Driving force for sustainable economic development
On December 16, the Science, Technology, Innovation (STI) and Digital Transformation Week of Can Tho City in 2025 (CASTID 2025) officially opened.
At the ceremony, Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee Truong Canh Tuyen informed that the city always identifies science and technology, technology and digital transformation as core driving forces to improve competitiveness, promote rapid and sustainable socio-economic development. Based on the general orientation of the Central Government, the City has issued many policies, programs and plans to promote research, application, and transfer scientific and technological advances to key areas.
The city also pays special attention to developing the startup and e-commerce ecosystem. With many support policies, DMST activities have gradually spread, contributing to the formation of a favorable environment to apply innovative models and solutions in management, production and service provision.
Notably, in 2025, the city has implemented the establishment of the Can Tho City Startup and Innovation Center under the Department of Science and Technology. The Center will act as a focal organization of the City to connect and exploit resources; build and develop a startup and e-commerce ecosystem in certain industries based on the advantages of the locality and the Mekong Delta region.
In addition, the Project to establish the Can Tho City Science, Technology and Environmental Protection Fund has been approved by the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee, as a basis for implementation in the next phase.
The region's Innovation Center
The Mekong Delta is facing structural and long-term challenges - from climate change, decline in land and water resources, urbanization pressure, to the urgent need to transform the growth model in depth, improve productivity and added value. In that context, Can Tho City is not only a place to be affected, but must be a place to form solutions.
According to Mr. Pham Duc Long - Deputy Minister of Science and Technology - those solutions cannot come from old methods, but must be formed from science and technology, DMST and digital transformation; tested, perfected and spread from Can Tho to the whole region.
Therefore, Mr. Long emphasized that CASTID 2025 is not only an opportunity to honor knowledge and creativity, but also a declaration of action of Can Tho City in re- positizing its development role: from an administrative - educational center, to a center for sustainable development and sustainable solutions, adapting to the Mekong Delta in the digital age.
Mr. Huynh Thanh Dat - Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission - said that the remarkable results in the fields of science, technology, technology and digital transformation of Can Tho City have contributed to the socio-economic development, improved urban governance capacity and improved the quality of life of people. At the same time, gradually creating a foundation for the green, sustainable and modern development model of Can Tho City in the coming period.
I highly appreciate the city's policy in implementing the project to build a regional Startup and Support Center in Can Tho City. This is the right orientation, in line with the new development requirements of the city and the whole region. The Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Committee will always accompany the city in strategic orientation work, creating unity and spreading the spirit of the Catechism. Thereby, contributing to mobilizing the intelligence of intellectuals, scientists, businesses and the whole society in the development of science, technology and creative startups in Can Tho City and the region, Mr. Dat affirmed.
