Duong Nghia Hiep, deputy director ofthe city's Department of Industry and Trade, said milling, polishing, andpackaging plants of international standard would be set up to increase riceexports to demanding markets like the EU, Japan, and North America from 17 percent of total exports last year to 22 per cent this year.

The remaining 78 per cent of exportswould be targeted at Asian markets like China, Hong Kong, the Philippines,Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan and South Korea.

The city hopes for increase overallexports to one million tonnes worth US$412 million, he said.   

Can Tho will grow 1.4 million tonnesof the grain, of which half will be earmarked for exports. It will buy another550,000 tonnes from provinces like Kien Giang, An Giang and Dong Thap forprocessing.

The city will reduce exports of rawseafood and instead seek to sell quality processed seafood.

It will buy tiger prawn and tra fishfrom Ca Mau, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, An Giang and Dong Thap for processing.

It will foster co-operation betweenlocal businesses to enhance production and exports.

High technology will be obtained forprocessing and preservation of seafood to improve competitiveness and meet therequirements of buyers in Asia, North America and Europe.

Can Tho targets exports of 160,000tonnes of seafood this year for $485 million.

In the garment sector, plants nearlyRach Ngong 2 bridge and Tra Noc I Industrial Park will be upgraded, 6,500 newsewing machines will be bought, and 3,000 workers will be trained to produceitems with high demand – like shorts, sweatpants, shirts, vests, jackets, andsweaters.

The garments thus produced will beof improved quality and reasonable priced.