Flexible allocation of capital for programs in disadvantaged areas

Implementing the overall program for sustainable socio-economic development, ensuring national defense and security in communes, villages, hamlets, ethnic minority areas, mountainous areas, border areas, and islands in conjunction with implementing national target programs in the province in 2024, since the beginning of the year, the province has been determined and flexible in mobilizing and allocating capital to implement the programs. Thereby, contributing to accelerating programs and projects and promoting effectiveness after implementation.

Workers of Hon Gai Water Enterprise coordinated with the People's Committee of Son Duong commune to survey and agree on the area to install water supply pipelines for local people. *Photo: Hoang Nga*

Right from the beginning of the year, the province issued many decisions to assign the provincial budget capital plan to implement programs and direct the detailed allocation of provincial budget capital to support the implementation of national target programs in 2024 to focus on effective implementation right from the beginning of the year. In particular, the Provincial People's Committee submitted to the Provincial People's Council for approval many resolutions on supplementing mechanisms and measures for local budget management, adjusting, supplementing, and allocating provincial budget expenditure estimates as well as support policies for near-poor households, agricultural, forestry, and fishery households with average living standards in the province in the period of 2024-2025. At the same time, a Working Group was established to accelerate the implementation of key programs and projects using provincial budget capital and disbursement of public investment plans in 2024...

In 2024, the provincial budget's public investment capital allocated to implement the national target program and the program for developing mountainous, border, island and ethnic minority areas of the province reached 981,947 billion VND for 168 projects. As of November 15, 2024, the total disbursed investment capital reached 624 billion VND. In particular, the Provincial People's Council passed a Resolution approving the investment policy for 6 inter-regional traffic connection projects, connecting lowland areas with highland areas, dynamic areas with difficult areas, connecting economic zones and industrial parks, contributing to the socio-economic development of ethnic minority, mountainous, border and island areas. Typically: Upgrading provincial road 342 in Ha Long city; the road connecting from National Highway 279 to provincial road 291 in Bac Giang province; renovating and upgrading provincial road 327, the section from the provincial gate intersection to the main axis of Dong Trieu city center; Renovating and upgrading provincial road 338, section from Ben Rung bridge approach road intersection to National Highway 18.

The renovation and expansion project of Ba Che District Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities has been completed and put into use. *Photo: Huynh Dang*

In 2024, educational institutions in the province have repaired and invested in the construction of additional facilities for 183 school items and works, mainly concentrated in rural, mountainous and island areas. Localities in the province have also allocated investment capital to integrate programs to build, repair and supplement 13 projects and works in the cultural field, serving to improve the cultural and spiritual life of people in all regions of the province.

The whole province has also completed upgrading and improving the quality of the low-voltage power system and the power grid at risk of being unsafe, and completed the settlement of all low-voltage households with 1,338 households. At the same time, localities have also proactively arranged investment capital to repair and upgrade 16 clean water projects and works with a total cost of 81.108 billion VND. Typical works: Centralized domestic water in Quang Duc commune and clean water pipeline system in Quang Phong commune (Hai Ha district); centralized water project in Pac Cuong village, Hoanh Mo commune (Binh Lieu district); clean water project in Khe Muoi village, Dai Duc commune (Tien Yen district); upgrading the domestic water system in Ngoc Vung commune and investing in the main clean water pipeline to the center of Binh Dan and Dai Xuyen communes (Van Don district)... Projects and works have been and are being implemented, meeting the needs of the people, promoting local socio-economic development. Ms. Truong Thi Liu (Binh Dan commune, Van Don district) said: “Previously, my family used well water, and during heavy rains, the water was often cloudy and unsanitary. Since the water pipes were installed to bring clean water to the house, my family has been able to use clean water consistently, without worrying about water shortages or unsanitary conditions, so everyone is very assured about their health.”

In addition, localities have increased the implementation of support for production development. In 2024, the total capital to support production development under national target programs allocated in the province is 300 billion VND. Localities have allocated over 12 billion VND directly to projects to support production development; the remaining 287.969 billion VND, the Provincial People's Committee submitted to the Provincial People's Council to transfer the entrustment to the Provincial Branch of the Bank for Social Policies to provide loans according to Decision 33/2024/QD (dated August 13, 2024) of the Provincial People's Committee. To date, the bank has lent to 2,960 customers with an amount of over 260.11 billion VND (loans in the forestry sector are 1,444 customers; in the aquaculture sector are 932 customers; in livestock farming are 494 customers; in production and trade are 89 customers). The loan capital has promptly supported people to restore production immediately after the heavy damage from storm No. 3, helping people to soon stabilize their lives.

At the same time, the State Bank also guides the implementation of credit policies in 64 communes in ethnic minority, mountainous, border and island areas. As of October 1, 2024, outstanding loans in the above communes were VND 3,964 billion with 30,491 outstanding customers. Total lending turnover through the Social Policy Bank as of November 26, 2024 was VND 1,879.2 billion for 26,380 borrowers, total outstanding loans were VND 5,233.7 billion with 75,761 outstanding customers.

The determination in mobilizing and allocating capital to implement programs for mountainous, border, island and ethnic minority areas of the province has contributed to improving people's lives, promoting socio-economic development, and reducing regional gaps.

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