Dak Lak (VNA) – Head ofthe Steering Committee for the Central Highlands To Lam asked the region toimprove investment promotion methods to draw investors to high-tech agriculture,clean energy, processing industry, cattle breeding and tourism during a meetingin Dak Lak province on January 10.

Lam, who is also Minister of PublicSecurity, urged the committee, regional authorities, Party units, ministriesand agencies to fully grasp the resolution adopted by the 12th National Party Congress and others set at the fourth plenum of the 12th PartyCentral Committee, in order to direct socio-economic development and ensurenational defence-security.

On the economic front, localitieswere asked to review socio-economic and sectoral planning, speed up therestructuring of public investment, State-owned enterprises and agriculture intandem with new rural development while facilitating start-ups.

On land issues, the region needs topush forward forest planting and seriously abide by the Prime Minister’sdirections on forest management and protection, shutdown of natural forests andsustainable forest recovery, he said, adding that localities should considerdevising special mechanisms to rally resources for regional transportconnectivity and improve ethnic groups’ well-being.

Regional localities were alsorequired to consolidate grassroots political systems, with a focus on improvingthe quality of Party units and members in key areas.

Despite prolonged drought last year, theregional gross domestic product surpassed 151 trillion VND (6.56 billion USD),up 7.47 percent annually while the gross regional domestic product per capita hit39.56 million VND (1,720 USD), up 8.57 percent.

Total social investment reached 78.79trillion VND (3.42 billion USD), a 7.25 percent increase.

The number of newly-established firmsand registered capital rose year-on-year.

Thanks to the adoption oftechnological advances, agricultural production recovered quickly from drought.More attention was also paid to forest protection and development.

Positive results were recorded in thenational target programme on new rural development and policies targeting ethnicminority groups.

Participants proposed offering moreincentives to farming enterprises, allocating production land for ethnic minorities,and rallying resources for transport infrastructure connectivity in the regionand adjacent areas.

At the event, Lam presented gifts,each worth 500,000 VND (21.7 USD), to 7,400 poor residents in the CentralHighlands and mountainous districts bordering the region on the occasion of theupcoming Lunar New Year.-VNA