The second phase of the programme, which finishes at the end of this year, has helped to boost socio-economic development in the most disadvantaged communes of ethnic minority inhabited areas.

However, there are still some snags to iron out in the coming period, said Hung, in an interview to a VOV reporter.

Reporter: Could you elaborate on the outstanding achievements in the second phase of  the programme?

Mr. Hung: The second phase of the programme has provided VND14,000 billion for local areas to help them create successful models of agricultural and aquatic development, buy 42,000 machines for production and processing, and run crash courses for officials at grass roots level.

The Committee of Ethnic Minority Affairs has trained 3,500 provincial and district officials, including 178 from each commune and village, who are involved in administrative and economic management and project supervision, and has set up 1,500 legal assistance clubs at grass roots level.

Reporter: The second phase of the programme has encouraged communal people’s committees to be investors. How are things going?

Mr. Hung: This empowerment aims to help build up management capacity at grass roots level. The programme’s motto is “people know, people discuss, people do, and people check”.

Reporter: What do you think about such problems as the slow disbursement of capital and lack of local support for some pilot projects?

Mr. Hung: These things are still occurring here and there as some local authorities have not been aware of the programme’s goals.

Programme 135 aims to create economically-effective models of production. However, the expansion of these models has not received proper investment as every locality has its own requirements for development.

Reporter: Legal assistance to local farmers has not proven as effective as expected. In your opinion, what are the main reasons for this?

Mr. Hung: Currently, each commune receives VND2 million/year for legal assistance. With such a small amount of money, if localities do not combine all the legal assistance from Programme 135 with other legal assistance programmes, they cannot do much.

Reporter: Could you talk about your experience in implementing Programme 135?

Mr. Hung: Firstly, local authorities must have a proper understanding of the programme’s goals and significance and introduce measures to implement it in an effective manner. Secondly, it is essential to get the private sector to carry out the programme. Lastly, more attention needs to be paid to improving the knowledge and professional skills of managers, officials and the chief investors in Programme 135.

Reporter: CEMA is drawing up a socio-economic development programme in communes and hamlets that have special difficulties in remote and mountainous areas from 2011 to 2015, with a vision to 2020, to submit to the Prime Minister in August 2010. Could you sum up the new points in this programme?

Mr. Hung: This programme will provide more preferential loans for poor people in disadvantaged communes to help them develop production. It will classify poor communes on different levels so that they can receive a suitable level of assistance.

The programme will also concentrate on increasing people’s knowledge, upgrading local infrastructure facilities, including building new roads, electricity supplies, health centres and schools.

Reporter:  Is there any difference in Programme 135’s third phase compared to the previous phase?

Mr. Hung: In the new phase, those people enjoying incentive policies are clearly defined, and will receive financial support in a five-year period to realize the programme’s targets. The focus will be on reducing poverty and improving people’s living conditions in remote areas to help them escape from poverty in a more sustainable manner.

Reporter: Thank you.