Rural transport development helps promote poverty reduction
Measures to promote transport infrastructure development in rural areas and the use of official development assistance (ODA) for the work was the focus of a seminar held by the Dai bieu nhan dan (People's Deputy) newspaper in Hanoi on June 26.
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The event aimed to gather opinions of NA deputies, experts, scientists, and managers on the current rural transport development and issues in the coming time.
Participants said transport has significantly contributed to promoting socio-economic development in general and serving agricultural production and rural development in particular.
In recent years, capital sources for developing rural transport infrastructure have been increasing, including ODA. The Government has spent a remarkable amount of ODA capital for rural transport projects.
In the last five years, about VND48 trillion (US$2.1 billion) was poured into rural transport, up over VND10 trillion from those for the 2005-2010 period. The ODA capital for rural transport accounted for between 10% and 15% of the total source for transport construction.
Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Transport Nguyen Hong Truong underlined the importance of stepping up transport development, which he described as a foundation for developing other sectors.
While highlighting the role of rural transport in poverty reduction, deputy head of the National Assembly's Committee for Social Affairs Bui Si Loi affirmed the NA and Government need to continue prioritising investment for transport development, and consider the work as part of activities to promote sustainable poverty reduction.
Deputy head of the NA Council of Ethnic Affairs Nguyen Lam Thanh emphasised the involvement of local people and authorities in rural transport development.
