HCMC-based enterprises have established 110 projects in 20 southeast and Mekong Delta provinces in 2012 under a trade cooperation program between the city and these provinces, a city official said on Thursday.
HCMC-based enterprises have established 110 projects in 20 southeast and Mekong Delta provinces in 2012 under a trade cooperation program between the city and these provinces, a city official said on Thursday.
The program has produced positive effects on developing goods distribution networks. However, it has more things to do in order to get into the deep, heard a review conference on the program held in HCMC on Thursday.
Le Ngoc Dao, deputy director of the HCMC Department of Industry and Trade, reported the city-based firms last year carried out 110 projects and joint projects in the provinces in the southeast region and the Mekong Delta.
They include 75 projects in livestock farming and agricultural production and 35 projects in the retail sector. The total cost of these projects are nearly VND8 trillion.
In particular, Vissan invests in five livestock farming projects in Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Long An, while Ba Huan spends some VND350 billion on breeds, animal feeds and technology, and provides consumption guarantees for farmers in Long An, Kien Giang and Binh Duong.
As for retail, Saigon Co.op sets up three supermarkets and Vinatex develops 11, among 35 markets, supermarkets and commercial centers that have been put into operation.
Dao said that after the cooperation agreement had been signed, the provinces introduced favorable policies to lure investors. Enterprises had regular meetings with provincial leaders and thus their problems were timely solved, she told the Daily on the sidelines of the conference.
Chau Minh Nguyen, deputy director of the trade department of Dong Nai, said the province greatly welcomed the projects aimed at retail network expansion.
Last year, Dong Nai helped Vinatex Mart seek six locations to open supermarkets. So far, two supermarkets have been completed, and the other four are in land rent negotiations, he said.
Bui Hanh Thu, deputy general director of Saigon Co.op, described the trade cooperation program between HCMC and other localities as a catalyst for faster and more favorable investment.
Saigon Co.op last year received strong support from the provinces through the recommendation of locations for supermarkets and purchasing power survey. Ten localities even allocated the company VND85 billion to implement the price stabilization program.
Dao said the trade cooperation program had a lot of shortcomings though. Enterprises from HCMC still mainly invest in the neighboring provinces to reduce transport costs, while neglecting the farther provinces like Ca Mau and Kien Giang.
Connection between producers and distributors and formation of a supply chain remain inefficient because many key products still have not joined the distribution system.
Phan Thi My Thanh, vice chairwoman of Dong Nai Province, noted that not only do localities need to join hands with one another, but the Ministry of Industry and Trade also needs to connect with other ministries.
Meanwhile, representatives of Vinh Long and Dong Thap wanted to join HCMC in trade promotion trips in order to boost efficiency. Most localities have organized costly trips to foreign countries to call for investment and introduce their products, but the efficiency of such trips is very low.
(Source:VNNet)
