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The Program 1719 aims to improve living standards in ethnic minority and mountainous regions through inclusive development. Photo: Thach Thao

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will chair a national conference on the morning of July 12 to evaluate the progress of the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas (referred to as Program 1719).

The event will be held in hybrid format, both in person at the Government Office and via online connections with the People’s Committees of provinces and cities across the country.

Co-chairing the event are President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Do Van Chien, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh, Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh, and Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung.

This program was approved by the National Assembly under Resolution 120/2020/QH14 and formalized through Decision 1719 on October 14, 2021 by the Prime Minister. Phase I covers the period 2021–2025, with a vision extending to 2030.

The program's goals include enhancing socio-economic conditions, reducing poverty, improving education and healthcare, preserving cultural identities, and narrowing the development gap between ethnic areas and the rest of the country.

It also focuses on strengthening grassroots governance and maintaining political security and national unity.

Key objectives of Program 1719 include:

Boosting sustainable economic development and production
Expanding access to housing, farmland, and clean water
Investing in essential infrastructure and public services
Strengthening education and training
Preserving cultural heritage and promoting tourism
Improving healthcare, nutrition, and gender equality
Supporting especially vulnerable and underdeveloped ethnic groups
Conducting legal education and promoting IT applications
Monitoring, evaluating, and reporting on implementation progress

The program is structured into 10 projects and 14 sub-projects, covering a wide array of development goals such as resettlement planning, agricultural value chains, vocational training, anti-malnutrition measures, ethnic heritage conservation, and tackling early marriage.

The upcoming conference will assess the results of the 2021–2025 period, identify challenges and lessons, and propose adjustments for the next phase through 2030.

Binh Minh