Creating breakthroughs for special-status regions

The National Target Programs on new rural development, sustainable poverty reduction, and socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the 2026–2035 period are of great significance, contributing to poverty alleviation and improving living standards for people in these regions.

However, alongside the achieved results, the implementation of these programs remains slow; a number of regulatory and guiding documents under the responsibility of ministries and agencies have yet to be completed, while the volume of transitional work is substantial.

At a meeting on the National Target Programs for new rural development, sustainable poverty reduction, and socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung concluded that ministries, sectors, and localities must urgently and decisively carry out their assigned tasks, ensuring that these programs truly take effect and deliver tangible results.

In particular, administrative procedures in program implementation must be maximally reduced and simplified, alongside strengthened supervision, inspection, and prevention of corruption, waste, and misconduct; a handbook guiding the development of new-style and modern rural areas for the 2026–2030 period must be completed in the second quarter of 2026; relevant agencies must promptly issue guidance documents on sector-specific criteria in April 2026 and promulgate legal documents guiding program implementation in May 2026.

Special emphasis is placed on allocating and disbursing funds with priority given to special-status regions, with the highest levels directed toward extremely disadvantaged communes and villages, as well as ethnic minority and mountainous areas. Priority should be given to investing in essential infrastructure, promoting digital transformation, and linking with tourism development, ensuring that no funds remain idle.

Effective implementation of these National Target Programs will help transform the landscape of rural and mountainous areas, improve people’s living conditions, especially for poor households and ethnic minorities. To ensure these policies truly take root, coordinated engagement from the entire political system is required, with innovative thinking and decisive action. Each locality must proactively innovate, turning its unique advantages and investment resources into strong driving forces. As essential infrastructure is completed, digital transformation expands, and cultural and tourism values are unlocked, the livelihoods of ethnic minority communities will continue to improve, contributing to the building of modern, civilized, and sustainably developed rural areas.

Phuong Dong