Ministries, branches and central agencies should coordinate closely with provinces in the northwest to effectively manage and exploit mineral resources for the region’s socio-economic development, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked.

The region, which is home to many people from ethnic minorities, has an important strategic position, Phuc told a conference hosted by the Steering Committee for the region to review its work in 2012 and suggest future orientations on January 14.

The committee should set out programmes and targets that directly concern local residents, stressed Phuc, who is also head of the committee.

The Party’s policies and the State’s laws should be popularised among the people, he said. Advances in science and technology should be applied to help them improve productivity and their lives, he added.

According to standing deputy head of the committee Dinh Van Cuong, the region enjoyed socio-economic stability and development in 2012. It recorded a Gross Domestic Product growth rate of 9.64 percent and average annual income of 18.46 million VND (900 USD) - an increase of 2.45 million VND from 2011. In addition, more than 17 trillion VND was collected for the region budget.

The rate of poverty in the region was reduced to 25 percent, down 3.4 percent against 2011. Religious activities were basically stable while the state management on the sector was strengthened. Political security and social order was kept stable and national border sovereignty was safeguarded.

This year, the committee will actively coordinate with ministries and branches to attract investment to key regional sectors. It will also focus on implementing key projects in the region.

At the conference, with representatives from 14 northern mountainous provinces, a work coordination programme was signed between the Steering Committee and the Central Committee of the Vietnam Women’s Union. It also received 5 billion VND that had been donated by Vietnamese banks.-VNA