Appropriate and effective economic development models are opening sustainable directions, bringing visible changes, and contributing to building a stable and prosperous borderland.

In the past, border communes of former Mường Nhé were considered “weak spot” in economic terms. Despite vast land areas, cultivation focused on short-term crops with low efficiency, leaving people in poverty. The turning point came in 2008, when Điện Biên adopted a policy to attract enterprises to invest in rubber plantations in border communes. After nearly two decades, this industrial crop has proven its place, becoming an important livelihood for hundreds of households.

So far, the Mường Nhé Rubber Joint Stock Company has developed 1,176.42 hectares of commercial rubber, entering a stable exploitation phase. From early 2025 to the end of September, the company sold 322.52 tons of latex, generating nearly VND 13 billion in revenue. It created stable jobs for 249 local workers with an average monthly income of VND 6 million per person. Through benefit-sharing mechanisms, the company annually pays about VND 4 billion to land-contributing households. This support is not only material but also reflects a commitment to long-term partnership, jointly building a stable, developing borderland.

General Director Nguyễn Hữu Toàn emphasized: “Rubber is an economic crop, but more importantly, it carries social meaning, providing jobs and keeping people rooted in their land and villages. Moving forward, the company will maintain its plantations, improve exploitation efficiency, and purchase all smallholder latex to ensure rubber becomes a sustainable ‘poverty reduction’ crop for border residents.”

In economic development, border residents have also received strong support from agencies and units such as the Social Policy Bank and stationed armed forces. These are considered reliable “pillars” for people to develop their livelihoods.

In 2021, starting from poverty and lacking production capital, Hỏ Văn Thoong of Nà Pán village, Mường Nhé commune, boldly borrowed VND 45 million from the Mường Nhé Social Policy Bank branch to buy two buffaloes. By combining rearing with learning techniques, in 2023 he borrowed another VND 50 million to expand his herd. Today, he maintains 10 buffaloes, selling two each year for over VND 50 million in stable income. “Without preferential loans, my family could hardly have developed this herd. The buffaloes are both assets and long-term livelihoods, helping my children study better and easing life’s difficulties,” Thoong shared.

Besides banks, border communes benefit from border guards, economic-defense corps, and police units implementing support models, from livestock and crop seedlings to labor days and production guidance. These partnerships have acted as “bridges,” helping people shift cultivation practices and adopt new economic models. Thanks to this, many poor households have sustainably escaped poverty, contributing to security, order, and stability in this frontier land.

Beyond relying on state or business support, many households in Mường Nhé have proactively shifted production thinking, boldly seeking new directions.

In 2017, Tráng Seo Thủ of Cà Là Pá village, Sín Thầu commune, decided to convert over 8 hectares of low-yield maize and cassava into cinnamon cultivation. Initially worried because cinnamon is a long-term crop requiring significant investment and care, he persevered. Today, his cinnamon grove grows evenly and healthily. “Before, maize and cassava were just enough to eat. With advice from agricultural officers, I planted cinnamon. The first years were tough, but seeing the trees grow gave me motivation. In about two years, when the grove starts harvesting, I believe it will bring good income and long-term stability,” Thủ shared.

In reality, developing border economies requires close linkage among the “four houses”: the state, businesses, scientists, and farmers. Businesses provide capital, technology, and markets; farmers are key actors who must innovate; while authorities and socio-political organizations act as policy anchors and guides. This synergy not only improves livelihoods and incomes but also plays a strategic role in strengthening the “people’s defense.” When the economy thrives, residents feel secure, tied to their homeland, and the national border becomes more resilient.

Chairman of Sín Thầu Commune People’s Committee Nguyễn Văn Thắng affirmed: “Border economic development is not just about livelihoods, but must go hand in hand with national defense. To safeguard the border, we must first care for people’s lives, so each household becomes a living milestone at the frontier.”

Currently, Mường Nhé Commune has 895.4 hectares of food crops, 448.93 hectares of macadamia, nearly 60 hectares of cinnamon, and 300 hectares of sa nhân (amomum) under forest canopy. For 2025 - 2030, the commune plans to expand sa nhân to 1,000 hectares and coordinate with Trung Vân Sugar Mill (Giang Thành, Yunnan, China) to develop sugarcane locally. These steps are expected to create new momentum, helping residents transform production mindsets, achieve sustainable economic growth, stabilize life, and firmly protect the border.

Although challenges lie ahead, the proactive role of local authorities, the determination of residents, and the support of businesses are gradually creating a brighter economic picture for the nation’s frontier. This is a vital foundation for political stability, social security, and building a strong “people’s defense.”