Attending the Conference were: Mr. Tao Viet Thang - Deputy Head of the Department of Local Ethnic Affairs (Can Tho Department) under the Ethnic Committee; Mr. Danh Phuc - Head of the Ethnic Committee of Kien Giang province; Deputy Heads of the Ethnic Committee of Kien Giang province Danh Tha and Danh Lam; leaders of departments, branches and armed forces stationed in the area; representatives of the People's Committees of districts, towns and cities with a large population of ethnic minorities.

Reporting at the Conference, Head of the Ethnic Minorities Committee of Kien Giang province Danh Phuc said that in 2024, with the drastic direction and management of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, and Provincial People's Committee; the efforts and unity of departments, branches, and localities, it will contribute significantly to the socio-economic development of the province's ethnic minority areas.

Accordingly, the Provincial Ethnic Committee has advised the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee to lead and direct the implementation of ethnic affairs, ethnic policies and the National Target Program on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the period 2021 - 2030; Phase I: From 2021 - 2025 (National Target Program 1719).

Organize well the traditional festivals of ethnic groups, such as: Chol Chnam Thmay Festival, Sene Donta Festival, Ok Om Boc Festival of Khmer people; Roya Haji Festival of Cham people...

Guide localities to successfully organize the 4th District-level Ethnic Minority Congress in 2024. Coordinate and advise on the successful organization of the 4th Provincial-level Ethnic Minority Congress in 2024.

“Promptly advise the Provincial People's Committee to submit to the Provincial People's Council a Resolution to support Khmer language teachers at religious establishments and Chinese language teachers at Chinese language teaching establishments organized by the Chinese Mutual Aid Association in the area; a Resolution on the regulation of the level of support for the construction of new traditional Ngo boats for the Khmer people in the province…”, Mr. Phuc said.

For the National Target Program 1719, in 2024, the People's Committee of Kien Giang province has assigned a detailed implementation capital plan of 198,592 million VND (including: Development investment capital of 85,156 million VND; career capital of 113,436 million VND). Currently, the disbursed development investment capital has reached 66,264.5 million VND; career capital has reached 16,649.8 million VND. The disbursement of the capital plan extends from 2022, 2023 to 2024 until December 31, 2024, the development investment capital is 23,096.9 million VND; career capital is 5,410.5 million VND.

Thanks to resources from the National Target Program 1719, Kien Giang province has supported housing for 220 households; supported residential land for 7 households; upgraded and expanded 9 centralized water supply works; supported job conversion for 53 households; and supported decentralized water for 235 households. In addition, the province also supported production development and livelihood diversification (breeding cows) for 5 households.

According to Mr. Danh Phuc, the implementation of national target programs in general and National Target Program 1719 in particular in the province has contributed to improving people's lives and promoting socio-economic development in a sustainable manner. People's lives have been improved, the poverty rate has gradually decreased over the years. By the end of 2024, it will decrease to 1.86% (at the beginning of the period, 4.70%).

Speaking at the Conference, Mr. Tao Viet Thang - Deputy Director of the Department of Local Ethnic Affairs, said that the Provincial Ethnic Committee has done a good job of advising the provincial leaders to issue many Decisions and Plans to implement policies to improve the material and spiritual life of ethnic minority people.

Mr. Tao Viet Thang also informed about the implementation of the tasks of the Ethnic Affairs Agency in the coming time, after streamlining the apparatus.

“With the results achieved in 2024, I believe that the Ethnic Minorities Committee of Kien Giang province will continue to coordinate well with departments and branches to advise on the implementation of policies on socio-economic development in ethnic minority areas, as well as the work of preserving, maintaining and promoting the fine cultural identities of ethnic minorities. In particular, we will continue to pay attention to ethnic minority border and island areas, promptly grasp the aspirations of ethnic minorities and prestigious people to inform and coordinate promptly with functional agencies to gradually remove difficulties,” Mr. Tao Viet Thang wished.

Regarding the direction of tasks for 2025, the delegates attending all agreed with the plan. In addition, some delegates also wished for the plan to be implemented soon to avoid the situation of "waiting at the beginning of the year and rushing to disburse at the end of the year".

Kien Giang: Honoring Prestigious People Among Ethnic Minorities