Promoting investment and trade between the US and provinces in the Mekong Delta

On the afternoon of January 20, People’s Committee of An Giang Province coordinated with the Commercial Service of the US Consulate General in Vietnam and the Investment Promotion Center – South Vietnam (IPCS) to organize a dialogue on “Promoting investment and trade between the US and provinces in the Mekong Delta”. The dialogue was chaired by Mr. Tran Anh Thu – Vice Chairman of People’s Committee of An Giang Province; Mr. Daniel Pint – Representative of the Commercial Service of the US Consulate General in Vietnam; Ms. Tran Thi Hai Yen – Director of the Investment Promotion Center – South Vietnam co-chaired the seminar.

Delegates attending a dialogue on investment and trade promotion between the United States and the Mekong Delta provinces

Mr. Tran Anh Thu, Vice Chairman of People’s Committee of An Giang Province, stated that the Mekong Delta has many agricultural potentials and advantages. An Giang, Kien Giang, Can Tho, and Ca Mau are the region’s four driving forces, with important positions in rice production, pangasius catfish, seafood exploitation, coastal economic development, and so on. It also has strengths in tourism and trade, etc. However, trade between the US and the Mekong Delta remains low.

Mr. Tran Anh Thu – Vice Chairman of People’s Committee of An Giang Province presents a speech at the Dialogue

Vietnam and U.S. Governments have agreed to increase trade and investment promotion between the two countries. Tariff barriers will be removed as free trade agreements take effect, but technical barriers will be imposed. As a result, understanding US investment regulations is critical in order to assist Mekong Delta businesses in promoting investment and connecting trade with US partners.

Through this, Mr. Thu also wished that the US Consulate General’s Commercial Service in Ho Chi Minh City and IPCS would share information and assist Mekong Delta businesses in connecting trade, developing investment incentive, and delivering products to the US market.

Ms. Tran Thi Hai Yen – Director of the Investment Promotion Center – South Vietnam

Ms. Tran Thi Hai Yen, Director of the Southern Investment Promotion Center, spoke at the dialogue about the state of Vietnam’s investment overseas in 2021, as well as the investment areas and fields that Vietnam has received and is executing. As of December 20, 2021, Vietnam has invested in the US with 205 projects with a total registered capital of 1.05 billion USD, ranking 7th among 79 countries and territories investing in Vietnam. In this dialogue, Ms. Yen also shared more about regulations and procedures for investing abroad for businesses desiring to invest in the US.

Mr. Daniel Pint, a representative of the US Trade Office, introduced the US Investment Program SelectUSA and the SelectUSA 2022 Investment Conference (scheduled to take place in June 2022 in the United States). The North Carolina State Economic Development Authority (USA) informs about investment opportunities in North Carolina. In addition, Mr. Le Tuan Minh, Director of Baker McKenzie Company, provided insights of foreign direct investment’s policy and legislation into USA.

Mr. Daniel Pint, representative of the Commercial Service of the US Consulate General in Vietnam, spoke at the dialogue