The Mekong Delta City of Can Tho targets to have five additional communes meet all 19 criteria of the national “new-style rural area” building programme in 2015.

The goal was released by Vice Chairman of the city People’s Committee Dao Anh Dung at a meeting on modern rural area development on January 21.

The five targeted communes are Vinh Trinh and Thanh Loi in Vinh Thanh district; Tan Thoi in Phong Dien district; Trung Thanh in Co Do district; and Dong Binh in Thoi Lai district.

The city expects to assist another 16 over the threshold between 2016 and 2020, raising the total number of recognised communes to 26 of the total 36 communes of the city.

In order to achieve the 2015 goal, the city has invested 202 billion VND (9.5 million USD) to build primary and nursery schools and communal houses as well as upgrade market facilities and road system in the communes, said Pham Van Quynh, Deputy Head of the city’s Steering Committee for the programme.

Additionally, technological advances have also been introduced to agricultural production in tandem with establishing large-scale fields and cooperatives to enhance agricultural productivity and efficiency, thus raising the living conditions of farmers in the locality.

Between 2016 and 2020, the city intends to funnel more than 4,800 billion VND (228.5 million USD) into developing its inter-commune road system, a 1,200 kilometre-long irrigation system, and other social services and facilities in the targeted communes.

In 2014, the city had five communes which met all the programme criteria, namely Trung An in Co Do district, My Khanh, Giai Xuan in Phong Dien district, Thanh Thang in Vinh Thanh district, Truong Xuan in Thoi Lai district.

The remaining 31 communes have met between 10 and 18 criteria.

The national programme on new-style rural area building, initiated by the Government in 2010, has set 19 criteria for socio-economic development, political structure, and security and defence protocols, ultimately aiming to revitalise Vietnam’s rural areas.

Measures include building infrastructure, improving production capacities, constructing public facilities, protecting the landscape and the environment, and promoting local traditions and cultural identities.-VNA