VIETRADE - The southern key economic region (SKER) includes 8 provinces and municipalities appurtenant to the central Government. It has a population of 14,2 millions or 16% of the nation’s and covers an area of about 24.000 km2 accounting for 7.3% of Vietnam’s total land. It has close links with central highlands and the Mekong Delta. On the west and southwest, it’s adjacent to the resources of rich costal regions, it is also in proximity of international water ways of the busiest navigation traffic in theAsia – Pacific scene.