Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh has urged the northern mountainous province of Tuyen Quang to gear up and become more developed.

When addressing the provincial Party committee’s 15 th congress for 2010-2015, on October 19, the Party leader praised the province’s efforts to overcome every obstacle and make positive changes to peoples lives.

However, the province is still underdeveloped, with an average income per capita only 60 percent of the national average. The province’s economic restructure is progressing a slow pace, services have not been developed and businesses are small-scale and lack competitiveness. The quality of education, health care services and human resources have still not met current requirements.

General Secretary Manh asked the Party to define its targets, tasks and mobilise every local resource to focus on developing the socio-economic infrastructure.

The province was urged to develop strong industries, diversify its high quality services and encourage investment in tourism. In addition, it should continue to increase the proportion of agricultural processing industries in the agricultural structure, apply scientific-technological advances to production, allocate specialised agro-forestry zones and areas to grow raw materials for the processing industries.

In the social and cultural fields, the province was asked to improve the quality of education-training, health care services, ensure social welfare and generate more jobs to reduce poverty, especially in ethnic minority areas.

According to a report delivered by the provincial Party committee’ secretary Nguyen Sang Vang, Tuyen Quang recorded an average growth rate of 13.5 percent over the last five years and an average income of 702 USD per capita per year.

However some positive developments have been seen in industry, agriculture, commerce and services, social infrastructure construction, education and health care. The province’s urban and rural areas have also had facelifts and people’s lives have been improved, he said.

The congress will last until October 21./.