The Mekong Delta city of Can Tho has set a goal to become an industrial hub in the region by 2015, with industry accounting for 46.9 percent of its local economy.
To obtain the goal, municipal authorities have mobilised
about 220 trillion VND (10 billion USD) to invest in infrastructure for
industrial and economic sectors. 
The city earmarked 5,000 hectares of land for industrial development, including a hi-tech complex and 10 new industrial parks.
On top of this, the city also focuses on industrial investment promotion, support for small and medium-sized enterprises, and competitive sectors like agro-forestry-fishery, garments, leather and footwear, electronics, information technology, mechanical products, pharmaceuticals and consumer goods.
Apart from hi-tech and open economic zones, facilities for heavy industries like oil and gas, metallurgy, chemicals, fertilisers and construction materials will be built. Small and medium-scale industrial clusters are also encouraged to set up in rural areas.
Can Tho is offering new technology courses for workers, therefore enabling them to manufacture mechanical products needed in farming production and for exports by 2020.
The city will boost trade and apply quality and environmental management systems that meet international standards. Besides technological and management solutions to improve production efficiency, it will focus resources on production and exports, especially in the processing industry, strengthen multi-sector trading and work closely with regional provinces.
This year, Can Tho targets an industrial production value of over 27 trillion billion VND (1.2 billion USD), a year-on-year rise of 15 percent.
VNA
