Can Tho (VNA) – US Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Mary Tarnowka hasexpressed her wishes to further promote trade with the Mekong Delta city of CanTho in the field of agriculture, thereby enabling firms from the Mekong Deltaand Can Tho in particular to boost their exports to the US.

During aworking session with the municipal authorities on August 10, Tarnowka said thatUS consumers are keen for Vietnamese rice and catfish – two of the key currencyearners in Can Tho.

She saidthe Consulate General will actively help Can Tho and regional localitiesconnect with the US’ National Sustainable Agriculture Programme, which looks toenhance local production and boost trade with domestic and foreign partners.

Joining theprogramme, participants will have the chance to cultivate and develop farmproduce on US soil, so that both sides can share experiences and techniques inagricultural production for sustainable development.

Many UStertiary and post-tertiary education establishments are ready to transfer newtechnological advances in the field to Vietnamese firms, she said.

In terms ofhealthcare, the US Embassy in Vietnam will suggest that the US Department ofHealth and Human Services send more working delegations from prestigious hospitals,research centres, and medical universities to Can Tho to share their expertise,she said.

Inparticular, the Consulate General is ready to share its experiences with CanTho in smart urban development, she said, adding that Can Tho should considerdeveloping smart urban areas as a foundation for socio-economic development,while also upgrading transport infrastructure and providing services for its peopleand businesses, contributing to the improvement of local livelihoods.

Accordingto her, the US side will send experts to Can Tho to help it build a database meetingeight common criteria on smart planning, transportation, environmentmanagement, administration and businesses, administration and citizens,citizens and services, agriculture, and social safety and order management.

Tarnowkaproposed that applications on smart urban development be piloted in severaldistricts and communes towards building Can Tho into a model city for SoutheastAsia in the near future.

Agreeingwith the guest’s proposals, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s CommitteeDao Anh Dung said collaboration with the US is one of the key focuses in astrategy to attract investment in Can Tho and the Mekong Delta.

He pledgedto improve the local business climate, reform administrative procedures at alllevels, restructure the economy, and shift to new growth models, as well asoffer all possible support to US investors.

The hosthoped that the Consulate General would help Can Tho hold periodic meetings withUS investors to introduce its strength, potential, and cooperation requirements.–VNA