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Submitted by ctv_en_5 on Wed, 05/03/2006 - 11:50
The Government aims to create 300,000 new jobs in developing rural industries under a plan that is projected at an annual growth rate of 15 percent for the rural sector during the coming five-year period.

The five-year plan for development of rural industries, which also aims for a 20-25 percent increase in export turnover per year, was approved recently by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Diep Kinh Tan, the five-year plan prioritises the development of rural industries, which have competitive advantages or are labour intensive, such as craft-making, processing, agro-forestry conservation, small sized agricultural engineering and production services.

Mr Tan said the development of various rural industries would depend on the situation and traditions of each region. For example, the Song Hong (Red River) Delta will focus on developing lacquer ware, embroidery, wooden sculpture and metal works. The plan also prioritises the development of traditional craft villages in co-ordination with tourism development, Mr Tan added.

The north-eastern and north-western mountainous regions are to become the main suppliers of raw materials and processing centres for other regions, under the plan.

The north, central and south central regions of the country will focus on developing traditional industries such as stone sculpture, wood processing, textiles, ceramics, rattan making and metal works.

For the Cuu Long (Mekong) region, priority should be given to agro-aqua production and processing and supporting services, said Mr Tan.

To achieve the plan’s objectives, the MARD has asked localities to consider the development of rural industries part of their master plans for rural industrialisation and modernisation and pay due attention to the application of technological advances, particularly environmentally-friendly achievements.

According to Deputy Minister Tan, Vietnam currently has more than 2,000 handicraft villages, of which 400 are traditional craft villages. About 1.4 million households nationwide are engaged in handicraft production, an increase of 5.3 percent figures from 2000.

During the past four years, industrial handicraft production and rural occupations scored an average growth rate of 15 percent per year. In some provinces, figures were much higher. Quang Nam achieved a 25.2 percent growth rate, Ha Tay’s sector expanded by 24 percent while Bac Ninh proved to be one of the leaders in the sector with an average annual growth rate of almost 30 percent.

Products made by handicrafts villages have gained a firm foothold on the domestic and foreign markets. At present, more than 40 percent of handicraft products are exported, an increase of 10 percent from the figure of 2000. In 2005 alone, export turnover stood at almost US$550 million, an increase of 25 percent over 2004.

The ministry reported that rural industries annually provide jobs for more than 11 million people, an increase of 10 percent compared to 2000.

Village economies play an important role in local socio-economic development. The average income of a non-farming labourer has increased three or four times against farmers’ incomes. The current rate of poor households in traditional craft villages is 3.7 percent against 10.4 percent nationwide.

VOVNews/VNS

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