According to the study, infrastructure and economic connectivity, as well as market linkages and opportunities to join the labour market are the main factors that enable certain ethnic minority groups to obtain a higher level of development than others.

Other factors include the availability of means of production, access to education and healthcare services, traditional institutions and local governance, gender relationships, ethnic conceptions, and the ability to access external support.

The research also suggested some useful policies with focus on investment in supporting production and building capacity, accessing the labour market, empowering women in conducting business, and reducing prejudice and social discrimination.

Minister and Chairman of the CEMA Do Van Chien highly appreciated the prompt support of the WB and the Australian Embassy in Vietnam in coordinating with the committee to make in-depth research on factors that directly affect the socio-economic life of ethnic minority groups.

The information and analysis results of the research are very useful for ethnic policy making and management, especially when the CEMA is entrusted by the Government to coordinate with relevant ministries and departments to elaborate an overall scheme on socio-economic development amongst ethnic minorities, and mountainous and disadvantaged regions post-2020.

Ousmane Dione, Director of the World Bank in Vietnam, said that from this research, there are many opportunities to further improve the agenda to increase social integration by actively adopting a new approach to the development of ethnic minority areas.

Vietnam can count on the support of the World Bank to integrate this programme into transport and infrastructure investment projects in rural and mountainous areas, as well as diversify agriculture and implement national target programmes, he added.–VNA