National Target Program 1719 in the acceleration phase

After four years of implementation, the National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas (National Target Program 1719) has achieved many important results. In 2025, ministries, sectors, and localities are determined to accelerate the implementation of the Program to achieve the set goals. On the occasion of the Lunar New Year 2025, a delegation from the Committee for Ethnic Minorities Affairs (CEMA), led by Deputy Minister and Vice Chairman Nong Thi Ha, visited and extended New Year greetings to collectives with achievements and contributions to ethnic affairs, influential figures, and ethnic minority people in Bao Lac, Ha Quang, and Nguyen Binh districts of Cao Bang province. On the occasion of the Lunar New Year 2025, President Luong Cuong extended New Year greetings to all compatriots, comrades, soldiers nationwide, and Vietnamese people abroad! The Ethnic Minorities and Development Newspaper respectfully presents the full text of the President's New Year greetings. Turmeric tea is a warm, pleasant drink that is not only delicious and nutritious but also contains many compounds that can help reduce inflammation and soothe joint pain. After 4 years of implementation, the National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas (National Target Program 1719) has achieved many important results. In 2025, ministries, sectors, and localities are determined to accelerate the implementation of the Program to achieve a breakthrough and reach the finish line as planned. Throughout the more than 20 years of implementing Resolution No. 23-NQ/TW, dated March 12, 2003, of the IXth Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the team of influential people in ethnic minority areas has been the "nucleus" in the movement to build national unity. Reputable individuals also become a leading force in guiding ethnic minority communities to work together to build a stronger and more prosperous country, with a just, democratic, and civilized society. In 2024, localities in ethnic minority areas nationwide successfully organized the Congress of Ethnic Minority Representatives at the district and provincial levels. This event holds profound political and social significance, affirming the consistent policy of the Party and State on ethnic issues and national unity, thereby strengthening the unwavering trust of ethnic minority people in the Party and State… At a time when the whole country is joyfully welcoming the Year of the Snake 2025 and commemorating the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam (February 3, 1930 - February 3, 2025), on the evening of January 28 (the 29th day of the 12th lunar month of the Year of the Dragon), General Secretary To Lam visited and extended New Year greetings to the Party Committee, government, and people of Hanoi. The Ethnic and Development Newspaper's afternoon news bulletin on January 23, 2025, includes the following noteworthy information: Tree planting festival "Forever grateful to Uncle Ho" in the Year of the Snake. Sweet pomelos from Dien Bac Son. The spirit of the mountains and forests in the green sticky rice cake. On the occasion of the Lunar New Year 2025 (Year of the Snake), on the evening of January 28th (the 29th day of the 12th lunar month of the Year of the Dragon), General Secretary To Lam visited, encouraged, and inspected the readiness and combat preparedness of officers and soldiers on duty at the National Cyber ​​Security Center (Department of Cyber ​​Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention, Ministry of Public Security ) and the Command Center of the Air Defense - Air Force Command (Ministry of National Defense). Due to the influence of a cold front, from the night of January 28th to February 2nd (from the 29th to the 5th day of the Lunar New Year), the Northern region, including Hanoi, experienced severe cold weather, with mountainous areas in the North experiencing extreme cold, and some high mountainous areas having temperatures below 5 degrees Celsius. According to the Vietnam Railway Transport Joint Stock Company, as of January 28th (the 29th day of the Lunar New Year), the railway industry had sold 434,205 tickets for the Lunar New Year holiday. In the year of the Snake (2025), the railway system achieved 361 billion VND in revenue, equivalent to 88% of passenger volume and 79% of revenue compared to Tet 2024. Passengers purchasing train tickets online accounted for 58% of the total tickets sold. On the evening of January 27th (the 28th day of the Lunar New Year), on the occasion of the traditional Tet holiday of the year of the Snake 2025 and in anticipation of the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam (February 3, 1930 - February 3, 2025), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited the private residence to offer incense in remembrance of the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. On January 27th (the 28th day of the Lunar New Year), a large-scale forest fire occurred in Dai Yen ward, Ha Long City (Quang Ninh province). 20 hectares of pine forest were burned, with flames approaching residential houses.

Thanks to resources from national target programs, the appearance of ethnic minority villages in Dak Na commune, Tu Mo Rong district, Kon Tum province is becoming increasingly vibrant.

According to a report by the Ethnic Affairs Committee of Son La province, from 2022 to the present, implementing National Target Program 1719, the entire province has invested in the construction of 743 projects including transportation infrastructure, centralized water supply, education , cultural centers, etc., in particularly difficult areas. The investment resources from the Program have contributed to reducing the poverty rate to meet the set target. Accordingly, the poverty rate in the province decreased from 14.17% in 2023 to 11.17% in 2024.

In Thai Nguyen province, during the first phase of the program's implementation, many targets were met: 100% of communes had paved or concrete roads leading to their centers; 100% of villages had hardened roads leading to their centers; and the percentage of ethnic minority people using clean drinking water was estimated at 96.7%.

According to the Ministry of Finance's report, the disbursement of public investment capital under National Target Program 1719 as of November 31, 2024, reached VND 9,807.019 billion, equivalent to 62% of the plan. The disbursement of public investment capital for the National Target Program for Ethnic Minorities was nearly 1.03 times higher than the total capital of both National Target Programs for the same period.

According to Mr. Nguyen Huy Dung, Chairman of the People's Committee of Thai Nguyen province, recognizing the special significance and importance of the National Target Program 1719 in the 2021-2025 period, the province has allocated resources to prioritize socio-economic development in ethnic minority areas. This includes investment in transportation infrastructure and facilities, and the effective utilization of socio-economic development resources, thereby contributing to reducing poverty rates and improving the lives of people in ethnic minority and mountainous regions.

According to a report by the Ministry of Finance, the disbursement of public investment capital under National Target Program 1719 reached VND 9,807.019 billion by November 31, 2024, equivalent to 62% of the plan. The disbursement of public investment capital under National Target Program 1719 is nearly 1.03 times higher than the total capital of both National Target Programs for the same period.

Of the nine specific target groups assigned by the National Assembly by the end of 2025 in Resolution No. 120/2020/QH14, two target groups will be evaluated at the end of the program's implementation period. Of the seven target groups whose initial results can be reviewed by December 31, 2024, five have been basically achieved, while two have not yet met the set plan. Several localities have significantly exceeded the targets assigned by the Prime Minister, such as Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam, Khanh Hoa, Dak Nong, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, and Quang Ninh…

In the Central and Central Highlands regions, the overall disbursement rate is higher than the national average. As a result, some targets estimated to be met by December 31, 2024, have exceeded the assigned plan targets, such as the poverty reduction rate among ethnic minority communities in the 16 provinces of the Central and Central Highlands regions, which decreased by an average of 5.2% per year.

The resources for Project 6, "Preserving and promoting the fine traditional cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities in conjunction with tourism development" under the 1719 World Programme for Ethnic Minorities, have contributed to preserving the traditional cultural identity of ethnic minority communities.

According to Minister and Chairman of the Committee for Ethnic Minorities Affairs, Hau A Lenh, the implementation of National Target Program 1719 has contributed to changing the face of ethnic minority and mountainous areas, and improving the lives of the people. To overcome difficulties and obstacles in implementing National Target Program 1719, in 2024, the Committee for Ethnic Minorities Affairs, in its role as the Standing Agency of the Program, completed the draft feasibility report adjusting some contents related to the investment policy of National Target Program 1719 and submitted it to the Prime Minister for approval.

2025 is the final year to "sprint" towards achieving the goals set for Phase I (2021-2025), therefore requiring decisive leadership from the Central Government as well as flexibility from local authorities. In that spirit, at the recent conference to evaluate the results of the implementation of the National Target Program 1719, Phase I (2021-2025) in the Central and Central Highlands regions and to propose content for Phase II (2026-2030), Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh also requested localities to continue reviewing projects that have been and are being implemented, selecting projects that promote sustainable economic development for investment, and mobilizing people to make their own efforts to escape poverty sustainably.

Highlights of the implementation of National Target Program 1719 during the 2021-2025 period.

Source: https://baodantoc.vn/chuong-program-mtqg-1719-trong-giai-doan-tang-toc-1737689973238.htm