The Mekong Delta city of Can Tho was urged to shift its economic focustowards trade, services-industry, construction and hi-tech agricultureby 2030 during a local workshop held on July 20.

To that end, priority should be given to support, processing andmechanical engineering industries, said Associate Professor Ha ThanhToan from Can Tho University.

The agriculture sector should gear itself towards effective production models that generate high added value.

It is essential to diversify the retail market, financial services,tourism, transport, logistics, education-training, science-technologyand healthcare.

Human resources training is also pivotal, he said.

Nguyen Trong Cuong, Director of the Can Tho Institute ofSocio-economic Development Studies, suggested using the State budget forkey facilities and rallying resources for technological innovation,particularly those in biology, farm produce preservation,telecommunications and automation.

He called for research institutes and universities at home and abroad to link together to develop a sci-tech market.

From its humble beginning as a farming locality, Can Tho is relyingless on agriculture; it currently makes up 7 percent of its economy, asteep slump from 67 percent in 1986.-VNA