The conference was chaired by Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyễn Văn Sinh, while Vừ A Bằng, Vice Chairman of the Điện Biên Provincial People's Committee, chaired the session at the Điện Biên provincial hub.

At the conference, the Ministry of Construction presented the progress of Project 5, which provides housing support for poor and near-poor households in impoverished districts under the national target programme for sustainable poverty reduction in 2024. In the first nine months of 2024, nearly 17,100 households were supported, meeting approximately 53 per cent of the annual target. Around VNĐ449.4 billion (US$18.1 million) has been disbursed from the central budget, representing 34.4 per cent of the 2024 plan.

Since the programme's inception, nearly 43,800 households have received support, achieving 47.5 per cent of the provincial targets and 34.5 per cent of the 2022-2025 programme target. The overall disbursement rate from the central budget has reached nearly 52 per cent.

In Điện Biên Province, by the end of September, 1,048 poor and near-poor households in impoverished districts received housing support, achieving 67.14 per cent of the 2024 target.

However, challenges in project implementation persist, such as low disbursement rates that do not align with support results. The allocation of support funds from provincial to district and commune levels has faced delays ranging from three to five months in some areas. Moreover, some supported houses have not met the required quality standards.

Delegates at the conference discussed the successes, as well as difficulties and delays encountered in implementing Project 5 in provinces like Bắc Giang, Hà Giang, Yên Bái, Hòa Bình, Thanh Hóa, and Nghệ An. Local authorities also provided suggestions and proposed solutions to enhance the effectiveness of Project 5 moving forward.

In his concluding remarks, Deputy Minister Nguyễn Văn Sinh acknowledged the feedback and recommendations from local authorities. He emphasised that Project 5 is a significant initiative, as directed by the Prime Minister, requiring collaboration among the Government, citizens, and businesses. He highlighted the need for diverse support methods and the integration of various funding sources.

Sinh urged local authorities to review the number of beneficiaries, promptly reallocate funds, engage political and social organisations for additional support, and prioritise aid for the most vulnerable groups. The aim is to complete Project 5 by December 31, 2025.