The Office of the Central Highlands Steering Committee has been asked to focus on creating favourable conditions for foreign investment activities in the region’s provinces.

The request was made by General Tran Dai Quang, Politburo member, Minister of Public Security and head of the Central Highlands Steering Committee, at his working session with the office in Dak Lak province on May 24.

He was briefed of the region’s socio-economic development, defence-security and the office’s operation from the beginning of this year.

He directed the body to work with regional provinces in facilitating investment in transport infrastructure construction, especially on the Ho Chi Minh highway that runs through the Central Highlands. The route is expected to open for traffic by mid-2015.

Quang also asked the offices of the steering committees for the Central Highlands and the northwestern region, as well as both regions’ provinces, to tackle the problem of unplanned migration.

He also requested that checks be regularly conducted in hydro-power projects in the Central Highlands and surrounding areas, and that the resettlement of people making way for project sites be carried out without delay.

Forest protection and management also need to be intensified, he said.

In addition, Quang stressed the importance of promoting socio-economic development, ensuring national security, maintaining social order and safety, facilitating sustainable development and attracting foreign and domestic investment to the Central Highlands.-VNA