Can Tho (VNA) – The Mekong Delta city of Can Tho and Italy are seeking to strengthen cooperation in healthcare, climate change response and trade, building on their respective strengths and untapped potential to promote sustainable development and economic ties.
On October 12, Italian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Alessandra Tognonato and her delegation met with representatives of the Can Tho People’s Committee to discuss prospects for cooperation in healthcare and climate change response.
Tognonato said Can Tho has gained new development opportunities following the administrative merger, creating greater potential for cooperation. Italian localities and partners are interested in exploring opportunities in the city to strengthen bilateral ties.
Healthcare, particularly public healthcare, is among Italy’s development priorities, she stated, adding Italian experts have also participated in Mekong forums on climate change, sharing expertise and contributing to discussions on related issues.
Italy hopes to introduce more partners and scientific organisations to support Can Tho in addressing climate change and promoting sustainable development, she noted.
Following its administrative merger with Hau Giang and Soc Trang provinces, Can Tho covers approximately 6,360 square kilometres and has a population of around 4.2 million. The city has strengths in agriculture, fisheries, processing industries, trade and services, as well as port facilities, an airport and transport networks connecting it with other localities.
These advantages provide a foundation for Can Tho to develop into a regional centre for economic activities, trade, logistics and goods distribution.
Nguyen Thi Ngoc Diep, Vice Chairwoman of the municipal People’s Committee, said Italy has strengths in high-tech agriculture, transport and logistics, which are also among the city’s investment priorities.
She expressed her hope that the Italian Consul General would help connect Italian partners with Can Tho, opening up cooperation opportunities in healthcare, education and climate change response. She also called for stronger business links and trade promotion activities to make better use of the two sides’ economic potential.
Can Tho aims to become a regional healthcare centre and needs international partners to support primary healthcare and public health programmes and projects, she said.
According to Diep, the city has received effective assistance from non-governmental organisations, including medical equipment, medicines and supplies for local healthcare facilities. It also plans to upgrade selected existing hospitals into specialised facilities serving the wider region, in line with the Ministry of Health’s master plan.
Alongside funding from the city and the Government, international resources, including those from Italy, will be important to achieving these goals, she stressed.
In the first eight months of 2026, Can Tho’s exports to Italy reached 3.4 million USD, while imports totalled 2.1 million USD.
The city sees significant room for expanding trade and investment ties with Italy. Stronger business connections and trade promotion are expected to help both sides make better use of their respective strengths and build more substantive and sustainable economic cooperation./.
VNA
See more
Vietnam’s economic transformation opens up major cooperation opportunities with EU: PM
European companies were keen to increase investment and partnerships in green transition, supply chains, transport, strategic infrastructure, critical raw materials, science and technology, defence and security, and other areas of mutual interest.
Da Nang identifies key sectors for international financial centre
VIFC-DN aims to develop sectors with distinct competitive advantages and strong links to emerging growth areas, connecting international capital with projects, businesses and investment opportunities in Da Nang, the central region and Vietnam as a whole.
OCOP-tourism links boost value of Vietnamese farm products
Producers are suggested to bring visitors to farms and workshops to experience cultivation, processing and local traditions, rather than simply selling products at tourist destinations.
World Economic Forum to co-brand Autumn Economic Forum 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City
On October 27, the forum will host 16 thematic sessions across three parallel venues, focusing on AI – quantum, finance – digital economy – autonomy, and manufacturing – sustainability – next generation. Two sessions will be jointly organised with the WEF, addressing “Repositioning Vietnam and ASEAN in Global Value Chains” and “From AI Deployment to Future Manufacturing Workforce Readiness”.
📝OP-ED: Party Central Committee’s 4th plenum offers new thinking encouraging Party members to engage in business
Accordingly, the plenum reached a consensus on several key principles, including shifting from a mindset of “permission” to one of “encouragement and facilitation” for Party members engaging in the private sector; protecting their lawful economic activities; and maintaining strict oversight of those exercising control and benefiting from such activities.
Vietnam ships first commercial ASF vaccine order to Philippines
Nguyen Van Diep, General Director of AVAC Vietnam, said this was the company’s first commercial export order following the Philippines’ approval of the vaccine for unrestricted circulation. The Philippine Department of Agriculture is expected to issue usage guidelines next week, paving the way for wider distribution and application.
Fisheries sector strives for 12 billion USD in exports amid rising costs
The 12-billion-USD export target remains achievable given solid output growth and generally favourable market conditions. However, any fourth-quarter slowdown would not necessarily reflect raw material shortages but also impacts on economic efficiency amid rising material and fuel costs.
Reference exchange rate down 8 VND at week’s beginning
With the current trading band of +/- 5%, the ceiling rate applicable for commercial banks during the day is 26,902 VND/USD, and the floor rate 24,340 VND/USD.
Hung Yen ranks seventh nationwide in GRDP growth
Hung Yen province posted an estimated GRDP growth of 11.22% year on year in the first nine months of 2026, ranking seventh among the 34 provinces and cities.
Vietnam-China trade growing rapidly, substantive: Commercial Counsellor
According to the Vietnam Customs data, bilateral trade hit 253.1 billion USD in the first nine months of this year, up 37.6% annually. Vietnam’s exports to China rose 32.9% to 65.8 billion USD while imports climbed 39.3% to 187.3 billion USD. China accounted for around 41.3% of Vietnam’s imports and 15.2% of its total exports.
Vietjet launches Prague–Hanoi route
Vietjet Air operates the Prague–Hanoi route twice a week using Airbus A330-300 aircraft with a capacity of 377 passengers. Flights depart Prague at 8:55 p.m. every Tuesday and Saturday and arrive in Hanoi at 4:20 p.m. the following day, local time. In the opposite direction, flights leave Hanoi at 8:25 a.m. and arrive in Prague at 6:55 p.m. The route includes a stop in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Tax policy stability now key to keeping foreign investors: Officials
Companies must ensure records and data truthfully reflect the substance of transactions and engage in dialogue early when complex issues arise. Tax authorities, in turn, need to publish policies, give clear guidance, enforce rules consistently and deliver information in a timely manner.
Vietnam steps up fight against counterfeits, IP violations
The renewed memorandum between Vietnam's domestic market surveillance force and Procter & Gamble (P&G) is expected to build on the results achieved since 2023, strengthen IP enforcement, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of businesses and consumers, and contribute to a more transparent and fair business environment.
Vietnam, Timor-Leste step up cooperation in agriculture, fisheries
Rice and coffee were identified as promising areas for agricultural cooperation, spanning crop varieties, cultivation techniques, equipment and manpower training.
PM calls Angkormilk project proof of Vietnamese businesses’ success in Cambodia
From an initial capital of over 20 million USD, Vinamilk's total investment capital for the project has reached 51.7 million USD to date. In the 2015–2025 period, Angkormilk recorded a cumulative revenue of 573 million USD and a post-tax profit of 83 million USD.
Vietnam – a potential regional supply hub for Jatropha seed oil
Japan’s research on non-edible oil feedstocks showed that Jatropha is highly drought-tolerant and could grow well on wasteland, eroded sandy land and infertile soil. Given this, areas in central Vietnam, including Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan and the Central Highlands, have climatic, sunlight and soil conditions suitable for achieving high seed yields and oil content.
Technology opens new routes for Vietnamese exports
As global markets impose increasingly stringent requirements on standards, traceability, sustainability and green transformation, digitalising product data and bringing buyers closer to production sites can help Vietnamese businesses demonstrate their capabilities and meet market-specific requirements.
Turning OCOP products into rural tourism experiences
Experts stressed that rural tourism can develop sustainably only when local communities actively participate and benefit from it. Investment in transport, accommodation and attractions must go hand in hand with clean water, waste treatment, hygiene, traditional craft preservation and environmental protection.
Ca Mau Airport to reopen on November 29 after year-long upgrade
The reopening will shorten the distance between Vietnam's southernmost region and major economic hubs. It is also expected to give local growth a major lift and help Ca Mau province reach double-digit expansion.
Vietnam’s savvy shoppers spend 44% more online than general consumers
This group drives an estimated annual e-commerce marketplace spending gap of 2.2 billion USD, with their reported spending accounting for nearly one-third of total e-commerce spending in Vietnam, according to a regional e-commerce report recently released in Ho Chi Minh City.