Lawmakers back single rural, poverty, ethnic minority scheme through 2035

The single National Target Programme on new-style rural development, sustainable poverty reduction, and socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the 2026-2035 period will be launched nationwide, with priority given to ethnic minority and mountainous regions.

At a discussion session (Photo: VNA)
At a discussion session (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – The 15th National Assembly examined a Government proposal to merge three target programmes into a single National Target Programme on new-style rural development, sustainable poverty reduction, and socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the 2026-2035 period, during its ongoing 10th session in Hanoi on December 3.

Presenting the proposal, Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang noted that the programme will be launched nationwide, with priority given to ethnic minority and mountainous regions.

The first phase (2026-2030) is budgeted at a minimum 1.23 quadrillion VND (47 billion USD), with roughly 100 trillion VND coming directly from the central budget, 400 trillion VND from provincial and communal coffers, 360 trillion VND to be reallocated from other national target programmes, some 22.7 trillion VND in policy credit, and approximately 348 trillion VND from private and community sources.

Funding for the 2031-2035 second phase will be calibrated based on first-phase results and submitted separately for parliamentary approval.

In its verification report, the NA Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs backed merging the three existing schemes into one 10-year programme and broadly endorsed its two-component design, while directing the Government to prevent overlap, conduct thorough cross-agency consultations and clearly delineate responsibilities.

Lawmakers urged targeted spending on basic social infrastructure, agricultural and forestry value chains, sci-tech adoption, digital transformation, environmental protection, and intensified support for tiny ethnic groups, remote highland and border villages, and disaster-risk resettlement projects.

They also considered an investment plan for the Vinh-Thanh Thuy expressway; a draft resolution on amendments and supplements to certain articles of Resolution 98 on piloting special mechanisms and policies for Ho Chi Minh City, and another amending certain articles of Resolution 136 on organisation of urban administrations and piloting special mechanisms and policies for the development of Da Nang city./.

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