Despite its steady growth of 11.6 percent last year, the northwest mountainous region is still the most disadvantaged region with per-head incomes at just half the national average. The issue was a major topic at a working session on the regional development masterplan for the second half of the year, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong in Hanoi on July 12.
Trong, who doubles as Head of the Northwest Steering Board, called on business circles to continue with assistance for the development of the 43 poorest districts in the region, which make up almost two-thirds of the districts listed as the poorest of the poor across the country. In this regard, he pointed out the need to speed up the reconstruction of ramshackle cottages for the poor. Local administrations should intensify investment in human resource development, focusing on vocational training for young people of ethnic minorities and rural workforces, he said.
“Much is left to do to improve living conditions in the region, expanding the number of boarding schools for ethnic minority children, materialising policies and projects in support of ethnic minority groups and strengthening State management of religion in line with law.
“Greater efforts should be made to tighten the fight against crime and cross-border human trafficking and increase drug and HIV/AIDS control,” said the Deputy PM.
