Investment of Tra Vinh province has set a direction to develop small and medium enterprises in the direction of both improving the existing SME competitiveness and increasing the number of businesses through combining innovative start-ups with the transformation of business households, constantly improving mechanisms, policies and competitive environments, striving to 2025, the total number of SMEs in Tra Vinh will be 5,000 enterprises.
Delegates and experts discussed the limitations in socio-economic development in general as well as trade, investment, and economic activities of the Mekong Delta region in session 2. At the same time, proposed solutions for socio-economic development for the region such as: Solving the problem of low growth quality, low competitiveness, low labor productivity, and poor quality of infrastructure from global climate change … Afterwards, delegates and experts had a visit and work with Cuu Long Seafood Joint Stock Company, Duyen Hai Thermal Power Plant – Tra Vinh and Duyen Hai – Tra Vinh Wind Power Plant.
The national scientific seminar on “Domestic and international context: Opportunities and challenges for trading and investment in the Mekong Delta” is a place for academic and practical exchange on related issues in trading and investment and economic development in general in the Mekong Delta. This is also a forum for policymakers, researchers, associations, and business administrators to discuss opportunities and challenges for the economic development of the Mekong Delta, and provide feedback on policies, as well as enterprises in the new context of The International and Vietnam economy.
By Thy Truong
