To achieve an average GRDP growth of 10-10.5% annually during 2026-2030, the Can Tho City People's Committee on August 24 kicked off a campaign to strive for the successful and sustainable achievement of “double-digit” growth targets. All sectors and localities pledged to generate new momentum, with success measured by work, products, and real outcomes.

Business activities at Co.opmart Can Tho supermarket - one of the most effective commercial and service establishments in Ninh Kieu Ward.

Determination will not stop at slogans

Mr. Truong Canh Tuyen, Deputy Secretary of the Can Tho City Party Committee, Chairman of the Can Tho City People's Committee and Chairman of the Municipal Emulation and Commendation Council, stated that Can Tho is well-positioned to reach an average annual GRDP growth target of 10-10.5% for 2026-2030. This goal is highly achievable if the entire political system, the business community and the people unite in resolve, take decisive actions and focus on substantive results.

Following the launch ceremony, the Chairman called on all levels, sectors and localities to immediately translate the campaign into concrete programs, plans and practical targets. Heads of agencies must directly lead and take responsibility under the motto of “clear assignment, clear tasks, clear timelines, clear accountability, clear results and clear authority”.

Under these requirements, seven core task groups were set out, spanning all sectors: mobilizing resources and improving the business and investment environment; driving breakthroughs in science and technology and digital transformation; developing infrastructure and agriculture in rural areas; building a modern administration; ensuring national defense and security; promoting social welfare; expanding international cooperation and integration.

Crucially, each task group must be assigned to a specific “address” in the city's actual development. The city identified clearing bottlenecks in infrastructure, planning and site clearance as critical to unlocking new space for development. In agriculture, the focus will be on raising added value, cutting emissions and developing integrated value chains. Meanwhile, downtown Ninh Kieu will concentrate its efforts on driving breakthroughs in trade, services, tourism and the night-time economy...

Each sector has its own “breakthrough point”

Mr. Mai Van Tan, Director of the Can Tho City Department of Construction, said the sector has been set a 14.69% growth target for 2026. To meet the target, the Department will work closely with other sectors and localities to remove bottlenecks, accelerate construction progress and expedite disbursement for both public and non-budget projects.

With site clearance identified as a major bottleneck, the Department called on investors and localities to focus on resolving it thoroughly, and to expedite the design and bidding stages. It also pledged to shorten appraisal times, step up inspections and acceptance testing, and address problems to complete payment procedures sooner.

For the long-term strategy, the Construction sector will prioritize finalizing the City Master Plan for the 2026-2030 period, with a vision to 2075, aiming to submit it to the Prime Minister for approval in December 2026. It will also develop integrated and modern transport infrastructure for regional connectivity; expand national highways, ring roads and routes linking to expressways, industrial zones and urban areas; and promote multimodal transport.

Regarding agriculture and natural resources, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Anh, Director of the Can Tho Department of Agriculture and Environment, said the primary sector grew 4.47% in the first half of 2026 and 6.32% in the second quarter. Mindful of risks from market fluctuations, disease, climate change and saltwater intrusion, the sector is pivoting to fundamentally change its production model. It will realign crop and aquaculture zoning plans in line with market signals and the strengths of each sub-region, prioritize flagship products, and proactively prevent and control diseases, natural disasters, saltwater intrusion and erosion to avoid production disruptions.

The Department of Agriculture and Environment pledged to review delayed projects and address issues in land allocation, land leasing, land-use conversion, compensation and resettlement support; clean up and synchronize data for more than 2 million land parcels, with completion set for no later than December 31, 2026.

In the city center, Mr. Pham Van Dong, Chairman of the Ninh Kieu Ward People's Committee, said the locality will continue to take trade, services, tourism, the urban economy and the night-time economy as key drivers of growth. The ward will prioritize support for enterprises and household businesses to expand operations, encourage the conversion of eligible households into enterprises, and boost e-commerce and cashless payments. The locality will focus on upgrading the Pedestrian Street in connection with Ninh Kieu Wharf, the night market, specialized commercial streets and a chain of signature food and beverage services to keep tourists longer and boost spending. At the same time, Ninh Kieu will step up administrative reform, digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) adoption in urban management. In terms of development resources, the ward is committed to 100% disbursement of public investment capital, while mobilizing non-budget resources from housing, commercial and service projects currently undergoing investment procedures. 

Mr. Truong Canh Tuyen, Chairman of the Can Tho City People's Committee, stressed that the emulation campaign would only come to life if it produced specific actions, deliverables and results on the ground. Every locality needs a signature project or task; every sector needs a breakthrough mission; every official needs an initiative; and every business needs a growth engine.

To achieve “double-digit” growth, Can Tho will need not only strong determination but also a rapid, concrete and effective chain of actions to turn that will into development momentum for the 2026-2030 period.

NAM HUONG (Translated by MAI QUYEN)