A cooperation programme between Ho Chi Minh City and Central Highlands provinces proves a success as it has helped these provinces boost their fast and sustainable socio-economic development, thus contributing to raising living conditions of local ethnic groups.

According to the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands region, over the past 13 years, the City has provided the region with more than 32 billion VND to build nine facilities, mainly schools, clinic centres and roads.

There are now 141 businesses from HCM City investing in the region in 183 projects worth nearly 39 billion VND, mainly in agro-forestry production and processing, mining, eco-tourism, trade and hydro-electricity.

In the reviewed period, Lam Dong province has taken the list in terms of attracting investment from the city, with 212 projects, focusing on tourism, agriculture, high technology and trade.

Under the programme, HCM City has also sent doctors to the region to transfer scientific and technological advances in health examination and treatment to their local colleagues, as well as provided free medical check-up and treatment for the ethnic groups in remote areas.

From now to 2015, the city will continue implementing 10 programmes on investment promotion, trade, health, education-training, information technology, culture, sports and tourism in the region.-VNA