Towards sustainable and inclusive development in ethnic minority regions

Reporters from Gia Lai Newspaper and Radio & Television spoke with Mr. Trần Văn Thanh, Deputy Director of the Department of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, about key achievements and future directions.

* Mr. Thanh, during the 2021–2025 period, what have been the most notable outcomes of the National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas?

- During the 2021–2025 period, the National Target Program has delivered comprehensive and far-reaching changes across rural, mountainous, and disadvantaged areas.

The program has contributed to restructuring the local economy towards sustainability, supporting poverty reduction, and improving both material and spiritual living standards for residents.

The total state budget allocated to Gia Lai province for implementing the program exceeded VND 4,302 billion (approximately USD 176 million).

With these resources, authorities provided residential land for 234 households, housing support for 3,070 households, vocational transition assistance for 6,109 households, and decentralized clean water access for 9,505 households.

In addition, 19 centralized water supply projects were built, alongside investment in 21 projects for planning, resettlement, and population stabilization.

The program also included forest protection contracts covering 506,662 hectares, support for 513 livelihood diversification projects benefiting 8,146 households, investment in 535 rural transport projects, and maintenance of 268 infrastructure facilities, among other initiatives.

As a result, the poverty rate among ethnic minority households has declined by more than 4% annually. All communes now have asphalt or concrete roads leading to their centers; schools and health stations are solidly constructed and fully equipped; and every hamlet and village has a community cultural house. These outcomes have laid a strong foundation for sustainable development.

* During implementation, how has the NTP impacted the awareness and self-reliance of local people?

- Beyond tangible material support, the program has driven a clear shift in mindset and self-reliance among ethnic minority communities.

Through access to support policies and direct participation in projects, residents have gradually moved away from dependency and passivity towards greater initiative in economic development.

Many households have actively applied scientific and technological advances, shifted to crops and livestock better suited to local conditions, established production linkages, joined cooperatives and associations, and adopted a more market-oriented production approach.

More importantly, the program has strengthened the spirit of self-reliance and resilience, reinforced trust in ethnic policies, and created a solid platform for sustainable development in the next phase.

That said, challenges remain. Ethnic minority areas are extensive, with dispersed populations, difficult transport conditions, and linguistic and cultural differences that complicate communication and mobilisation. In some localities, implementation of sub-projects has been slow, disbursement rates remain low, regulatory obstacles persist, and beneficiary lists do not always fully reflect actual needs.

* On December 11, 2025, the National Assembly issued Resolution No. 257/2025/QH15 to integrate three National Target Programs into a single comprehensive program. How do you assess this decision?

- I consider the National Assembly’s Resolution No. 257/2025/QH15, which integrates the three National Target Programs into one unified framework for the 2026–2035 period, to be a strategic, breakthrough, and timely move.

Previously, the separate implementation of these programs led to fragmentation and overlap in objectives, policies, and resource allocation, reducing overall effectiveness. Integration will help unify goals, concentrate resources, and narrow development gaps between regions—particularly in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, which remain the country’s core poverty zones.

The integrated program will follow clear guiding principles: enriching the people, strengthening the nation, and ensuring a prosperous and happy life for all. Importantly, existing policies will not be reduced. Instead, investment will be more sharply focused on ethnic minority and mountainous areas, prioritising projects with direct impacts on livelihoods, infrastructure, education, healthcare, and daily life.

This presents a major opportunity for the program to act as a lever for improving quality of life, strengthening public trust, and promoting innovation in governance and the effective use of public investment.

* What key lessons should be carried forward to ensure the program’s effectiveness in the 2026–2035 period?

- To maximise the effectiveness of the program in 2026–2035, the Government and relevant ministries need to further refine mechanisms and policies to ensure coherence and practicality, streamline administrative procedures, and allocate resources in a more focused manner. Priority should be given to projects that deliver direct and long-term benefits to people’s livelihoods and living conditions.

At the same time, beneficiary localities should strengthen the capacity of grassroots officials, enhance inter-sectoral coordination, and promote the role of communities and residents as central actors in project implementation. This is a decisive factor in ensuring depth, sustainability, and lasting impact.

With the National Assembly’s strong policy direction and the determined involvement of the entire political system, I am confident that the 2026-2035 National Target Program will generate more substantial changes in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, steadily improving quality of life and further strengthening public trust in the Party and the State.

* Thank you very much!