According to a MOLISA report, the government policies have brought significant results to poverty reduction in the region with the poverty rate down from 34.41% in 2010 to 15% at the end of 2015.

However, such results are not sustainable and many households face the risk of returning to poverty.

Under the multidimensional approach for the 2016-2020 period, the region’s average poverty rate remains high at 29.14% with many provinces reporting a rate higher than 30% such as Dien Bien, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Lai Chau, Son La and Yen Bai.

MOLISA Deputy Minister Nguyen Trong Dam said the high poverty rate in the northwestern region was because of unfavourable geographical features, infertile land, lack of water resources and frequent natural disasters, such as flash floods and landslides.

He also pointed out other factors such as poor infrastructure, despite improvements in recent years, and low-skilled workers as the reasons for persistent poverty in the region.

Speaking at the conference, head of the CEC Nguyen Van Binh asked the Steering Committee for the Northwestern Region to work with the CEC, MOLISA and concerned provinces to formulate a plan to reduce regional poverty in sustainable way.

The plan will be submitted to the Politburo in the first quarter of 2017.