Prioritize investment in developing ethnic minority areas

Ho Chi Minh Highway (phase 1) invested in construction in Dinh Hoa district has contributed significantly to promoting local socio -economic development. Photo: VD

Currently, Thai Nguyen province has nearly 1.4 million people, of which nearly 30% are ethnic minorities, living mainly in the districts of Vo Nhai, Dinh Hoa, Dai Tu, Phu Luong, Dong Hy. While the southern region of the province develops rapidly thanks to advantages in infrastructure and attracting investment in industrial and service development, the ethnic minority areas still face many difficulties, lacking essential infrastructure and basic social services.

Faced with that reality, the province has been vigorously implementing the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas (abbreviated as National Target Program 1719), with a commitment to allocate a minimum local budget of 10%. In fact, the province has proactively exceeded the counterpart fund to ensure the progress and effectiveness of the implementation of National Target Program 1719. From 2021 to present, hundreds of essential infrastructure works have been invested in and built, changing the face of rural mountainous areas in localities in the province. Projects for supplying domestic water, building roads, irrigation canals, schools, medical stations, etc. have contributed to improving living conditions and developing production for people in mountainous and highland areas.

The concrete road in the Mong Lan Quan hamlet, Tan Long commune (Dong Hy) has been invested in and built, creating favorable conditions for people to travel and trade goods.

In Lan Dam hamlet, Quang Son commune (Dong Hy), thanks to funding from the National Target Program 1719, the main road has been upgraded and widened from 2m to 3.5m, with a cost of 215 million VND. Along with that, the centralized domestic water project has been renovated and upgraded, ensuring daily domestic water supply.

Mr. Duong Van Vang, a resident of Lan Dam hamlet: “The Mong people are very excited to receive investment from the State. The projects have opened up opportunities for economic development, poverty reduction and significantly improved the quality of life.”

The cultural house of Mo Chi hamlet, Cuc Duong commune (Vo Nhai) is a place for community activities of the Mong ethnic people in the hamlet.

Along with Lan Dam, many hamlets and villages in mountainous areas of Thai Nguyen province have also received attention for investment in building essential infrastructure, contributing to improving the quality of life of the people.

From 2021 to present, the province has invested 518.8 billion VND in essential infrastructure serving production and life in ethnic minority areas, of which the local budget has contributed 67.8 billion VND. Along with that, nearly 244 billion VND has been allocated to address the shortage of residential land, housing, production land and domestic water, of which the provincial budget has allocated nearly 32 billion VND.

In addition, Thai Nguyen has implemented planning and arranged stable population with a total investment of more than 90 billion VND; invested 374.4 billion VND to develop sustainable agriculture and forestry, produce goods according to value chains, of which the province contributed nearly 49 billion VND.

The above figures show the outstanding efforts of Thai Nguyen province in prioritizing investment resources for ethnic minority areas.

Mr. Phan Thanh Ha, Director of the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions: The local budget allocated for projects under the National Target Program 1719 always meets and exceeds the plan. Domestic water supply works, traffic infrastructure, and irrigation canals have been and are showing clear effectiveness, creating conditions for people to develop production and stabilize their lives.

The implementation of the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development for Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas has contributed to improving people's lives. In the photo: Mong children in Lan Quan hamlet, Tan Long commune (Dong Hy) in traditional costumes celebrating the Spring Festival of At Ty 2025.

Not only focusing on infrastructure investment, Thai Nguyen also sets many specific goals by the end of 2025, the average income of ethnic minorities will double compared to 2020; the poverty rate will decrease by an average of 2%/year; the number of extremely disadvantaged communes and hamlets will decrease by 50%; 96% of people in mountainous and highland areas will have access to clean water; the system of boarding and semi-boarding schools will be completed; the rate of 8% of ethnic minority students will be maintained at ethnic boarding schools...

The synchronous implementation of the objectives in the National Target Program 1719 not only improves the quality of life, but also contributes to preserving the national cultural identity, maintaining political security, and social order and safety in strategic areas. With high determination and close direction from the province to the grassroots, the Program is bringing about positive changes, creating strong motivation for ethnic minority areas on the journey of sustainable and comprehensive development.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/xa-hoi/dan-toc-va-mien-nui/202505/uu-tien-dau-tu-phat-trien-vung-dan-toc-thieu-so-24734ec/