Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc urged the Northwestern region to set up an inter-sectoral database and focus on improving investment policies in a move towards comprehensive and sustainable development.

Speaking at a seminar recently held by the Vietnam National University - Hanoi and the Steering Committee for the Northwestern Region, the Deputy PM, who is also Head of the Steering Committee, asked academics to try harder to address the region’s shortcomings.

Despite positive changes to its socio-economic structure and an annual average economic growth rate of 11.5 percent, the region is still facing difficulties in all areas, with a household poverty rate of 29.5 percent, the highest rate nationwide.

Natural disasters caused by climate change and the uncontrolled exploitation of natural resources are also posing a direct threat to the region’s sustainable development, Phuc stressed.

During the seminar, participants discussed methods for establishing the inter-sectoral integrated database and analysed policies on the region’s sustainable development.

The system is expected to provide reliable information to serve scientific research, and develop and adapt appropriate socio-economic development policies and strategies.

The northwestern region comprises the six provinces of Hoa Binh, Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Lao Cai and Yen Bai.-VNA