Efforts to Enhance Enterprise Competitiveness

In recent years, the industry and trade sector of Ca Mau has effectively supported enterprises in restoring production and business. Mr. Nguyen Chi Thien, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Ca Mau province, said: "The sector's efforts have actively contributed to enhancing product competitiveness and gradually modernizing the industry."

Ca Mau gas-fired thermal power plant

What achievements has Ca Mau province made in the development of industry, trade, and services during the mid-term period of 2021-2025?

With the attention and direction of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, Provincial People's Committee, and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ca Mau's industry and trade sector has effectively implemented resolutions, programs, and plans tailored to the local context. Despite the complex global economic situation, the sector has employed many solutions to stimulate demands, alleviate difficulties, and support businesses, which has significantly bolstered industrial production and trade activities. As a result, the sector has seen substantial growth. From 2021 to 2023, industrial growth rates improved annually, with processed shrimp and fertilizer outputs meeting over 60% of their targets. The trade sector has also performed well, with export turnover reaching 60.48% of the plan and exceeding US$1.1 billion annually. Retail sales and consumer service revenue reached 56.76% of the plan, growing by 13.75% per year. Total export turnover reached US$3,629 million, with an average growth rate of 5.8% per year.

We have focused on planning and encouraging investment in the technical infrastructure of industrial parks and clusters, aligning with the province's industrial development plan. Currently, two industrial clusters have been established and are operational, covering a total area of 79.15 hectares. The sector also supports businesses and investors in developing renewable energy projects, such as wind, solar, and biomass power. From 2021 to 2023, the province has launched four projects and one partial project, totaling 170MW of capacity. In addition, the development of service trade infrastructure has made significant progress, helping enhance the trade of goods and effectively meet market demand.

How has the industry and trade sector addressed the development of e-commerce and the enhancement of IT applications in trade promotion, supply-demand connections, and product consumption?

The e-commerce sector of Ca Mau province has been recognized for its remarkable progress by the Vietnam E-commerce Association. It ranked 47th out of 63 provinces and cities in 2021 and 2022, and improved to 40th in 2023, marking a 7-place increase from the previous years.

To achieve this success, the sector has effectively implemented many activities. In addition to promoting awareness of e-commerce and applying IT in trade promotion, we have conducted training to improve skills and update e-commerce knowledge for businesses, cooperatives, production and business establishments, as well as women and youth in the area. We have supported businesses, cooperatives, and One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) entities in building 36 websites from 2020 to the present. It has also assisted in listing products on the province's e-commerce platform (madeincamau.vn). Additionally, the sector has provided guidance on introducing, promoting, and selling products on major e-commerce platforms such as Shopee, Tiktok Shop and Lazada.

In light of deepening international economic integration, what specific support plans and programs are in place to assist businesses in developing their production capabilities, improving competitiveness, and expanding their consumer markets?

In recent years, Vietnam has proactively and deeply integrated into the international community, providing a strong internal impetus for the industry to pursue its goals. The sector has advised the Provincial People's Committee on several specific programs and plans. Notably, this includes supporting the application of advanced machinery and equipment to enhance product quality under Program 03/CTr-UBND. Additionally, the sector has coordinated with related entities to support over 38 tasks and projects under national and local industrial promotion schemes. This support acts as a lever for local rural industrial production establishments, helping them modernize equipment and expand production.

The industry and trade sector has also focused on selecting and honoring typical rural industrial products with quality and development potential. Currently, the province has 110 products recognized as typical rural industrial products at the provincial level, 28 at the regional level, and 15 at the national level. In terms of foreign trade promotion, the province creates favorable conditions for businesses to explore and research markets, meet with existing customers, and seek new ones to expand their consumption and export opportunities. The province also effectively implements domestic trade promotion activities, supporting over 300 businesses in participating in nearly 30 regional and national trade promotion events in major cities, thereby connecting with many domestic and international purchasing partners.

In order to contribute effectively to the implementation of the Ca Mau Provincial Party Congress Resolution, what key goals will the industry and trade sector focus on in the near future?

To achieve the assigned goals according to the Resolution of the Provincial Party Congress, the sector will continue to effectively implement programs and plans in the field of industry and trade for the period of 2021 - 2025. These include the Industrial Promotion Plan, the Plan for Developing Goods Exports, the Plan for Developing E-Commerce, and the Plan for Implementing the Project "Promoting the Application of IT and Digital Transformation in Trade Promotion Activities (2021 - 2030)." The focus will be on each industrial and trade sector to highlight the sector’s activities. Improving the investment and business environment and enhancing provincial competitiveness (PCI) is identified as a top political task. To continue improving and enhancing the PCI, consensus and determination from government agencies, units, and civil servants in the spirit of "accompanying businesses" are required. In this process, particularly for the industry and trade sector, the unit will work to further improve the effectiveness of investment promotion and attraction. This includes creating the most favorable conditions for businesses, especially large foreign investors and significant domestic corporations. Investment promotion will be prioritized for high-tech and environmentally friendly projects. The sector will also coordinate with the Ca Mau Seafood Processing and Export Association, the Ca Mau Provincial Business Association, and local enterprises and cooperatives to promptly address policy feedback and resolve difficulties and problems.

It is undeniable that, despite the results, the province and its functional sectors clearly identify many difficulties and challenges. However, I am confident that with the strong efforts of the Provincial People's Committee, departments, branches, and localities, as well as the joint efforts of the business community, the investment and business environment of Ca Mau will continue to improve. This will contribute to making the locality a relatively developed province in the Mekong Delta in the shortest time.

Thank you very much!

By Cong Luan, Vietnam Business Forum