Vietnam's Province and Canada Celebrate 22-Year Partnership

Soc Trang and Canada have shared a fruitful partnership over the past 22 years, with the Canadian Government’s provision of over CAD 22 million (USD 17 million) to the Mekong Delta province for various projects that have contributed to the local socio-economic development, heard a ceremony in Soc Trang on June 14.

Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam Shawn Steil addresses the event. Photo: Canada's embassy

Addressing the event, Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam Shawn Steil underlined that Soc Trang is a trustworthy partner of Canada during the realisation of the country’s commitments to promote prosperity and growth as well as support the poorest and most vulnerable people, especially women and girls.

Soc Trang is one of the first localities in Vietnam to receive assistance from Canada, he said, noting that Canadian-funded projects have helped the province develop effective collective economic models, including the Evergrowth new-style cooperative that has generated stable incomes for nearly 2,000 dairy breeders, along with a number of projects to develop infrastructure and improve the quality of crops and livestock.

On the occasion, the two sides reviewed a project to develop small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which was implemented in 11 districts and towns across Soc Trang from June 2011 to December 2021 at a total cost of CAD 10.2 million (USD 7.8 million), including CAD 9.2 million (USD 7 million ) funded by the Canadian Government.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Lam Hoang Nghiep said that along with supporting the development of business and production, the project has helped foster connection between smallholder farmers, businesses and the market, form a sustainable supply chain, and harmonize the interests of producers and other actors in the chain.

The success of ST rice value chain is an example, he stressed.

At the ceremony, collectives and individuals who have made contributions to the success of the projects were honoured.

Collectives and individuals who have made contributions to the success of the projects were honoured. Photo: Canada's embassy

On the evening, Ho Thi Cam Dao, standing deputy secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, chairman of the Provincial People's Council; Tran Van Lau and Lam Hoang Nghiep, chairman and vice chairman of the provincial People's Committee; leaders of the provincial People's Council, departments and branches had a meeting and worked with the Canadian Ambassador delegation led by Ambassador Steil.

At the meeting, the leaders of Soc Trang province expressed their pleasure to welcome the ambassador and members of the delegation to visit Soc Trang, hoped that in the coming time, the ambassador would continue to pay attention to and tighten the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam, including Soc Trang, and the Canadian Government. Thereby, Soc Trang wishes to continue to receive the attention and support of the Government of Canada to more effectively implement the field of digital transformation, climate change adaptation and trade promotion.

On behalf of the province, the Chairman of the provincial People's Committee introduced the province's potentials and advantages and the local development orientation in the coming time, especially the projects that Soc Trang is calling for investment in fields such as industry, high-tech agriculture and seaports.

He hopes the ambassador will introduce businesses operating in suitable industries to Soc Trang. The province is committed to facilitating, cooperating and accompanying businesses when investing and developing locally.

For his part, the ambassador said that the relations between Soc Trang province and the Government of Canada is a solid partnership and mutual trust. He believes that, in the future, there will be many infrastructure projects invested in Soc Trang with the presence of the Government of Canada.

Currently, Canada is also working with maritime units and will certainly actively support Soc Trang, especially the deep-water seaport, agricultural product processing and climate change. Canada has many commercial relationships in these fields. Therefore, the partnership between the Government of Canada and Soc Trang will certainly continue to be maintained in the future.

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