Many challenges
The information was given at the 2025 Annual Member Conference of the Mekong Delta region with the theme " Adapting to global trade challenges: new opportunities and directions for Mekong Delta businesses" held in Can Tho City on May 14.
Mr. Vo Tan Thanh - Vice President of the Vietnam Federation of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) - said that in 2024, the Mekong Delta economy will continue to maintain positive growth momentum. The GRDP of the whole region reached 7.3%, exceeding the growth rate in 2023 (6.6%) and higher than the national average (7.1%). Many localities have impressive growth rates such as Tra Vinh (10.04%), Hau Giang (8.76%), Long An (8.3%) and Kien Giang (7.5%).
The economic structure of the region is still characterized by the large proportion of the agriculture - forestry - fishery sector. Import and export continue to be an important growth driver. Total import-export turnover in 2024 will reach 41.96 billion USD. Of which, exports reached 28,195 billion USD (up 15.6%) and imports reached 13.766 billion USD (up 21.37%).
Tien Giang, Long An, Dong Thap and Can Tho are localities with super high exports. The Mekong Delta contributes up to 57% of the total surplus value from international trade to the national budget.
In addition to positive results, attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) is still modest, both in terms of project quantity and capital scale.
According to a survey conducted by VCCI Mekong Delta branch in early 2025, most businesses are expected to face many challenges. Accordingly, 68.8% of enterprises are concerned about inflation and increased production costs; 57.1% of enterprises forecast a decrease in domestic consumption demand and 54.5% of enterprises believe that the export market will decrease.
These figures are a serious warning, requiring both the public and private sectors to take quick, drastic and synchronous action to support businesses to overcome the storm.
3 main groups of activities to support businesses
To overcome challenges in 2025, businesses expressed interest in policies and improving the business environment; promoting trade; enhancing business capacity for businesses through training and consulting.
Faced with that need, VCCI Mekong Delta branch has a specific plan to meet it. For the policy activity group, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuong Linh - Deputy Director of VCCI Mekong Delta Branch - informed that it will include developing and publishing the Mekong Delta Annual Economic Report 2024 and the Development Policy Forum; establishing a legal consulting club for businesses; Coordinate with localities to organize policy seminars, providing essential information for businesses...
The group of environmental improvement activities includes consulting and supporting localities to improve DDCI and PCI indexes; proposing and connecting projects, investment funds for socio-economic development and the community...
Regarding the group of activities to support businesses, it will focus on improving capacity (training, providing information); connecting business (organizing trade and investment promotion conferences, connecting directly); expanding the market (providing market information, organizing domestic and foreign trade promotion delegations).
