The Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) region should continue to implement Politburo Resolution 10 through 2020 on socio-economic development so that it can remain politically stable and secure, Senior Lieutenant General Tran Dai Quang, Minister of Public Security, has said.

Speaking at a meeting held in Central Highlands Dak Lak Province on Thursday, Quang said this year the provinces should exploit their potential and advantages and mobilise resources to develop the region in a comprehensive way.

Quang, who is also head of the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands, said the region should reduce poverty, improve healthcare, develop culture and education, and give priority to ethnic minorities as well as rural and border areas.

By 2015, the region should completely ensure that ethnic minority people have their own land for production.

After nearly 10 years of implementing the Resolution 10, which became effective in 2002, as well other Government policies, the Tay Nguyen region has made good progress toward socio-economic development, according to the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands.

Last year, the region's economic growth rate reached 13.5 per cent. About 103,000 jobs were created and vocational training were provided for 45,000 labourers.

The number of poor households fell from 22.48 per cent in 2010 to 19.06 per cent last year, with a total of 8,990 poor households escaping poverty last year. The average income per capita reached VND21.8 million last year.

In addition, exports last year grew 29.9 per cent.

However, investment in the region from people abroad or from within the country remains low.

The task of managing natural resources is still lax, as the region had more than 7,000 cases of violations of forest-protection regulations last year.

The Central Highlands comprises Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dac Lac, Dac Nong, and Lam Dong provinces.