Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked the central highlands province of Dak Lak to take drastic measures to meet the GDP growth target of 12% and reduce poverty rate to below 10% this year. The PM delivered the request during a working session with the provincial authorities on March 1 as part of his trip to the central highlands. Dung suggested Dak Lak fully tap its potential, especially its farm land, to develop high-value industrial crops such as rubber and coffee trees as well as hydroelectric power projects. The province should mobilize available resources and create favorable conditions for investors both at home and abroad to do business, the leader added. Dung urged Dak Lak authorities to examine policies, particularly those regarding ethnic minority groups, the quality of education, social security and order, forest management and resettlement so as to further promote the province’s socio-economic development combined with ensuring national defense and security. He commended Dak Lak for efforts to curb economic recession, maintain growth and ensure social security in 2009, citing the province’s GDP growth rate of 11.4%, total mobilized social investment of VND7.9 trillion, its rate of poor families falling to under 12.4%, and successful implementation of policies related to religion and ethnic minority groups. He pointed out a number of remaining challenges faced by Dak Lak, saying that a large number of local residents are still living in poverty while the province’s planning and use of land remain inefficient.
