Vietnam's Can Tho city records high growth in trade, tourism

Hanoi, December 25 (VNA)- The Mekong Delta city of Can Tho in Vietnam recorded the highest growth in trade and tourism over the past 10 years thanks to effective promotion strategies, Director of the municipal Centre for Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Nguyen Khanh Tung reported at a review conference on December 24. The city has so far attracted 22.95 trillion VND (over 1 billion USD) and 52.4 million USD from domestic and foreign investors; registered trade value of 71.73 trillion VND (3.24 billion USD); and welcomed over 1.36 million tourists, a year-on-year rise of 16.6 percent, 8.3 percent and 9 percent, respectively. In 2014, the city has improved infrastructure built for land and waterway traffic, while adopting incentives for businesses at home and abroad, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Planning and Investment Bui Ngoc Vy. Intensive trade promotion brought Vietnamese goods to rural areas and encouraged businesses to join international trade fairs in the capital Hanoi and the southern economic and business hub of Ho Chi Minh City, and other countries and territories like Cambodia, Taiwan (China), France, and Belgium, according to Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Industry and Trade Duong Nghia Hiep. Local authorities also provided technical assistance for businesses to create new products, reduce production costs, and increase competitiveness in the domestic and global markets. By concentrating on export staples like rice, seafood and garment, strengthening its foothold in traditional markets, and seeking fresh outlets, the city grossed over 71 trillion VND (3.2 billion USD) from domestic goods consumption and 1.35 billion USD from foreign exports. Meanwhile, the tourism sector earned over nearly 1.2 trillion VND (57.1 million USD) in revenue, exceeding the yearly target of 4.5 percent and registering a year-on-year rise of 20 percent, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism Dang Thai Hoa revealed. He attributed the outcome to the city’s cooperation with 19 cities and provinces across the country to promote its tourism products and services. Can Tho also partnered with southern An Giang and Kien Giang provinces to develop spiritual and ecological tourism, he said.-VNA