The Italian Food Technology Festival took place at the Institute of Food and Biotechnology under Can Tho University on March 23 with the participation of Enrico Padula, Consul General of Italy in Ho Chi Minh City. .

At the festival, there were many exciting activities: booths displaying technological equipment and Italian food; workshops introducing Italian culture and cuisine such as chocolate, Italian ice cream, pizza, among others.

A large number of students and trainees attended a seminar to introduce culture and cuisine with Italian experts. Photo: B.NG

Speaking at the festival, the Consul General of Italy in Ho Chi Minh City expressed his joy when participating in the Festival - one of the events marking the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Italian Consulate General; affirming the importance of promoting economic relations between Italy and the important region of the Mekong Delta.

He believes the event will help promote a better understanding of Italian cuisine and food as well as technologies.

Earlier, on March 22, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho Nguyen Thuc Hien held a working session with Italian Consul General Enrico Padula to discuss all-around cooperation opportunities, with a focus on climate-resilient agriculture, VNA reported.

Hien outlined Can Tho's agricultural development plan, aiming for 2.5-3% annual growth by 2030, an increase of 5.5-6% in agricultural labor productivity, over 70% of skilled workers in the field and a three-fold rise in the income of rural residents compared to 2020.

To such end, Can Tho is actively developing high-tech agriculture by establishing specialised zones and breeding farms, which will also partially cater to eco-tourism, he said, adding that the city is also increasing investment in technical infrastructure and expanding research partnerships with domestic and international institutes, towards forming a hi-tech agriculture centre for the Mekong Delta and the country as a whole.

Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho Nguyen Thuc Hien (5th from right) and Italian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Enrico Padula (third, left). Photo: VNA

According to the official, environmental protection, climate change and sustainable development are top priorities for the Mekong Delta and Can Tho in particular.

He urged Padula to act as a bridge popularizing Can Tho's investment environment to Italian firms and investors while promoting investment through seminars, trade fairs and exhibitions in Can Tho and Italy.

Padula, for his part, acknowledged Can Tho as a crucial partner of Italy. He announced that a delegation of Italian firms will visit Can Tho later this year to explore potential in high-tech agriculture and industrial machinery.

Informing the host about his attendance at a seminar on the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta earlier the same day, he affirmed Italy’s commitments to Can Tho and regional provinces via specific activities to adapt agricultural products to climate change and align them with the European Union market, ultimately increasing profits for this sector.

Last year, Can Tho exported USD 3.2 million worth of goods to Italy, mostly rice, aquatic products, garments, farm produce and processed agricultural products. Its imports totalled USD 0.21 million, primarily pharmaceutical materials.

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