Gia Lai asked to cut poverty in ethnic minority groups

Working with key provincial leaders on January 6, the PM noted Gia Lai is still a poor locality with a high ratio of poor households at 17.23%, of which 82.9% are from ethnic minority groups. 

He asked Gia Lai to work out specific solutions to remove difficulties for businesses, while speeding up administrative reforms to attract more investment in infrastructure development and record higher GDP growth than that in 2013. 

Dung suggested the province develop industrial crops, especially rubber, coffee and cashew, in combination with cattle breeding. 

Gia Lai should step up the application of science and technology in production, increasing the cultivation of productive plants suitable to the natural conditions of the locality, he said. 

Meanwhile, the province should design preferential policies to lure investors to rural areas, especially areas that are home to people from ethnic minority groups, said the PM. 

He asked Gia Lai to pay more attention to consolidate the local political system, ensuring national defence and security, while keeping a close eye on forest and environmental protection, and natural resources management. 

The PM also directed the province to concentrate on healthcare development, human resources training and corruption prevention, and improve traffic safety. 

According to Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Pham The Dung, local socio-economic development is on the right track, with GDP growth reaching 12.3% in 2013 and an average per capita income of over VND30 million (US$1,410) per year, up 15.6% over 2012. 

The proportion of poor households also declined by 2.7% last year, he said. 

In 2014, Gia Lai aims to achieve 12.5% GDP growth, generate 24,000 jobs, and cut the ratio of poor families by 2.5%. It will also strive to increase forest coverage to 52.5%. 

With a total area of more than 15,500 sq.km., Gia Lai is home to over 1.2 million people (2009 statistics), including 34 ethnic groups such as Bahnar, Xo Dang, Thai and Muong.