2nd Coordination Forum: Attracting ODA capital and preferential loans for ethnic minority and mountainous areas 2026 - 2030

Forum View

Institutional capacity building

The forum was attended by representatives of ministries, branches, central agencies; representatives of the People's Committees of the provinces: Hoa Binh, Bac Kan, Cao Bang, Dien Bien, Ha Giang, Lai Chau, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Son La, Thanh Hoa, Thai Nguyen, Tuyen Quang, Yen Bai; and 11 international sponsors.

The Forum is an activity under the Technical Assistance Project "Improving institutional capacity to implement the Master Plan for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas, 2021-2030" (Project TA6776-VIE) implemented by the Committee for Ethnic Minorities, with non-refundable aid from the Japan Fund for Asia and the Pacific Prosperity and Resilience (JFPR) funded by the Government of Japan through the Asian Development Bank.

Through the Forum, to promote dialogue between central ministries, provinces with many ethnic minorities and the international development partner community on the needs and challenges in attracting ODA capital and preferential loans for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the period of 2026 - 2030.

Deputy Minister, Vice Chairman of the Ethnic Committee Y Thong spoke at the Forum

Speaking at the opening of the Forum, Mr. Y Thong - Deputy Minister, Vice Chairman of the Ethnic Minorities Committee said that along with Vietnam's impressive poverty reduction results over the past 3 decades, the poverty rate in ethnic minority and mountainous areas has also decreased significantly, but at a slower rate than average. It is noteworthy that, although accounting for only 14.6% of the total population, ethnic minorities account for over 80% of the poor in Vietnam. With that reality, ethnic minority and mountainous areas are truly the "core of poverty" in Vietnam.

Of the 51 provinces with ethnic minority and mountainous areas, only 11 provinces can balance their budgets; 16 provinces depend on the central budget from 50-70% and 17 provinces depend on over 70% of the central budget. Therefore, investment in improving connectivity in ethnic minority and mountainous areas mainly relies on public investment capital from the central budget.

Currently, the Government has a priority orientation to attract ODA and preferential loans for large-scale and important infrastructure projects in ethnic minority and mountainous areas. The Ethnic Committee, with its responsibility as the State management agency for ethnic affairs, continues to maintain a substantive cooperative relationship with international donors and development partners.

Delegates attending the Forum

In the coming time, the Ethnic Committee aims to attract ODA capital and preferential loans from international donors and development partners to focus on promoting infrastructure connections in poor communes and districts in ethnic minority and mountainous areas with national infrastructure axes to create opportunities for inclusive growth. Support the development of livelihoods for ethnic minorities based on livelihood potential and local knowledge; preserve and exploit cultural identity to develop tourism and diversify livelihoods;

Developing quality human resources for ethnic minorities, ensuring that the ethnic minority workforce has sufficient knowledge, skills, and opportunities to participate equally in the formal labor market. Strengthening resilience to natural disasters and adapting to climate change. Innovating approaches and policies for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas. Strengthening the capacity of officials working in ethnic minority areas; improving the coordination capacity of the Ethnic Committee and the system of state management agencies on ethnic affairs at all levels.

International delegates attending the Forum

Deputy Minister, Vice Chairman Y Thong emphasized: Through dialogue, experience exchange and sharing of useful information, the Forum will provide additional input for Government agencies, donors, provinces in ethnic minority and mountainous areas to have appropriate policies to promote the attraction of ODA capital and preferential loans for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the coming time.

The Ethnic Committee is always ready to be a bridge

Speaking at the Forum, Mr. Dinh Cong Su - Vice Chairman of Hoa Binh Provincial People's Committee, said: In the period of 2021 - 2025, Hoa Binh province will implement 21 projects and non-projects using ODA capital, of which ODA capital is 5,552,872 million VND, counterpart capital is 2,064,386 million VND. The projects mainly focus on the fields of agriculture and rural development; socio-economic infrastructure development; health - culture - society and some other fields.

Mr. Dinh Cong Su - Vice Chairman of Hoa Binh Provincial People's Committee spoke at the Forum

Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hoa Binh province Dinh Cong Su hopes to continue to access ODA capital sources, preferential loans, especially non-refundable ODA capital in the fields of inter-regional transport infrastructure, health, agriculture, green growth, digital transformation, and climate change adaptation. Thereby, completing the province's socio-economic infrastructure system, contributing significantly to supporting sustainable poverty reduction and increasing people's income.

Mr. Hoang Quoc Khanh - Vice Chairman of Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee spoke at the Forum

Speaking at the Forum, Mr. Hoang Quoc Khanh - Vice Chairman of Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee, commented that the effectiveness of ODA programs and projects is very practical, annually supplementing the Lao Cai provincial budget with about 600 - 700 billion VND; contributing to improving rural infrastructure, promoting sustainable socio-economic development, poverty reduction, stabilizing and improving the quality of life for people in disadvantaged mountainous communes.

Especially for ethnic minorities, improving the environment, increasing people's access to essential social services; creating more favorable conditions for people to travel within the region, increasing income, shortening travel time and transporting goods, the average annual poverty reduction rate always reaches and exceeds 5%, narrowing the gap between rich and poor between ethnic minority communities and regions, at the same time, contributing to raising awareness and promoting gender equality in ethnic communities.

Mr. Ha Van Di - Provincial Party Committee member, Head of the Ethnic Minorities Committee of Hoa Binh province spoke at the Forum

At the forum, delegates focused on discussing the following contents: Challenges in current institutions (policies, regulations, capacity) in attracting ODA capital and preferential loans for ethnic minority and mountainous areas; experience in preparing programs/projects to attract ODA capital and preferential loans for ethnic minority and mountainous areas; orientations for mobilizing ODA capital and preferential loans from the Government for ethnic minority and mountainous areas; strategies and priority orientations for cooperation of the international development partner community for ethnic minority and mountainous areas.

Representative of the Ministry of Planning and Investment spoke at the Forum

In his concluding remarks at the Forum, Deputy Minister and Vice Chairman of the Ethnic Committee Y Thong said that, based on the discussions at the Forum, the Ethnic Committee will synthesize opinions on difficulties and proposals from the provinces, as well as the sharing of central ministries, international donors, and development partners to make recommendations to the Government and the National Assembly on appropriate mechanisms and policies in attracting ODA capital and preferential loans for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas.

Deputy Minister and Vice Chairman Y Thong respectfully requested central ministries, international donors, and development partners to continue to pay attention to supporting the socio-economic development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas. The Deputy Minister requested provinces to promote creativity and proactiveness in attracting ODA capital and preferential loans.

Delegates take souvenir photos

“The Ethnic Committee is always ready to act as a bridge, playing an active role in coordinating with central ministries and branches, supporting localities in promoting cooperation with international donors and development partners for the socio-economic development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas,” Deputy Minister and Vice Chairman of the Ethnic Committee Y Thong emphasized.

Within the framework of the Forum, on the afternoon of November 29, the delegation attending the Forum visited the community economic development model of ethnic minorities in Hoa Binh province.

Ethnic Committee with the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas: Connecting to Mobilize ODA Capital (Part 8)

Source: https://baodantoc.vn/dien-dan-dieu-phoi-lan-2-thu-hut-nguon-von-oda-va-vay-uu-dai-cho-vung-dong-bao-dtts-va-mien-nui-2026-2030-1732864761201.htm