The purpose of the forum is to generate new development momentum for Can Tho City's high-tech agricultural zones, centralized information technology zones, and high-tech zones. Consult with experts, scientists, managers, and businesses to identify solutions, mechanisms, and policies to mobilize resources for the development of the Mekong Delta Agricultural Product Linking Center in Can Tho.

At the forum, experts discussed two issues including the current status and role of linkage, production, processing, and consumption of agricultural products in the Mekong Delta; Solutions to organize and implement effectively, promoting the role of the Mekong Delta Agricultural Product Linkage Center in Can Tho City when it comes into operation.

Mr. Tran Viet Truong, chairman of the Can Tho City People's Committee, emphasized that the Mekong Delta Agricultural Product Linking Center was constructed with the intent of becoming the center of a modern agricultural economy. In addition, it connects the production, refining, and consumption of agricultural products throughout the entire Mekong Delta region. Moreover, the formation of the Mekong Delta Agricultural Product Linkage Center in Can Tho City seeks to create "a multi-service destination" with the function of connecting three "ers": farmers, manufacturers, exporters, and importers.

In addition, this Center will serve as a place to collect resources capable of contributing to the resolution of regional issues such as economic restructuring; logistics, logistics; climate change response; and establishing Can Tho City as a connecting pole between provinces in the Mekong Delta and countries in the Mekong subregion.

The outcomes of discussions between scientists and experts indicate that the Mekong Delta region faces challenges and constraints that must be eliminated in terms of agricultural product links, production, refining, and consumption.

In reality, agricultural production in the Mekong Delta is still susceptible to a number of dangers and lacks initiative in raw material areas. Due to the continued reliance on the import market for raw materials and the lack of uniformity in product quality as a result of limitations in production scale, the production process incurs a great deal of expense.

Simultaneously, organizational structures and production linkages are ineffective, and processing technology, particularly agricultural product processing and refrigerated storage, is limited and has not received adequate investment consideration.

The linkages between production, refining, and consumption of agricultural products in the region are unsustainable, and the situation of non-fulfillment of commitments, also known as a "break-the-deal" situation, still occurs when fluctuations in market prices cause agriculture to become unstable. The Mekong Delta has not yet developed in accordance with its potential, advantages, and internal resources.

Can Tho City, recognizing the significance of the Mekong Delta Agricultural Product Linkage Center, anticipates that, once the Center is authorized in the near future, it will contribute to resolving common constraints in the region's production, processing, and consumption of agricultural products.

To assist Can Tho City in preparing for the Center, policy mechanisms to attract investors, connect transport infrastructure, logistics, site clearance, and resettlement will be deployed to serve the Center.

The Prime Minister issued Decision No. 816/QD-TTg on July 7, 2023, promulgating the Plan to Implement the Mekong Delta Regional Plan for 2021 to 2030, with a vision to 2050.

According to the plan, the Mekong Delta will receive funding for the development of eight agricultural focal centers, including one general focal center in Can Tho that will function as a regional logistical center associated with service development. 7 focal centers collect, classify, and process agricultural products in Hau Giang (2 focal centers in An Giang and Dong Thap associated with freshwater ecological zones; 3 focal centers in Kien Giang, Ca Mau, and Soc Trang associated with seafood; and 2 focal centers in Tien Giang and Ben Tre associated with fruits and vegetables).