Decision No. 26/2008/QD-TTg on issuing certain mechanisms and policies to support economic and social development for provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta region until 2010.

DECISION OF THE PRIME MINISTER

On issuing certain mechanisms and policies to support economic and social development

for provinces in the Mekong Delta region until 2010

PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;

Considering the proposal of the Ministry of Planning and Investment at the report No. 3263/TTr-BKH dated May 14, 2007,

DECISION:

Article 1. Issuing certain mechanisms and policies to support economic and social development for provinces in the Mekong Delta region until 2010 (including Can Tho city and provinces: Long An, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, Dong Thap, An Giang, Kien Giang, Soc Trang, Hau Giang, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau) as follows:

1. Certain main objectives and targets until 2010:

- The average annual GDP growth rate of the Region reaching over 11%.

- The poverty rate (according to new standards) being 10 - 11%.

- The malnutrition rate among children under five years old being below 20%.

- Primary school enrollment rate exceeding 95%, junior high school enrollment rate exceeding 85%, secondary school enrollment rate exceeding 50%, all schools and classes being solidified, over 70% of schools and classes meeting national standards. Vocational high school enrollment increasing annually by more than 20%, raising the ratio of university and college students to 120 students per ten thousand people.

- The labor force with training accounting for approximately 38 - 40%.

- The percentage of communes achieving national health standards being 90%, the percentage of health stations having doctors being 80%.

- Urban residents' access to clean water reaching 90% and rural residents reaching 75%.

2. Key tasks for developing major industries and sectors

a) Industry

Developing industrial production towards prioritizing processing industries of agriculture, forestry, and aquaculture products, aiming to create key export products. Exploiting gas potential in the South West Sea to develop gas-electric-ammonia industries; ensuring the construction schedule and operation of gas-fired power plants in the Region, accelerating the construction progress of the Ca Mau ammonia plant. Developing mechanical industry serving agriculture and fisheries and shipbuilding. Developing construction materials industry such as cement, roof tiles, precast concrete components for housing construction in the Region.

b) Agriculture, Forestry, and Aquaculture

Maintaining stable rice planting areas with irrigation conditions to increase productivity; promoting the widespread planting of high-quality rice varieties for export. Vigorously developing fruit trees, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants in suitable areas, forming specialized zones of fruit trees, flowers, and ornamental plants for export.

Developing aquaculture to create large-scale commodity production areas for export; striving to reach a total aquatic and marine product output of about 2.2 million tons in the entire region by 2010, with aquaculture output accounting for over 60%. Encouraging various economic sectors to invest in building large-scale, high-quality seed production areas for aquatic and marine species.

Protecting and developing mangrove forests along the coast, primary forests on Phu Quoc Island; restoring and planting new Acacia forests in low-lying, acidic areas in Dong Thap Muoi and Tuc Giao Long Xuyen, west of the Hau River, and the Ca Mau Peninsula; planting coastal protective forests; planting windbreak trees in flood-prone areas, along rivers, canals, and residential clusters in flood-prone areas.

c) Developing trade, services, and tourism

Expanding the trading network to sell agricultural products. Developing wholesale markets and border markets with Cambodia. Striving to double the total retail sales and service revenue of the Region by 2010 compared to 2005. Promoting the export of aquatic products, agricultural products, flowers, and fruits; improving the quality of rice seeds and harvesting techniques to increase the value of rice exports. By 2010, the total export turnover in the area will be around 6.2 to 6.5 billion USD, with aquatic and marine product exports exceeding 2.2 billion USD. Average export turnover per person per year will exceed 350 USD.

Regarding the consumption of agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products, gradually implementing a mechanism of organizing linkages and signing purchase-sale contracts between farmers, cooperatives, and enterprises based on mutual benefit and appropriate methods. Striving to have over 60% of farming households produce and consume goods through contracts with clear market outlets; thereby, processing and trading enterprises will have stable sources of goods for production and business.

Expanding organizational forms such as cooperatives, production enterprises, clubs, and professional associations to support production and consumption. Forming mutual assistance associations in production and consumption, providing timely market information, prices, protecting the rights of producers and traders. Developing solutions for each industry and field to improve product quality, promote trade, build and protect brands, establish stable and sustainable markets.

Developing tourism to exploit the unique potential of the Region, building comprehensive entertainment and leisure tourist areas, combining eco-tourism with scenic spots and historical sites; developing tourism in the Ca Mau mangrove forest, Dong Thap Muoi region; developing island and coastal tourism, focusing on developing tourism on Phu Quoc Island.

Vigorously developing various types of services to meet development needs. Improving the quality of educational, healthcare, financial, banking, insurance, and consulting services.

d) Education, culture, and society:

Enhancing literacy, promoting inter-sectoral social work, education, especially higher education and vocational training. Upgrading and establishing new universities and colleges.

Strengthening the training of scientific and technical cadres. Building some research institutes and centers with high levels, primarily biotechnology, to serve the Region.

- Invest in building new and upgrading provincial hospitals to improve the quality of medical examination and treatment and reduce pressure on higher-level facilities; accelerate the construction and modernization of specialized hospitals in Can Tho City to serve the entire region. Construct and upgrade district-level hospitals and health stations at the grassroots level. Upgrade detoxification centers in key areas, linking them with vocational training for post-detoxification subjects. Focus on timely prevention and control of diseases; curb the rate of increase and gradually reduce social diseases, especially HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases. Ensure that 100% of hamlets have healthcare personnel, and increase the number of hospital beds to over 20 beds per ten thousand people.

- Develop and preserve national cultural identity. Complete provincial cultural-information centers, build and upgrade local radio and television stations, renovate and construct grassroots-level broadcasting stations (prioritizing remote, border, and ethnic minority areas), expand programs and increase broadcast time in Khmer language.

- By 2010, keep the unemployment rate of working-age labor in urban areas below 5%, increase the utilization of rural labor time to 85%, with those who have obtained vocational certificates from technical workers and above accounting for more than 15%; average life expectancy reaches 72 years.

d) Science, technology, and environmental protection: Prioritize the development of scientific research institutions, plant and animal breeding stations. Vigorously apply scientific research results and technology to production, particularly agricultural and aquaculture production.

By 2010, ensure that all newly established production facilities adopt clean technology or are equipped with devices to minimize pollution, ensuring centralized waste treatment meets environmental standards.

Basically complete the renovation and upgrading of stormwater drainage and wastewater systems in cities, industrial zones, and export processing zones. Ensure that over 40% of urban areas and over 80% of industrial zones and export processing zones have centralized wastewater treatment systems meeting environmental standards, with over 90% of solid waste collected, over 60% of hazardous waste, and 100% of hospital waste treated.

Establish a mechanism for cooperation among provinces and cities in the region and international cooperation with countries in the Mekong Subregion regarding the exploitation, use, and protection of the Mekong River's water resources for sustainable development.

e) Human resource development:

- Implement Decision No. 20/2006/QD-TTg dated January 20, 2006, of the Prime Minister on "Developing education, training, and vocational skills in the Mekong Delta Region until 2010." This is a strategic task aimed at raising public awareness and developing human resources for the Mekong Delta Region in the coming years.

- Human resource development must be carried out comprehensively from enhancing public awareness, increasing the quantity and improving the quality of teaching and learning at all levels, developing diverse vocational training forms suitable for each target group and industry in each locality, building a cadre of leaders and managers, a team of entrepreneurs with capabilities, and appropriate mechanisms and policies to attract talent and high-level science and technology cadres. Regularly supplement and effectively utilize cadres from central agencies and enterprises stationed in the locality to strengthen provinces and districts, and use district cadres to strengthen communes; implement cadre rotation.

Annually allocate a certain percentage of the local budget for vocational training, encourage businesses to provide vocational training, offer loans, and create conditions for poor students to access vocational training.

Complete the structure of the vocational training system oriented towards practical technical labor training at different levels and durations (technical workers, skilled technical workers, highly skilled technical workers) to attract junior and senior secondary school graduates, and discharged soldiers to enroll in training.

Organize diverse training forms with various suitable models. Encourage socialization in vocational training. Pay attention to closely linking vocational training with employment for trainees after graduation.

g) Infrastructure development:

- Regarding irrigation: Implement Decision No. 84/2006/QD-TTg dated April 19, 2006, of the Prime Minister approving the adjustment and supplementation of the Irrigation Planning for the Mekong Delta Region for the period 2006-2010 and orientation to 2020; prioritize investment in important irrigation works to rationally and efficiently use and exploit the Mekong River's water resources, serving agricultural production, aquaculture, and disaster prevention and mitigation. Develop a strategy for managing, exploiting, and storing fresh water from the Mekong River's tributaries, the Tien and Hau Rivers.

Continue to invest in completing irrigation projects: Ba Lai (Ben Tre), Go Cong Fresh Water Supply Program, Ca Mau Peninsula, Dong Thap Muoi Flood Control Project, Long Xuyen Quadrangle, and the flood drainage and irrigation area between the Tien and Hau Rivers... to meet the requirements of economic restructuring in the region.

Implement Decision No. 193/2006/QD-TTg dated August 24, 2006, of the Prime Minister approving the Population Resettlement Program for Areas Affected by Natural Disasters, Particularly Difficult Areas, Border Areas, Islands, Free Migration, Weak and Very Weak Protective Forests, and Strictly Protected Special Forests for the period 2006-2010 and orientation to 2015.

Strengthen management and exploitation of irrigation works, ensuring systematic and synchronized operations. Develop irrigation planning schemes, support anti-erosion measures in border areas with Cambodia and erosion-prone areas along the Tien and Hau Rivers, ensuring safe and efficient use of Mekong River water under unfavorable upstream conditions.

- Regarding transportation:

Implement Decision No. 344/2005/QD-TTg dated December 26, 2005, of the Prime Minister on the direction, tasks, and plan for transportation development in the Mekong Delta Region until 2010 and orientation to 2020.

Implement construction according to schedule, and promptly put into use projects that have been allocated capital from government bonds.

Focus on investing in constructing key projects related to roads, rivers, seas, and airports; prioritize routes leading to borders, border roads with Cambodia, to meet the economic and social development requirements of the Region in the coming years.

Review the list of projects and each component within each project to arrange priorities, delay progress for those projects that are not truly urgent, ensuring the development needs of transportation throughout the Region and aligning with annual financial balancing capabilities.

Coordinate closely to address promptly any issues arising with major projects handed over from the Ministry of Transport to localities as main investors, ensuring the implementation of projects according to schedule.

- Regarding housing and building residential clusters in flood-prone areas:

Enhance the effectiveness of residential clusters in flood-prone areas; concentrate and combine various sources of capital to accelerate progress and ensure the synchronization of infrastructure projects within residential clusters such as roads, electricity, water supply, medical facilities, educational facilities, etc., to stabilize residents' living conditions; introduce appropriate industries into residential clusters to ensure stable employment and income for residents, gradually improving their standard of living. Strive to complete the relocation of residents from frequently flooded areas to new stable residences by 2008. Develop residential clusters into new cultural centers.

Mobilize all resources to implement programs to eliminate temporary and simple houses, repair, renovate, or construct sturdy and semi-sturdy houses for poor households in the region. Address the basic issue of housing shortages for poor rural households in the Region.

Construct concentrated residential areas in rural areas linked with the development of postal, telecommunications, radio, and television services to improve living conditions for the people, meeting the requirements of industrialization and modernization of agriculture and rural areas.

- Construct and develop central cities within the Region, including Can Tho City, Vinh Long Town, Sa Dec Town, and Long Xuyen City; develop Can Tho City into an industrial center, a commercial and service center, a tourism, education and training, healthcare, and cultural center of the Region.

h) Ensure national defense and security:

Combine investment in economic and social development with the construction of infrastructure serving national defense and security for the Region, especially in border and maritime areas.

Focus on developing the marine economy. Strengthen investment in material infrastructure to serve economic activities, rescue operations, and control on rivers and seas.

Properly address policies regarding ethnic groups and religions; ensure public order and social safety.

Article 2. Continue to implement and supplement some mechanisms, policies, and solutions to promote economic and social development and ensure national defense and security in the Region.

1. Agricultural Mechanisms and Policies and Rural Development:

Households belonging to the category requiring resettlement and reorganization of residents in vulnerable, very vulnerable areas, and strictly protected areas of protective forests and special-use forests in the Mekong Delta shall enjoy compensation and support policies according to Government Decree No. 197/2004/NĐ-CP dated December 3, 2004, concerning compensation, support, and resettlement when the State requisitions land.

All displaced persons within project areas, households living in disaster-prone and flood-prone areas who are relocated to flood-resistant residential clusters without land for expansion of agricultural and forestry production, internal migration, etc., shall benefit from support policies from the central budget according to Decision No. 190/2003/QĐ-TTg dated September 16, 2003, of the Prime Minister.

Allow the application of current mechanisms and policies stipulated in the following decisions for the Mekong Delta:

+ Decision No. 304/2005/QĐ-TTg dated July 23, 2005, on piloting the allocation of forest land and contractual protection of forests to households and communities; 

+ Decision No. 231/2005/QĐ-TTg dated September 22, 2005, on supporting state-owned enterprises in agriculture and forestry, management boards of special-use forests, and protective forests in employing ethnic minority labor.

2. Land Policies for Farmers Without or Short of Production Land:

Create additional land by opening up new land; review the land fund of state-owned agricultural and forestry farms that are not being used or are underutilized to reclaim and reallocate to localities for distribution to farmers without production land.

In places where there is no more public land, local authorities organize for workers to change professions through vocational training, attract labor into factories, small-scale industrial establishments, and services in the locality, or provide labor for industrial zones in other regions.

Provide conditions for a portion of farmers lacking or without land to settle in new economic zones or expand their occupations in various forms, creating jobs for farmers without production land. Strengthen job creation for rural youth through labor export.

3. Mechanisms and Policies for Ethnic Minority Groups:

Concentrate on implementing Decision No. 134/2004/QĐ-TTg dated July 20, 2004, on certain support policies for production land, residential land, housing, and drinking water for poor households of ethnic minorities; while also effectively implementing other state social policies suitable to the conditions and customs of ethnic minorities.

Implement policies to support state budget funds for: building separate schools for Khmer children and Nam Tông monks, constructing cremation ovens according to custom in ethnic minority areas, and supporting teachers (including monks) teaching supplementary Khmer language classes at temples.

Prioritize solving the issue of increasing investment loans from the Social Policy Bank and other sources. Effectively carry out agricultural and industrial promotion work and strengthen guidance on business practices for ethnic minorities.

For poor families of ethnic minorities, in addition to being exempted from paying fees for education and healthcare, each locality should have specific regulations to exempt or reduce other payments within its jurisdiction.

- Continue to implement preferential credit policies for poor households, other policy beneficiaries, production and business households in Difficult Areas, carried out by the Social Policy Bank and Development Bank in accordance with the Government's Decision.

- Expand the quota for ethnic minority students. For poor ethnic minority students who are supposed to study at boarding schools but actually study at public or semi-public schools, they will receive scholarships equivalent to 50% of the boarding school scholarship as stipulated under current regulations. Prioritize job placement for ethnic minority children who have completed training.

- Develop specific preferential policies for businesses investing in areas inhabited by the Khmer ethnic group and projects employing a large number of ethnic minority workers.

- Expand programs and increase broadcasting time in the Khmer language, renovate and build radio stations at grassroots levels. Plan for the preservation, exploitation, and promotion of cultural assets of ethnic minorities in the Region.

- Continue implementing Decision No. 139/2002/QĐ-TTg dated October 15, 2002, of the Prime Minister on medical examination and treatment for the poor and social policy beneficiaries.

- Adjust the standard amount of money for medicine and common medical supplies for commune health stations, increase the allowance for kindergarten teachers and health workers by 50% compared to the basic salary in Difficult Area communes according to Decision No. 30/2007/QĐ-TTg dated March 5, 2007, of the Prime Minister.

4. Mechanism and Policies for Mobilizing Resources for Development:

- Maximize resource mobilization, particularly from land fund exploitation, state assets, restructuring state-owned enterprises, and implementing shareholding of state-owned enterprises. Continue implementing socialization policies in accordance with Resolution No. 05/2005/NQ-CP of the Government, suitable to the economic characteristics and social conditions of each locality. The state budget prioritizes funding for the construction of key infrastructure.

- Encourage expanding various forms of capital services for producers, especially encouraging businesses to provide capital to farmers through advance funding and repayment through products.

- Organize promotional events to introduce strengths and preferential sectors to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) into localities. At the same time, issue specific regulations to help businesses access land, production sites, and capital sources; support businesses through land clearance, human resource training; establish a Credit Guarantee Fund.

5. Mechanism for State Budget Capital Support:

Annually, the central government budget supports localities in the Region through programs and projects managed by Ministries and sectors; provides targeted investment support to localities.

Central government support funds are prioritized for building economic and social infrastructure. Projects managed primarily by local budgets, with the central government supporting part of the capital based on the annual state budget balance approved by the National Assembly.

- From now until 2010, focus on mobilizing and prioritizing Official Development Assistance (ODA) funds for the Mekong Delta region to invest in economic and social infrastructure, aiming to comprehensively develop rural areas, eradicate poverty, improve transportation networks, irrigation systems, new and upgraded water supply and drainage systems; support education and training development; develop healthcare systems and disease prevention.

Localities should develop plans to attract and utilize ODA funds from now until 2010 as a basis for mobilization, establishing close relationships with Ministries and sectors during the integration of major ODA programs, establishing relationships with donors to better access ODA and NGO funds, organizing coordination meetings for ODA throughout the Region.

- Increase the maximum central government budget support up to 70 billion VND for industrial park investments in localities meeting the criteria of Decision No. 183/2004/QĐ-TTg dated October 19, 2004, of the Prime Minister (including internal roads or roads and bridges leading to the industrial park).

- Provide central government budget support for the construction of the second industrial park selected by localities, up to a maximum of 70 billion VND, for localities meeting the criteria of Decision No. 183/2004/QĐ-TTg.

- Provide 100% counterpart funding for ODA projects managed by localities that meet the support conditions set forth in Decision No. 210/2006/QĐ-TTg dated September 12, 2006, of the Prime Minister.

- Continue allocating funds to implement Decisions No. 84/2006/QĐ-TTg dated April 19, 2006, of the Prime Minister, Decision No. 344/2005/QĐ-TTg dated December 26, 2005, of the Prime Minister, and Decision No. 78/2004/QĐ-TTg dated May 7, 2004, of the Prime Minister regarding adjustments and supplements to certain mechanisms and policies to accelerate the construction of residential clusters and housing in provinces frequently affected by floods in the Mekong Delta region, and coordinate and integrate these programs and objectives within the area; particularly prioritize and concentrate funding from programs such as clean water, rural environmental sanitation, school construction and upgrading, health programs, and other programs to complete a comprehensive infrastructure system in residential clusters.

Article 3. Implementation

1. The People's Committees of provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta region shall study measures to significantly improve the investment and business environment, enhance the attraction of investment capital for economic growth; at the same time, closely coordinate with central ministries and sectors to develop and implement programs and projects proposed; coordinate with ministries equivalent to ministries, agencies under the Government to review, supplement, and adjust the overall planning for socio-economic development of the province or city and sectoral planning in terms of space, time, and new circumstances; determine the mechanism for coordination among localities and between ministries and sectors and localities; develop the five-year plan from 2006 to 2010 and annual plans according to the approved planning objectives and implementation progress in each period. Determine the list of main programs and projects to be invested over five years and annual plans; supervise the implementation of development investments according to the planning.

Localities shall effectively carry out work on compensation and clearance, investment management, and construction control to accelerate the construction progress of transportation and irrigation projects funded from government bond resources.

Properly use the revenue from lottery tickets retained by the locality for investment in education and training, healthcare, and social welfare facilities.

2. Ministries and sectors shall, based on their functions, tasks, and authorities and the content of this Decision, have the responsibility to jointly direct the implementation of specific programs and projects within their scope of responsibility together with the provinces and cities in the Region.

Conduct reviews, adjustments, supplements, and construction of planning and plans within their sectors and fields of management, and unify their sectoral planning with that of the provinces and cities in the Region before approval. At the same time, strictly direct the implementation of development programs, projects, and plans of their sectors for the 2006-2010 period already approved by the Prime Minister; closely coordinate with localities in the Region to build and issue cooperation regulations to create rapid and unified development throughout the entire Region's economic space.

3. Ministries, sectors, and localities shall regularly report every six months and annually on the implementation of this Decision to the Ministry of Planning and Investment for consolidation and reporting to the Prime Minister.

4. Annually, the Ministry of Planning and Investment shall take the lead, coordinating with relevant ministries, sectors, and localities in the Mekong Delta region to conduct mid-term and final reviews, consolidate, and report to the Prime Minister on the results of implementing this Decision.

Article 4. This Decision shall take effect fifteen days after its publication in the Official Gazette.

Article 5. Ministers, heads of agencies equivalent to ministries, heads of agencies under the Government, and Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta region are responsible for enforcing this Decision./.