The request was made by Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong, who is also Head of the Steering Committee for Northwestern Region, at a conference in Phu Tho province on January 30 to review the committee’s performance in 2009 and launch its tasks in 2010.

Mr Trong asked local authorities and relevant agencies to undertake coordinated measures for development of the northwestern region which comprises 13 provinces.

The Deputy PM stressed that in 2010, localities in the region should focus on economic restructuring, developing agriculture and rural economy in line with the Party Central Committee’s Resolution 7 on agriculture, farmers and rural area.

He pointed out that forestation is the region’s spearhead economy and strength, so the provinces should combine land and forest allocation with population settlement to restrict burning forests for agriculture and illegal exploitation of forest products.

Deputy PM Trong also told the localities to develop cattle herds and aquaculture and accelerate trade promotion of agro-forestry products.

In 2009, despite difficulties, especially the global economic slowdown, the Northwestern region saw sustainable development with economic growth rate of 9.38 percent and contribution of over VND8.5 trillion to the State budget, an increase of 16.3 percent over 2008.