A “golden opportunity” for the private economy

This has contributed to helping the province realise its growth target of 8.5% in 2025 and move towards double-digit growth in the years ahead.

Flexibility for adaptation

In the rural areas of Ca Mau Province, initial “spark” policies from both the central and local governments in recent years have helped unlock agricultural potential through the “One Commune, One Product” (OCOP) programme.

From a small household business in the mangrove forests of Ca Mau, the Dam Doi Three-spot Crab Cooperative (Quach Pham Commune) has transformed one of the Mekong Delta’s rustic specialities — the three-spot crab — into a four-star OCOP-certified product, securing a stable customer base and exporting to Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, and the US.

Tran Thi Xa, Director of the cooperative, shared: “In recent years, our facility has continuously applied scientific and technological advances to improve product quality. We have stepped up the use of digital technology to promote products and diversify sales channels on platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Zalo, and e-commerce marketplaces.”

From pioneering household startups like Xa’s family, Ca Mau now has 343 products from 162 entities certified under the OCOP programme, ranging from three to five stars.

According to Nguyen Chi Thien, Director of the Ca Mau Department of Industry and Trade, alongside the strong involvement of local authorities and relevant agencies, a crucial “bridge” for Ca Mau’s OCOP enterprises has been the active role of the provincial Business Association. Through regular meetings and training sessions, the Ca Mau Business Association has helped many startups enhance their management skills, digital transformation capacity, marketing, and partnership expansion.

Promoting strengths

In line with Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW, the private economy has been entrusted as the key pillar of the national economy and the pioneering force to spur growth. In Ca Mau, over 7,000 enterprises — nearly 90% privately owned — contribute roughly one-third of the province’s budget revenues.

Among these, the majority operate in agriculture and fisheries — also Ca Mau’s key strengths. In seafood processing for export alone, the province currently has 89 factories with a total designed capacity of around 544,000 tonnes per year, along with more than 100 seafood export-processing facilities, providing jobs for tens of thousands of local workers.

With a processing capacity of 1,000–1,200 tonnes of finished products per month, in 2024, the Ca Mau Seafood Processing and Service Joint Stock Company (CASES) achieved nearly USD 180 million in export turnover and provided regular employment for more than 4,500 workers. To meet its export target of USD 200 million in 2025, CASES is moving ahead with the construction of another factory, raising its monthly processing capacity to 2,000 tonnes and expanding production of value-added shrimp

As the country’s “shrimp capital,” Ca Mau now has over 450,000 hectares of aquaculture (mainly shrimp), with an annual output of more than 560,000 tonnes and export turnover of over USD 2 billion. Thanks to diverse farming models producing specialty products with multiple international certifications, Ca Mau shrimp is exported to more than 60 countries and territories worldwide, including demanding markets such as the US, Japan, the EU, the Republic of Korea, and Australia.

According to Le Van Su, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, Ca Mau is implementing a range of comprehensive solutions to foster private-sector development across various fields, in line with the spirit of Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW of the Politburo. Agriculture and fisheries remain priorities, closely linked with restructuring the economy towards green, circular, and sustainable growth. The private sector is identified as a key driver for the province, helping to spur economic growth, create jobs, increase labour productivity, generate financial resources for social welfare policies, and invest in infrastructure and other essential sectors.

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