In the face of the fluctuations in the socio-economic situation and the difficulties and challenges, the 15^th Economic-Defence Corps (hereinafter referred to as Corps)  Party Committee, High Command, cadres, soldiers, and workers have demonstrated the noble qualities of “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers,” and self-reliant and self-sufficient spirit, actively fostered innovation and creativity, and aroused potentials and internal strength in overcoming hardships to fulfil the tasks of production and economic development in conjunction with enhancing national defence and security in the strategic Central Highlands region.

In recent years, the production and economic development activities of the Corps have encountered numerous difficulties and challenges due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and military conflict among traditional friendly countries, as well as unusual weather conditions. These factors have resulted in a significant increase in the prices of input products, while the selling prices of rubber latex have continuously declined. Meanwhile, the political and social security situations in the area still harbours complex and sensitive factors that can cause instability. However, under the direct leadership and guidance of the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence, along with the instruction, facilitation, and support of functional agencies, and local Party committees and authorities, and the Corps Party Committee and Command have proactively set out comprehensive innovative strategies and timely solutions to overcome difficulties and maintain stability for continuous development. The  Corps has focused on comprehensively and synchronously implementing various military and defence tasks; along with the local Party committees, authorities, and forces, maintaining political and social security and order in its area of responsibility; placing emphasis on improving the quality of training and conducting exercises aligned with the general defensive positions; participating in the construction of residential clusters and areas suitable with the local defensive positions, in which production areas are interspersed with villages and hamlets based on combat plans to create a solid all-people defence in association with people’s security posture; and proactively coordinated with other forces in grasping the situation, anticipating scenarios, and organising territorial inspections and controls to prevent the emergence of hotspots and contribute  to establishing a safe area and protecting a peaceful life for the people.

Leader of the Corps checks rice production of ethnic groups

Regarding production and economy, the Corps has established, adjusted, supplemented, and improved internal regulations and rules to suit the practical circumstances and create a legal basis for production and business operations in accordance with the new structure. It has also proactively restructured economic-defence units to ensure stability in organisation and tasks for sustainable development; made determined efforts to address difficulties and obstacles in foreign investment projects; and enhanced the quality of human resources, particularly in commanding and managing positions. Earnestly implementing  the Resolution No.820-NQ/QUTW, dated December 17^th, 2021, of the Central Military  Commission, and Plan No.763/KH-BQP, dated March 17^th, 2022, of the Ministry of National Defence regarding the leadership of the Military’s labour and production tasks combined with defence to 2030, the Corps have vigorously implemented a centralised production model and strengthened management to reduce investment and costs, increase labour productivity, properly care for plantations, improve product quality, create employment and income, and stabilise workers’ lives. In the spirit of overcoming difficulties, innovation, and creativity, many units have achieved their production targets ahead of schedule and excellently fulfiled their tasks. In 2022, the Corps’ total rubber latex output reached 54,574 tons, equivalent to 111% of the plan. The dry latex yield was 1.83 tons/hectare, with a profit of 147 billion VND and an average income of over 7.5 million VND per person per month. At each stage of development and in each business strategy, the Corps has always prioritised the interests of the workers, ensuring employment and income stability for them, so they can be confident in their commitment to building strong units, villages, and border areas. Thus, in the process of production and business, the Corps has combined the construction of production models and economic development for ethnic minority people, thereby attracting residents to the border areas, building residential clusters and gradually developing them into economic, cultural, and social centres, serving as the foundation for establishing a comprehensive national defence combat posture to protect the Fatherland. To date, the Corps has participated in the construction of 266 residential clusters and areas in 41 communes belonging to 9 districts and cities in the provinces of Gia Lai, Kon Tum, and Quang Binh. Furthermore, it has closely coordinated with the local Party committees and authorities in effectively implementing models and projects that provide initial investment capital to households participating in the projects, serving as a foundation for expanding production, developing livestock farming on a larger scale, creating employment, and ensuring social welfare, healthcare, education, etc. It has contributed to hunger alleviation, poverty reduction, and socio-economic development at the local level. The support projects for infrastructure construction, production, and economic development in Laos and Cambodia continue to yield fruitful results, creating stable employment and income for thousands of people, helping the neighbouring countries develop economically, culturally, socially, and building strong political foundations to become bright examples of the friendship and solidarity among Viet Nam, Laos, and Cambodia.

The coming period is a pivotal phase in implementing the resolutions of Party Congresses at all levels with a mix of favourable conditions and challenges, to fulfil the tasks, the Corps will continue to leverage its internal strength and maximise the local potential and resources to promote production and economic development while enhancing its defence and security capabilities. In this regard, it will focus on the following key content and solutions:

Firstly, continue to enhance the implementation of restructuring measures; carry out the reorganisation and adjustment of apparatus, organisation, and staffing towards being adept, compact,  and effective, in line with the practical situation and task requirements. To achieve this, the Corps will proactively develop a strategy for training and fostering to enhance the quality of human resources, especially key personnel at all levels; develop plans and organise local labour recruitment, coupled with measures to ensure stable livelihoods and provide a labour force for central political tasks and unit construction; supplement and issue fixed plans, wage plans, labour norms, and wage rates closely aligned with the practical conditions of each locality and unit; and actively disseminate, encourage, and motivate workers to increase sustainable labour productivity to enhance income and improve living standards.

Secondly, focus on building dual-use infrastructure in tandem with population stabilisation. In accordance with the Party’s direction, the State, the Central Military Commission, and Ministry of National Defence, the Corps will strengthen coordination with local authorities in implementing objectives in line with the Economic-Defence Zone planning, adjusting it appropriately with the all-people defence and people’s security postures and local defensive areas. Based on mid-term planning, budget allocation, and production costs, it will carry out investment in infrastructure, particularly in defence-related projects and essential investment models closely related to production and people’s livelihoods to ensure quality, dual-use capabilities, standards, and criteria in constructing defensive areas, all-people defence posture, and facilitate connectivity and integration with local infrastructure projects.

Thirdly, organise production models to support and assist the people in economic development. Based on the established objectives of the Economic-Defence Zone, the Corps will vigorously innovate economic restructuring to leverage the advantages of each region and focus on developing high-value crops and livestock and grasp the superiors’ undertakings to balance resources, forecast the market, and establish realistic and scientifically sound plans with high flexibility and feasibility. The key issue is to continue improving the capacity for management, direction, and operation of production and business activities; developing fundamental measures to mobilise and regulate capital to meet requirements and tasks; closely managing capital, assets, budgets, and materials and gradually overcoming difficulties; strengthening the financial health of enterprises; and thoroughly addressing financial debts. In investment work, the correct sequence and procedures must be strictly managed; emphasis should be placed on inspection, auditing, supervision, and evaluation of investments, quality management, and cost savings. At the same time, efforts must be made to practice thrift, enhance responsibility in controlling production costs, prevent waste, maximise product yield, and increase productivity to reduce product costs, ensuring the completion and surpassing of planned targets. It will continue to maintain efficient production and business activities, adhere to the correct direction and compliance with the law; determine appropriate steps and scales and integrate production with processing, diversifying products, and expanding the market; strictly adhere to technical procedures in caring for, exploiting, and processing; promote initiatives and technological improvements and actively apply new technical advances to enhance productivity and the quality of crops and products that meet market demands; pay regular attention to ensuring social welfare, healthcare, education, preserving and promoting the cultural identities of ethnic groups; and effectively implement investment projects and foreign affairs activities and foster friendship with Laos and Cambodia to build a united, friendly, and secure border area.

Finally, enhance the overall quality, level and capability of combat readiness to effectively fulfil national defence and security tasks in the area. The Corps will strictly maintain guard duty and combat readiness at all levels; continue to supplement and improve combat plans and organise training and exercises in line with the Corps’ tasks and the local defence posture; actively innovate and enhance the quality of training to ensure the content, programs, relevancy, target groups, and areas, with absolute safety guaranteed; build a self-defence force with sufficient quantity and quality to meet requirements and tasks; closely coordinate with the local Party committees, authorities, and other forces in constructing the “people’s hearts and minds posture” and solid national defence and security posture to ensure the maintenance of political security, order, and social safety; and proactively and actively participate in disaster response and search and rescue operations and assist the people in overcoming the consequences of natural disasters, being ready to cope with and handle any situation that arises in the area and not falling into any passive situations. Agencies and units will continue to strengthen the development of discipline and regulations; enhance discipline and ethics; closely integrate the construction of pure and strong Party committees and organisations with the building of comprehensively strong, exemplary, and typical units and excellently strong mass organisations to promote the comprehensive strength in fulfiling assigned tasks.

Major General HOANG VAN SY,  Commander of the Corps