“A Vision for Đắk Lắk: Accelerating Holistic, Inclusive, and Sustainable Development, Leaving No One Behind”

Also attending the working session were Central Committee members: Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra, Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc, Deputy Minister of National Defense Vu Hai San, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee of Dak Lak Nguyen Dinh Trung; leaders of ministries, branches and localities.

Previously, during the working trip here, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh surveyed the site of the Buon Ma Thuot – Khanh Hoa expressway project; attended the launch of the 500-day high-point emulation to complete 3,000 km of expressways; visited and worked with the Military Command and Provincial Public Security of Dak Lak.

The center of the “strategy of strategies”

The reports and opinions at the working session focused on analyzing the potential and advantages of Dak Lak province and the outstanding results in socio-economic development in the past time.

In terms of potential and advantages, Dak Lak has an important position and role with the Central Highlands and the country in terms of politics, economy, society, national defense and security, and foreign affairs, located in the center of the Central Highlands region, which is the “strategy of strategies”.

Dak Lak has the 4th largest area in the country (over 13,000 km2). The area of agricultural land is nearly 658,000 ha (ranked 2nd in the country), with more than 370,000 ha of red basalt soil suitable for growing industrial trees, fruit trees and medicinal plants. The province has the largest coffee growing area in the country with the famous Buon Ma Thuot coffee brand at home and abroad.

Dak Lak has a young population and abundant labor force with about 1.1 million workers. This is also a province with a revolutionary tradition and a community of ethnic groups with rich cultural identity, with 49 ethnic groups living together.

Dak Lak has abundant and diverse tourism resources, known as an attractive tourist destination with many famous landscapes (such as Lak Lake, Gia Long – Dray Sap waterfall cluster, Buon Don, Krong Kma waterfall, Dieu Thanh, Tien Nu…), besides there are national parks and nature reserves (such as Chu Yang Sin, Easo…).

Dak Lak has many historical and cultural relics, scenic landscapes with 23 revolutionary historical relics, 2 historical and cultural relics, 13 architectural and artistic relics, 8 archaeological relics, 71 scenic relics, 25 scenic spots; 9 relics have been recognized as national relics and 4 special national relics. The Gong Culture Space of the Central Highlands is a “Masterpiece of Oral Intangible Heritage and Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity”

In terms of infrastructure, Dak Lak has Buon Me Thuot airport, along with the transportation system of the Central Highlands and Central Coastal regions.

In terms of socio-economic development results, the estimated value of GRDP in the first 6 months reached nearly VND 25,500 billion, up 4.13% over the same period in 2023. In which, agriculture, forestry and fishery increased by 4.38%; industry – construction increased by 4.52%; Services increased by 4.04%.

Mobilized investment capital for social development is estimated at over VND 15,600 billion, up 3.62% over the same period in 2023. Disbursement of public investment capital up to July 31, 2024 reached 38.9% of the plan, higher than the national average (32.2%), ranking first in the 5 provinces of the Central Highlands and 13th/63 localities nationwide.

Total state budget revenue balance in the area reached nearly VND 4,500 billion, equivalent to 64.12% of the year plan assigned by the Central Government.

Export turnover in the first 7 months of 2024 reached USD 1.13 billion, up 25.4% over the same period; import turnover reached USD 295 million, up 33.1%. Total retail sales of goods and services revenue reached over VND 62,600 billion, up 9.52% over the same period.

Policies to ensure social security are implemented in a timely, practical and on-target manner. The province has started the construction of 1,200 houses (reaching 100% of the plan), of which 1,068 houses have been handed over and put into use (89%); synchronously and effectively implement social credit programs…

Administrative reform continues to achieve positive results, the 2023 PAR Index increased by 10 ranks, the PAPI index increased by 10 ranks, and the PCI index increased by 9 ranks…

The province has done well in ensuring political security, social order and safety in the area; timely struggle and prevent the plots and activities of hostile and reactionary forces; do not let incidents and complicated situations occur; has reorganized and inaugurated a force to participate in ensuring security and order at the grassroots level including nearly 2,200 teams…

Dak Lak needs to focus on 4 pillars of growth

Speaking to conclude the working session, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh basically agreed with the contents of the report, 15 deep and responsible opinions, many emotions and impressions with the desire to promote Dak Lak province in particular and the whole Central Highlands region in general to continue to develop rapidly, sustainably and inclusively in the coming time; assigning the Government Office to coordinate with Dak Lak province and relevant agencies to review and synthesize opinions to soon complete and issue the conclusion of the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister highly appreciated and praised the efforts and important achievements that the Party Committee, authorities, army and people of Dak Lak province have achieved, making important contributions to the common achievements of the country.

Along with the very basic results that the delegates have pointed out, the Prime Minister said that Dak Lak is still a difficult province in many fields; infrastructure is limited, transportation infrastructure is still a bottleneck; great potential, but limited mechanisms and policies; potential risks in security and national defense…

Economic growth has not yet reached the set target and is still lower than the national average. The number of enterprises has not increased much, production and business activities still face many difficulties. The implementation of the 3 national target programs is still slow. The rate of communes reaching new rural standards is low. The rate of poor and near-poor households according to the multidimensional poverty standards is high compared to the country and the Central Highlands region. The situation of people destroying forests and encroaching on forest land still occurs…

On development orientation and objectives in the coming time, the Prime Minister emphasized, it is necessary to develop the economy – society quickly, sustainably, comprehensively and inclusively on the basis of attracting and mobilizing resources for industries and fields with potential and competitive advantages, focusing on 4 pillars of growth, namely: (i) Developing agricultural and forestry products with advantages on a large scale and high quality, towards export; (ii) Processing industry and production of renewable energy on a large scale; (iii) Urban economy, digital infrastructure and irrigation infrastructure; (iv) Logistics services, tourism based on digital technology, digital economy and digital society.

Developing the economy – society in association with building a strong political system, consolidating national defense and security, ensuring social order and safety, firmly protecting border sovereignty, building a peaceful, friendly, cooperative and developing border line.

Developing the economy – society in association with environmental protection and response to climate change. Manage and use land, water, forest and other resources reasonably and effectively; protect and improve the environment; proactively and actively implement solutions to adapt to climate change, prevent and control natural disasters.

Developing the economy – society with people as the center, reducing poverty sustainably, creating conditions for equal development among ethnic groups living in the area, in the spirit of “leaving no one behind”. Pay special attention to and focus on ethnic work, ethnic minority officials and cadres working in the ethnic field.

On general objectives, the Prime Minister emphasized the need to continuously improve the material, cultural and spiritual life of the people in the area, soon reaching the national average level, on the basis of rapid and sustainable socio-economic development; ecological space development, promoting the cultural identity of ethnic groups; Dak Lak province becomes a unique and attractive tourist destination for domestic and international tourists.

Along with that, building Buon Ma Thuot city into the center of the Central Highlands region, a gateway for integration and connection of the region with the region and the world; people enjoy a quality life with good social services, a guaranteed environment, and high income and employment opportunities.

In the coming time, the Prime Minister suggested that the Party Committee, authorities, army and people of Dak Lak province promote the spirit of “6 strengthening”.

Accordingly, strengthen the political trust of the people in the Party, the trust in the guidelines, policies and policies of the Party; strengthen the great national unity bloc among the 49 ethnic groups in the area and the ethnic groups in the Central Highlands region, leaving no one behind, working together, enjoying together, winning together and developing together.

At the same time, strengthen the mechanism for mobilizing all resources for development, especially public-private cooperation, promote investment in the development of transport infrastructure to create new development space, new urban areas, new industrial parks, new service areas, reduce logistics costs, travel time, and increase the competitiveness of products and goods.

Along with that, strengthen national defense and security potential, contributing to maintaining political stability, social order and safety, firmly protecting independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, maintaining a peaceful, friendly, cooperative and developing border line with the motto “good neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, sustainable stability”; strengthen high-quality human resource training for the province and the Central Highlands region, shift labor from rural and agricultural areas to industrial and urban areas.

Building Buon Ma Thuot into the “City of World Coffee”

Pointing out specific directions and tasks, first of all, the Prime Minister requested the province to review the objectives and tasks according to Resolution of the 13th Party Congress, the resolutions and conclusions of the Central Committee, the Politburo and the Secretariat, including Resolution 23 of the Politburo on the development of the Central Highlands and the Resolution of the 17th Provincial Party Congress; closely follow the guidelines, policies of the Party, State and the leadership and direction of the Politburo, the National Assembly, the Government and the Prime Minister. From there, strive to successfully complete the objectives and tasks set out for 2024 and the whole term; the goals that will be achieved, continue to promote, the goals that have not been achieved, must try harder, the goals that are difficult to achieve, there must be breakthrough solutions.

Second, promote the implementation of the planning of Dak Lak province to ensure compliance and synchronization in the implementation of the planning; in accordance with the master plan of the country, the sector planning and ensure harmony and connection with the planning of the Central Highlands region. Urgently build a plan to implement the provincial planning; identify key contents, progress and resources to implement the programs and projects in the planning.

Organize and arrange the territorial space reasonably, develop the system of urban areas into poles of development, economic centers of the province and the region. Effectively organize the implementation of Power Planning VIII and the Plan for the implementation of Power Planning VIII.

Fourth, mobilize the maximum of resources for development; improve