Over the past years, besides successfully accomplishing the tasks of training and combat readiness, the 3rd Military Region (MR3) has also grasped and strengthened the implementation of the Resolution No. 520-NQ/QUTW of the Central Military Commission and gained positive results, contributing to its fulfillment of the defence and military missions and socio-economic development in the region.

Participating in economic production in combination with defence represents a function and a political mission of strategic importance of our Army. Being fully aware of this, over the past 70 years, the armed forces of the MR3 have always been proactive in economic production with a number of appropriate models and measures in accordance with the orientations of the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence, and gained practical results.

With its activeness, high sense of responsibility, tradition and experience, soon after the Central Military Commission issued the Resolution No. 520/QUTW dated 25 September 2012 on “Leading the economic production and development in combination with defence of the Army until 2020” (herein after Resolution 520), the Party Committee and High Command of the MR3 have briefed and implemented the resolution with a number of measures. Its Party Committee has issued the Resolution No. 269-NQ/DU dated 12 March 2013 on “Leading economic production and development in combination with defence of the MR3 until 2020”; the High Command of the MR3 has built the Plan No. 2303/KH-BTL dated 28 May 2013 to implement the resolution.

After 5 years implementing the Resolution 520, despite challenges, MR3 has basically realized the set out targets. The task of economic production and development in combination with defence has been paid due attention and closely directed and effectively implemented, hence gaining comprehensive and sustainable outcomes. The combinations between economy with defence and defence with economy have been enhanced, particularly in border, sea, island, key and strategic areas. Notably, it has successfully built, and enhanced the effectiveness of 2 eco-defence zones, namely: Binh Lieu – Quang Ha – Mong Cai, and Bac Hai Son; completed the Detailed Plan of the Dong Bac Islands Eco-defence Zone and proposed for approval and made the necessary preparations for the implementation of the plan to meet the requirement of economic development in combination with sea and island sovereignty protection. The 327 eco-defence Corps has actively coordinated with party committee and authority of Quang Ninh province to implement the targets of the eco-defence projects, especially developing the infrastructure, resettlement, depleting the uninhabited areas, developing new residential areas in the Dong Bac border area. At the same time, it has proactively assisted local people in hunger eradication and poverty reduction, production facilitation together with doing mass mobilization and building the political establishments and firm “people’s heart and mind posture” to provide foundation for building the all people’s defence, people’s security, maintaining political security, social safety and order, firmly protecting the national sovereignty and security and building the border of friendship, peace and prosperity. Facing the stiff competition of the market economy, the enterprises of the MR3 have restructured, renewed and changed their operational models; enhanced the effectiveness of production and business in association with implementing defence tasks, and enjoyed relatively good growth rates, secured jobs and sustainable income for employees. In 2017, the enterprises of MR3 earned a total income of over 3,400 billion dong and paid nearly 106 billion dong to the state budget.

Economic production of the No.327 Eco-defence Corps

Grasping and implementing the Party’s viewpoint on combining defence with economy and guidelines of the Central Military Commission, regular units and public administrative units of MR3, apart from fulfilling its central political task, have upheld their self-reliance, brought into play their potentials, strengthened production and service activities in association with performing their professional tasks in accordance with regulations. Its production and beneficial activities have enjoyed in-depth developments. Since 2013 to date, schools, vocational and job centres, and budgeting units of the MR3 have earned a total income of over 1,600 billion dong; created jobs for over 150 thousand employees; provided vocational training for over 100 thousand people, including nearly 30 thousand demobilized soldiers. Especially, local military offices, regular units have actively consolidated, built and multiplied various models of agricultural production and processing at all echelons; implemented the project on extra-production at logistical bases of defensive zones in 5 out of 9 provinces and cities, etc.

Besides its achievements, limitations still pertain in the implementation of the Resolution 520 of the MR3. in the preliminary review of the implementation of the Resolution 520 in the 2013 – 2017 period, the Party Committee and High Command of the MR3 frankly pointed out: some officers and soldiers still remain inadequate perception of the task of economic production and development, and kept low spirit before difficulties and hardships. The party committees and commanders of some units have not been determined enough in their leadership and direction and lacked breakthrough measures in the implementation of the Resolution, hence not achieving the expected results. The business outcomes of some units and enterprises remain low and inconsistent with their potentials and the set out goals, etc.

In order to better implement the Resolution 520 of the Central Military Commission, and develop the economic production of the MR3 to a higher level, the Party Committee and High Command of the MR3 require its agencies, units and enterprises to further grasp the resolutions and directives of upper echelons and of the Military Region on the task of economic production and development in combination with defence. On this basis, they should strengthens leaderships and directions of party committees and commanders at all echelons; continue to enhance propagation and education to make officers and soldiers fully aware of and determined to accomplish this important task. In the short run, it will screen the programs and plans for implementing the Resolution 520, the Resolution No. 269-NQ/DU to opportunely adjust and supplement the targets and measures for the 2018 – 2020 period and beyond; Seriously implement with realistic and effective measures; creatively apply the Party’s viewpoint on combining economy with defence, and defence with economy to make it relevant with the features of localities and meet the requirements and the assigned missions.

To successfully accomplish the targets and tasks in the plan for implementing the Resolution 520, MR3 continues to focus resources on building and enhancing the effectiveness of eco-defence projects. Particularly, it accelerates the implementation of the Resolution No. 425-NQ/QUTW of the Central Military Commission, the Resolution 295-NQ/DU dated 30 June 2017 of the MR’s Party Committee on “Restructuring, renewing and enhancing the effectiveness of the MR’s enterprises until 2020 and beyond” with a number of synchronous, drastic measures and strong determination. At the same time, it directs its enterprises to have renewals in management, improve the competitiveness, build business strategies suitable with their operational models, make breakthroughs in production and business, meeting the requirements of integration and development.

Thoroughly grasping the Party’s guidelines, the directions of the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence, and its assigned missions and functions, the armed forces of MR3 will continue to strive to fulfill its mission of economic production and development in combination with defence, contributing to realizing the two strategic missions of the Party in the new situation together with the party, authority and people of the provinces and cities in the region.

Lieutenant General Vu Hai San, PCC and CMC member, Commander of MR3