Economic development key to improve religious, ethnic work

Addressing a conference on ethnic and religious affairs and security and defence work in the southwestern region on August 23, the Deputy PM urged the cities and provinces in the region to continue improving business environment and providing support to businesses. 

The localities should accelerate the disbursement of public investment capital as well as the execution of other mechanisms and policies. 

He encouraged localities to shift agricultural production towards expanding cultivation and seafood-raising area combining with the application of science and technology to ensure agricultural production in the region to gain higher value in 2016. 

He also required ministries and sectors to allocate sufficient funding for poverty reduction work in the region during 2016-2020. 

It was reported at the workshop that due attention has been paid to the execution of ethnic and religious policies, bringing remarkable development across the fields, from economy to culture, health care and education, and improving the living conditions of local ethnic minorities. The ethnic groups’ confidence in the leadership of the Party, State and government at all levels has been consolidated. 

According to the Steering Committee for the Southwestern region, from 2011-2015, the rate of poverty households in ethnic groups reduced from 33% to 13%.