The central province of Quang Tri has mobilised a total of 65.63 trillion VND (2.82 billion USD) for building new-style rural areas over the past decade, the provincial steering board for national target programmes reported.

As of October 2019, 52 out of the province’s 117 communes have been recognised as new-style rural areas. The number is projected to reach 60 at the end of this year.

Three out of eight pilot communes, comprising Vinh Thuy and Vinh Kim in Vinh Linh district, and Cam Chinh in Cam Lo district, have won the status of model new-style rural areas.

The programme has helped to improve rural infrastructure, thus better meeting demands of production and daily activities, while spurring the rural economy.

According to the steering board, Quang Tri aims to have 6-8 communes and one district recognised as new-style rural areas, and each district having at least a model new-style rural area in 2020.

To that end, the locality will prioritise production under value chains, especially safe agricultural production, thus contributing to the restructuring of labour and rural economy.

At the same time, Quang Tri will step up environmental protection, focusing on green and clean hamlets in service of community-based tourism.

The National Target Programme on New-style Rural Area Building, initiated by the Government in 2010, sets 19 criteria on socio-economic development, politics, and defence, aiming to boost rural regions of Vietnam. 
 
The list of criteria includes the development of infrastructure, the improvement of production capacity, environmental protection, and the promotion of cultural values.