The Business Association for High Quality Vietnamese Products and the four Mekong Delta localities of An Giang, Ben Tre, Can Tho and Dong Thap organised a press meeting in Can Tho City on August 18 to introduce the Mekong Connect-CEO Forum 2015. — VNS Photo

HCM CITY (Biz Hub) — Around 600 CEOs from the Cuu Long (Mekong) River Delta and HCM City will participate in the first Mekong Connect-CEO Forum 2015 to be held in Can Tho City on September 4.

Under the main theme "Connection-Integration-Development", the forum will discuss Viet Nam's economy and integration, human resources, start-up business and know-how, and ways to increase consumption of farm produce.

Viet Nam has signed 11 free trade agreements and is negotiating five other important FTAs, which will open opportunities but also present challenges for domestic companies.

The region's key export items such as rice, seafood, fruits and vegetables will have chances to increase export, said Vu Kim Hanh, chairwoman of the Business Association for High Quality Vietnamese Products.

Companies will face fiercer competition in both domestic and export markets as well as trade barriers set by import countries, she said at a press conference organised in Can Tho City on August 18.

Truong Quang Hoai Nam, deputy chairman of the Can Tho City People's Committee, said the city has more than 7,000 businesses, with a combined retail and services revenue of more than US$4 billion annually.

The Cuu Long Delta with 13 cities and provinces plays an important role in the country's economy, contributing 17.8 per cent of the country's GDP and accounting for 80 per cent of rice export value, and nearly 60 per cent seafood export value. — VNS