Can Tho eyes expanded ties with Australia in hi-tech agriculture

Illustrative image. (Photo: VNA)

Can Tho (VNA) – The Mekong Delta City of Can Tho hopes to expand cooperation with overseas partners, including those from Australia, to improve production capacity as the city sets out to be a regional pioneer in hi-tech agriculture.

The statement was made by Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Truong Quang Hoai Nam in a meeting with Rob Gordon, CEO of food producer and exporter Sunrice from Australia, on September 7 where they discussed ways to boost the city’s rice production and exports.

Can Tho lies in the heart of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam’s largest rice basket, and exports more than half a million tonnes of rice worth 300 million USD on average annually, said Nam. The region’s rice exports were estimated at more than 400,000 tonnes in the first eight months of 2017, an increase of 3.9 percent from the same period last year, earning 190.8 million USD, up 10.1 percent, he noted.

The city aims to lead the region in hi-tech agriculture to reduce cost and enhance productivity and quality of farm produce, he said, adding that it looks forward to fostering ties with foreign companies, particularly from Australia, to access new agricultural technologies and more markets in Europe, North America and North Asia.

For his part, Gordon said Vietnam is capable of gaining a larger market share in these markets thanks to its competitively priced rice compared to rivals in the region, with Vietnamese rice selling for 300-400 USD per tonne less than Thailand’s.

He suggested that the firm will assist Can Tho in developing supply chains in rice farming. He also noted that the firm is interested in some local hi-tech agricultural projects.

Welcoming the proposal, Nam vowed to work with local state agencies to support Sunrice