Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang has called on northern midland and mountainous regions to avoid spreading investment too thinly, which wastes resources and affects settlement work.
On Monday, the Deputy PM chaired an online conference with provinces in the region on implementing the three National Target Programs to promote new rural construction, sustainable poverty reduction, and socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas.
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| Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang speaks at the online conference__Photo: VNA |
Speaking at the conference, the Deputy Prime Minister praised localities' efforts while acknowledging the recommendations from ministries and sectors of the Government on areas to improve.
He suggested localities strengthen inspection and supervision and combine the content of the National Target Programs into each locality's own programs.
The northern midland and mountainous region is made of 14 provinces; Bac Kan, Cao Bang, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Thai Nguyen, Phu Tho, Bac Giang, Hoa Binh, Son La, Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Tuyen Quang, Lang Son, and Ha Giang.
The areas, which account for nearly one-third of the country, are significant in terms of geopolitics, national defense and security, though these often remote areas still face many difficulties; the region's average poverty rate in 2022 is 17.4 percent, higher than the national average of 5.2 percent.
Around 14.7 million people are living here, accounting for 15.2 percent of the country's population, of which ethnic minorities account for nearly 50 percent of the population.
The average rate of communes meeting new rural standards in the region in 2022 is about 43.6 percent, much lower than the national average of about 72 percent. Budget revenue is still limited, and these areas need a lot of support from the central budget.
In 2021-25, the Central Government and 14 northern midland and mountainous provinces completed allocating a total development investment capital of VND 44 trillion, accounting for 44.18 percent of the total development investment capital localities across the country.
In 2022, the central budget to support the implementation of the three National Target Programs for the region was VND 15 trillion (including the capital in 2021, which will be transferred to 2022), accounting for 45.36 percent of the total budget of the government's supporting fund.
Regarding local capital, 13 out of 14 provinces in the region (all except Hoa Binh) have allocated VND 2 trillion of local budget capital to implement the three programs.
In 2023, the total capital allocated from the central budget to regional localities is VND 10 trillion. As of January 31, 13 of 14 provinces have completed the capital allocation, while Tuyen Quang urgently completes the procedures.
Regarding the disbursement results of the central budget, as of December 31, 2022, the provinces in the region disbursed over 40.54 percent, higher than the national average (37.73 percent).- (VNS/VLLF)
