Deputy Minister Phan Thi Thang: Dong Thap Must Advance Deep Processing to Boost Agricultural Value
(DTO) On August 20, a delegation from the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), led by Deputy Minister Phan Thi Thang, paid a working visit to Dong Thap province.
Welcoming the delegation were Mr. Nguyen Thanh Dieu, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, along with leaders of relevant departments and local enterprises.
According to the Department of Industry and Trade, in the first seven months of 2026, the province’s industrial production index rose by an estimated 12.36% year-on-year, with the processing and manufacturing sector surging by 13.17%. Total retail sales and consumer service revenue reached approximately 111.328 trillion VND, up 14.9%. Export turnover was estimated at 5.839 billion USD, a 10.52% increase, while imports hit 3.225 billion USD, up 11.66%.
At the session, business representatives outlined their production status, achievements, and operational bottlenecks. Officials from MoIT’s Departments and Agencies responded to local concerns and proposed support solutions for enterprises.
Vice Chairman Nguyen Thanh Dieu affirmed that the province is deploying flexible, proactive measures to sustain growth and enhance business competitiveness. He emphasized that the industry and trade sector plays a pivotal role, especially as the province expands its development space following administrative restructuring and mergers. The province is oriented toward value-chain-based development, linking industrial production with agricultural processing, logistics, and trade - a strategy set for the 2026-2030 period.
Vice Chairman Nguyen Thanh Dieu noted that the province is modernizing its governance by closely monitoring economic indicators. Evaluation now moves beyond growth percentages to be gradually contextualized by tangible production value, with clear accountability for each sector and locality; at the same time, focus is placed on improving the quality of personnel in charge of statistics, analysis, and strategic counseling.
Vice Chairman Nguyen Thanh Dieu urged MoIT and central ministries to assist the province in finalizing its planning and allocating land-use quotas to create clean land funds for new investment projects, thereby driving industrial growth in the coming years.
Deputy Minister Phan Thi Thang commended the province’s proactiveness. She reminded the province that industrial and trade targets are a shared responsibility requiring coordination across land, planning, construction, and site clearance sectors.
Regarding personnel, the province recently rotated and seconded seven officials holding leadership and management positions from the Department of Industry and Trade to local districts. The Deputy Minister acknowledged the personnel pressure and urged the province to supplement its workforce to ensure professional operations and a successor pipeline for the sector.
On logistics, Deputy Minister Phan Thi Thang advised Dong Thap to adopt a long-term vision, ensuring efficient transport links with Ho Chi Minh City and the seaport system to avoid redundant investments as other Mekong Delta provinces also develop logistics hubs.
She also stressed the need for deep processing of agricultural, aquatic, and fruit products to enhance international competitiveness. Alongside the OCOP program, the province must build strong brands for key products, diversify markets, reduce reliance on traditional markets, and develop contingency plans for shifting global trade and tariff policies.
By LY OANH
Translated by X.QUANG
