The Central Highlands region consists of 17 provinces and cities; including 445 communes in zone I; 66 communes in zone II and 476 communes in zone III, with 3,243 extremely difficult villages (accounting for 24.53% of extremely difficult villages, ethnic minority areas and mountainous areas of the country).
The overall objective of the national target programme on socio-economic development in ethnic minority areas in the Central Highlands region is to exploit the potential and advantages of ethnic minority and mountainous areas, promote economic development, ensure social security, and put in place rapid and sustainable poverty reduction.
It hopes to gradually narrow the gap between the areas’ living standards and the national average income, reduce the number of communes and villages with special difficulties and set up an inter-regional socio-economic infrastructure system.
The areas are expected to receive better education, training and healthcare, markedly improving people's lives, raising the quantity and quality of State employees who are ethnic minorities, and preserving and promoting ethnic minorities’ culture.
Speaking at the event, Minister-Chairman of the Government Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs Hau A Lenh, asked relevant agencies to further enhance the sense of responsibility, clearly assign responsibilities, strengthen the grasp of the situation of localities to propose and effectively advise on the coordination between ministries, central agencies and localities, to accomplish the set goals.
