Hanoi (VNA) - Ruralinfrastructure in northern mountainous provinces has improved significantlyover the last six years thanks to the implementation of a sustainableinfrastructure development project.

The project, implemented between 2011-16 in 15 provinces, focusedon building and upgrading rural infrastructure facilities for these localities,improving management capacity for local authorities and improving livingconditions for the poor, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment.

Total investment for the project was 138 million USD, 108 millionUSD of which came from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the remainder fromthe Government of Vietnam, the ministry said at a conference held in Thai Nguyenprovince last week to review the project implementation.

The project’s main goals are the elimination of hunger andpoverty, improvement of rural infrastructure and enhancement of localauthorities’ power in each province, district and commune.

Living conditions of the poor are expected to improve significantlywhen the project is completed.

The project has basically achieved its set target, helping tochange the general face of targeted localities and improve the livingconditions of local people, said a representative from the ministry’sAgricultural Project Management Board.

Director of the project, Tran Van Lam, said many infrastructureworks of the project had been completed and already in operation, bringing inpractical benefits for local people.

With convenient traffic and irrigation systems, local people’sproduction and trade activities would surely develop, he said.

So far, 42 out of 55 sub-projects have been completed.Construction of the remaining sub-projects is expected for completion by June30.

Benefited localities include Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Cao Bang, Dien Bien,Ha Giang, Hoa Binh, Lai Chau, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Phu Tho, Son La, Thai Nguyen,Tuyen Quang, Vinh Phuc and Yen Bai.-VNA