Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has instructed competent agencies to promptly create regional coordination institutions and a sustainable development mechanism in the Mekong Delta.

The request has been included in Directive No. 23/CT-TTg recently signed by the Government leader, aiming to push ahead with the implementation of the Government’s Resolution No. 120/NQ-CP on developing the Mekong Delta sustainably, adaptive to climate change.

Under the Directive, the PM said regional connectivity should be taken into account during the process of making mechanisms and policies on economic development, infrastructure investment, production connectivity and product consumption.

He also required seeking more resources and legal sources of capital for the region, highlighting the significance of a suitable financial mechanism to the sustainable development in the region.

The leader called for greater efforts in personnel training, human resource development, and scientific research and technological development in service of the regional sustainable development.

PM Phuc pointed out that the implementation of Resolution No. 120/NQ-CP has been hampered by the lack of attention of agencies and localities to both research work and resource mobilization for solutions to ease adverse impacts of climate change and meet demands of sustainable socio-economic development. The lack of effective regulations on regional coordination and regional and inter-regional connectivity is also another factor behind the limited outcomes of the resolution.

The Mekong Delta comprises of 12 provinces: Long An, Dong Thap, Tien Giang, An Giang, Ben Tre, Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, Hau Giang, Kien Giang, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, and Ca Mau, along with the centrally run city of Can Tho.

The region is under serious threats from extreme and unpredictable sides of climate change such as erosion, saltwater intrusion and water shortage that are getting severe, affecting regional development.