Foreign NGOs Pledge to Fund $200M for Ethnic Minorities in Vietnam

Foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have pledged to carry out 261 charity and development programs costing $200 million in total for ethnic minorities in Vietnam in the next three years. The aid would help the Southeast Asian country eliminate poverty and improve livelihood among communities in mountainous areas by promoting agriculture, afforestation, eco-tourism, and mineral exploitation, experts said at the conference on Dec 8 with the participation of more than 200 delegates from government agencies, economic sectors, foreign diplomatic missions, international organizations and NGOs. During the event, the Military-run Viettel Group and Vietnam JS Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade (VietinBank) promised to provide VND10.2 trillion ($480 million) for the regions’ socio-economic development in 2015. Ethnic minorities make up the most vulnerable group in Vietnam as they often reside in remote areas and severely lack financial resources and working skills. Vietnam, with a population of 90 million, has 54 ethnic groups with ethnic minorities accounting for roughly 14% of the total population. Tay, Thai, Khmer, Muong and Hoa have at least one million people each. (Vietnamplus Dec 8, Cong Thuong – Industry and Trade Dec 9 p2, www.na.gov.vn)