Vietnam’s Central Highlands provinces have so far invested nearly VND999 billion (around $47 million) in building 43,345 houses for poor ethnic minority people, a move to help them stabilize their lives and develop production. Of the total, over VND317 billion was sourced from the State budget, VND98 billion from local budgets and VND258 billion from organizations and individuals while the remaining came from Vietnam Bank for Social Policies loans, according to the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands region. The selection for those who are entitled to houses has been conducted on an open, transparent and democratic basis at all levels, it said. The regional provinces are now mobilizing various sources to help build additional 2,700 houses for poor ethnic households. (vietnamplus.vn July 17)
