The meeting focused on reviewing progress, identifying goals, tasks, and solutions to be completed by the end of 2025. Committee members also provided feedback on the draft 2025 Work Plan and Operating Regulations. In addition, the committee discussed and voted on the recognition of Mường Lay town for having completed its new rural development tasks for 2024.

The meeting was chaired by Lê Thành Đô, Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, and Head of the Steering Committee for National Target Programs, along with Vice Chairmen of the provincial People’s Committee Vừ A Bằng and Lò Văn Cương.

During the 2021-2025 period, a total of VND 6,736.599 billion was allocated for the province’s three national target programs. As of April 2025, VND 21.664 billion from the New Rural Development Program remained unallocated, despite being part of the plan approved by the Prime Minister.

For the socio-economic development Program for ethnic minority and mountainous areas, VND 159.05 billion in development investment capital has yet to be allocated by the central government, falling short of the medium-term plan. Moreover, non-investment (recurrent) capital for 2025 has not yet been allocated.

To date, cumulative disbursement across the three programs has reached VND 4,158.212 billion, or 61.72% of the total planned budget. Disbursement by program: Socio-economic development program for ethnic minority and mountainous areas: 59.39%; Sustainable poverty reduction Program: 68.2%; and New-style rural development program: 53.55%. As of the end of March 2025, VND 772.252 billion in carry-over capital from previous years remained, but only VND 33.6 billion had been disbursed-just 4.35% of the planned amount.

From 2022 to 2024, the province consistently reduced its poverty rate by over 4% per year, with a 4.39% reduction in 2024-exceeding the target set by the Prime Minister. Currently, 26 out of 115 communes have achieved new rural development standards, five more than in 2021. Among them, five have reached advanced new-style rural commune status.

Up to now, all three programs still have several targets that have not been met. Specifically, the New Rural Development Program has 4 out of 6 tasks unfulfilled; the Sustainable Poverty Reduction Program has 5 out of 9 indicators unmet; and the Socio-Economic Development Program for Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas has 3 indicators yet to be evaluated and 2 indicators that are unlikely to be achieved.

At the meeting, leaders of districts, towns, and cities provided explanations for the main reasons why disbursement has fallen short of the annual target of over 95%, particularly regarding the disbursement of non-investment (career) funds. Additionally, three districts have yet to have any communes meeting the new rural development standards.

Regarding the implementation of national target programs in 2025, emphasis should be placed on shifting support from livestock breeding to crop restructuring on upland fields. Representatives from departments and sectors also raised concerns over delays in fund allocation and the shortfall in essential targets, including education, healthcare, housing, clean water and sanitation, information access, and average per capita income in the implementation of national target programs across the region.

Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Lê Thành Đô highly appreciated the efforts of departments, agencies, and localities that have brought about positive outcomes in implementing the three national target programs in the province during the 2021- 2025 period. However, he noted that, compared to the overall plan, many targets have only been partially achieved, and some have not been met at all.

To address these shortcomings and ensure effective implementation of the 2025 tasks, the Chairman requested the following: The Department of Finance is to coordinate with program-managing departments and localities to promptly allocate detailed funding for 2025, with a particular emphasis on the timely notification and disbursement of non-investment (recurrent expenditure) funds carried over into 2025. District authorities must step up efforts to accelerate program implementation, review and propose necessary adjustments to the Provincial People’s Committee to finalize the legal framework for projects.

This includes revising investor assignments before July 1 to prevent project disruptions. District-level People’s Committees are urged to shift their mindset, approach, and implementation methods regarding the use of non-investment funds, focusing on restructuring the local agricultural sector. Districts are temporarily to halt livestock support projects and instead prioritize the disbursement of carry-over funds, rather than waiting for 2025 allocations. Điện Biên district is tasked with promptly completing procedures for recognizing communes as model new-style rural areas and advanced new-style rural areas. Other districts without any communes meeting new rural standards are to continue focusing their leadership efforts to achieve the highest possible outcomes within the 2021-2025 period.

At the meeting, members of the Steering Committee expressed unanimous agreement with the draft 2025 Work Plan and the Operating Regulations of the provincial Steering Committee for National Target Programs. The committee also voted unanimously to recognize Mường Lay town as having fulfilled its new rural development tasks for 2024.