Seminar to Discuss Poverty Alleviation in Mountain Areas

There are still challenges facing poverty reduction in the ethnic minority region, said Minister, Chairman of Committee for Ethnic Minorities, Giang Seo Phu. Mr. Phu said this at a seminar on reducing poverty among ethnic people in mountain areas, jointly held by the Committee for Ethnic Minorities and the United Nations in Vietnam. If Vietnam does not have an appropriate strategy for poverty alleviation, it will remain a big problem, especially in mountain areas, said the Minister. During the seminar, participants focused their discussions on reducing poverty and proposed plans and programs to be funded by the Government and international organizations to ensure their sustainability. Vietnam has gained great achievements in reducing poverty over the past years and has been highly praised by the international community. The national poverty rate has reduced from 58 percent in 1993 to 12 percent in 2009 and the poverty rate in mountain areas has fallen from 86 to 31 percent. (vovnews.vn Dec 3)