Economic development program

According to the plan of the Provincial People's Committee, in 2023 Binh Thuan will implement 10 important projects to carry out the National Target Program for socio -economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas (hereinafter referred to as the Program). One of the important objectives is to continue investing in the comprehensive construction of infrastructure systems serving socio-economic development in ethnic minority areas...

Gradually narrowing the gap in living standards and income.

Binh Thuan province currently has 34 ethnic minority groups, with over 104,000 people, accounting for more than 8% of the province's population. According to the Provincial People's Committee, in recent years, thanks to the attention and investment from all levels, sectors, and localities, production in ethnic minority areas has developed quite well, and productivity has increased.

*Hybrid corn cultivation model in ethnic minority areas of Ham Thuan Bac.*

Each year, the province allocates significant budget funds to address issues related to agricultural land, forest management and protection, and infrastructure investment. Programs, projects, and policies for ethnic minority areas have made a significant contribution to the successful implementation of national target programs. As a result, the material and spiritual lives of ethnic minority people in the province have continuously improved. However, the reality is that many difficulties still exist in the ethnic minority and mountainous areas of the province, requiring continued attention, investment, and support.

*The organization brings Vietnamese goods to mountainous regions.*

Accordingly, the Provincial People's Committee's plan for implementing the Program on July 20, 2023, emphasized the goal of exploiting and improving the efficiency of agricultural land use, linking production and cultivation with gradually narrowing the gap in living standards and income, and achieving sustainable poverty reduction. It also stressed the comprehensive development of education, training, healthcare, and culture; preserving and promoting the beautiful cultural identity of ethnic minorities; investing in cultural facilities; and improving the material and spiritual lives of the people. Furthermore, it called for gender equality and addressing urgent issues for women and children, contributing to improving the material and spiritual lives of the people; and gradually narrowing the gap in living standards and income between ethnic minorities and the national average.

In particular, in 2023, the province will implement 10 important projects related to socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas. These include Project 1, addressing the shortage of residential land, housing, production land, and clean water. This includes support for residential land, housing, production land, vocational training, and clean water. Project 2 focuses on planning, arranging, and stabilizing the population in necessary areas, especially investing in projects to stabilize the population in Ham Thuan Bac and Tanh Linh districts. Project 3 focuses on developing sustainable agricultural and forestry production, leveraging the potential and strengths of different regions to produce goods along the value chain. This project includes two sub-projects: developing sustainable agricultural and forestry economies linked to forest protection and increasing people's income. Simultaneously, support the development of production along the value chain, promote business startups and entrepreneurship, and attract investment to ethnic minority and mountainous regions. Focus on supporting the development of production along the value chain; providing seeds and agricultural supplies to ethnic minority households producing along the value chain; implementing a model to support cattle breeding for ethnic minority households…

*Ethnic minority people in Phan Dung commune (Tuy Phong).*

Improving spiritual well-being

Besides economic development, the Program also focuses on investing in essential infrastructure to serve production and daily life in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, as well as public service units in the ethnic affairs sector (Project 4). This includes investing in essential infrastructure to serve production and daily life in ethnic minority and mountainous areas. Project 5 focuses on developing education and training to improve the quality of human resources. In this project, the province will concentrate on reforming operations; consolidating and developing ethnic minority schools and eradicating illiteracy among people in ethnic minority areas; and providing training in ethnic knowledge…

*Festivals of ethnic minority communities in Ham Thuan Bac.*

Furthermore, Project 6 focuses on preserving and promoting the valuable traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities in conjunction with tourism development. The province will implement measures such as preserving traditional festivals in localities, developing tourism products, organizing training courses to improve professional skills and transmit intangible cultural heritage, supporting research, restoration, preservation, and promotion of intangible cultural values of ethnic minorities at risk of extinction, and developing models of traditional culture for ethnic minorities and mountainous regions.

*Representatives from the Provincial People's Council and various departments extended New Year greetings to the Rice Harvest Festival in Phan Lam commune, Bac Binh district in 2022.*

Simultaneously, projects focus on public health care, improving the physical condition and stature of ethnic minorities; preventing and combating child malnutrition; promoting gender equality and addressing urgent issues for women and children; conducting awareness campaigns to change mindsets and practices, contributing to the elimination of gender stereotypes and biases in families and communities, harmful cultural customs, and pressing social issues for women and children... Alongside these, investment is also directed towards the development of very small ethnic minority groups and those facing significant difficulties.

This includes minimizing child marriage and consanguineous marriage in ethnic minority and mountainous areas. This is coupled with communication, propaganda, and mobilization efforts within these areas. Monitoring and evaluation of the program's implementation is also crucial. This includes recognizing and honoring exemplary individuals, promoting the role of influential figures; disseminating and educating the public on laws and regulations; and applying information technology to support socio-economic development and ensure security and order. One of the key objectives is to improve the material and spiritual well-being of people in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the coming years.

To implement this Program, the Provincial People's Committee has assigned the Provincial Ethnic Affairs Committee to take the lead, in coordination with relevant departments, agencies, and localities, to advise, supervise, guide the organization and implementation, and accelerate the disbursement of funds for the projects, sub-projects, and component contents of the Program.

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