During the most successful period of Vietnam-Korea diplomatic relations, Can Tho Promotion Agency (CPA) continues to proactively expand connections and work directly with the Korea Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (KOCHAM) and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) in Ho Chi Minh City to promote investment attraction in the coming time.
Can Tho – South Korea Cooperation Platform
South Korea is one of Can Tho City’s leading strategic partners. Over the years, the cooperative relationship between the two sides has been built and nurtured in many fields, from investment and trade to science and technology, education, and people-to-people exchanges.
Korean FDI projects focus on processing and manufacturing, trade, services, logistics, and real estate, making a positive contribution to economic growth, job creation, and promoting technology transfer to the locality. Can Tho’s main exports to South Korea include seafood, processed agricultural products, and garments.
Regarding development cooperation, the city has effectively implemented the Korea Vietnam Incubator Park (KVIP) model, creating a space for cooperation in innovation and digital transformation. In 2025, Can Tho also received non-governmental aid from South Korea, including the Gyeonggi 2025 Water Industry Technology Certification Support Program and a project supporting biogas models in livestock and aquaculture.
Proactively connect with Korean businesses and investors in Ho Chi Minh City
Building upon the foundation and implementing the results of the Can Tho City leadership delegation’s working visit to South Korea (from May 4th to 8th, 2026), the Can Tho Promotion Agency proactively organized a working group to directly meet with Korean business organizations and associations operating in Ho Chi Minh City from May 12th to 14th, 2026. The delegation, led by Ms. Nguyen Kim Ngoc, Deputy Director of the Can Tho Promotion Agency, held effective working sessions with KOCHAM and KOTRA in Ho Chi Minh City, opening up numerous opportunities to attract investment from the Korean business community.
Working Session with KOCHAM
At the Korean Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (KOCHAM), Mr. Kim Nyoun Ho, Chairman of VOVOS Group, representing the organization, welcomed and worked with the Can Tho delegation.
During the meeting, KOCHAM representatives shared current investment trends of Korean businesses in Vietnam, with activities mainly concentrated in Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring provinces. To increase the attractiveness of Can Tho for Korean investment, KOCHAM emphasized the local competitive advantages such as: abundant human resources, attractive investment costs, a transparent investment environment, and convenient transportation infrastructure.
Ms. Nguyen Kim Ngoc (left) presents a commemorative gift to Mr. Kim Nyoun Ho – Chairman of VOVOS Group (right)
KOCHAM also frankly pointed out three main reasons why Korean enterprises remain cautious about investing in Can Tho: high-quality human resources, investment costs, and interconnected transport infrastructure. These served as practical recommendations for the CPA to focus more on investment promotion and communications regarding the potential and investment opportunities of Can Tho City in the new development phase.
Responding to the constructive feedback from KOCHAM, Ms. Nguyen Kim Ngoc, Deputy Director of the CPA, discussed specific cooperation directions between the two sides in the coming period. She emphasized that to effectively attract Korean investment capital, CPA will strengthen coordination with relevant agencies, prepare complete, detailed, and systematic information about Can Tho City – from the investment environment and support mechanisms to the sectors currently seeking investment… so that KOCHAM has a basis to introduce and connect with Korean investors in the most convenient way. She proposed that KOCHAM support the provision of information on the needs of Korean FDI businesses interested in the Mekong Delta region. Concurrently, the CPA will proactively prepare a detailed information package on operating industrial parks as well as those with approved planning in the city – including land rental prices, lease terms, infrastructure, and incentive policies, aiming to create the most favorable conditions for Korean enterprises when researching and making investment decisions in Can Tho.
Working Session with KOTRA
During the working session with the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) in Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Choi KyuChul, Director General of KOTRA Ho Chi Minh City, welcomed and worked with the delegation.
Scenes from the working session at KOTRA
The two sides engaged in dynamic exchanges regarding trade connectivity and investment attraction between enterprises of both countries. KOTRA plans to organize a business conference themed “Smart Farm” in the second quarter of 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City. KOTRA also expressed deep interest in fields where Can Tho is calling for investment, such as high-tech agriculture, logistics, processing and manufacturing and supporting industries-sectors that align with the strengths and expansion strategies of Korean enterprises in the coming period.
Souvenir photo at KOTRA
During the meeting, Ms. Nguyen Kim Ngoc informed KOTRA of upcoming investment promotion events as well as cultural and trade exchange programs to be organized by Can Tho, requesting KOTRA’s coordination in connecting and disseminating information to Korean enterprises and investors. At the same time, Ms. Nguyen Kim Ngoc also hoped that KOTRA would introduce a delegation of Korean businesses to attend the “Smart Farm” event in Can Tho to explore potential cooperation opportunities, particularly in the high-tech agricultural sector that the city is currently seeking investment in.
KOTRA highly acknowledged the cooperation proposals and affirmed that it would proactively look deeper into the sectors where Can Tho is calling for investment, focusing on high-tech agriculture, logistics, processing and manufacturing and supporting industries, in order to match the right Korean enterprises with the local needs and potentials.
The working sessions with KOCHAM and KOTRA mark proactive and practical steps taken by the Can Tho Promotion Agency in promoting and introducing the investment environment of the new Can Tho City, expanding business networking channels, updating investment trends, and preparing a solid foundation to welcome the wave of investment from South Korea in the coming time.
Ha Giang