Over the years, Vietnam War Veterans’ Association (VWVA) and its members have always “heightened self-reliance, helped one another in economic development, strived for sustainable poverty reduction and lawful enrichment, and actively, effectively taken part in national and local economic development programmes” as this association’s consistent goal; therefore, they have always surmounted difficulties to obtain significant achievements in poverty reduction and economic development.

In spite of numerous challenges posed by natural disasters and epidemics, the VWVA Central Committee Standing Board and all-level VWVAs have always adhered to guidelines and policies on socio-economic development by party committees and authorities at all levels, while encouraging their members to promote a sense of self-reliance and widely, deeply, and effectively develop the Movement entitled “veterans help one another with poverty reduction and economic development” (hereafter the Movement for short). They have proactively raised their members’ awareness of the Party’s guidelines, the State’s laws and policies, and central and local socio-economic development plans; at the same time, they have formulated their own programmes/plans for economic development, rapid, sustainable poverty reduction, and legitimate enrichment. Besides, they have focused on directing and persuading their members to take advantage of resources and support policies from the Government and localities to develop production and business models with high-quality, highly competitive products in tandem with environmental protection and combine economic development with defence-security consolidation in areas. Cooperation has been maintained to give instructions to businesses owned by veterans on seizing opportunities, bringing into play their advantages, and accessing preferential loans, scientific and technological advances, and potential markets in order to manufacture high value-added goods and products and intensify domestic trade, export, and international economic integration. All-level VWVAs have frequently organised conferences to draw lessons, multiply typical examples and models, and opportunely reward, commend, and honour collectives and individuals with outstanding achievements in the Movement.

Via the Movement, many models have been established and multiplied. More specifically, the “5+1” model within Ben Tre Provincial VWVA has been duplicated throughout the country, while the “two-removal, three-assistance” model within Gia Lai Provincial VWVA has been multiplied across Central Highlands. A large number of commune-level VWVAs have founded clubs for veterans to help one another with poverty reduction and economic development. Meanwhile, many localities have developed models amongst veterans, such as “rotating capital contributions,” “rotation of capital contributions and crop conversion,” VAC system (crop planting, fish farming, and animal husbandry), reforestation, and farm produce manufacture and processing.  Moreover, there have been many cooperatives, corporations, joint stock companies, and limited liability companies owned and developed by veterans. Up to now, the quantity and quality of such models have been considerably increased. Within the entire VWVA, there have been 8,350 businesses, 1,604 cooperatives, and 174,240 farms with 704,728 employees. Business Associations of Veterans or Business Clubs of Veterans have been established in all 63 provinces and municipalities. Development of economic models has helped make a positive change in raising the quality and effectiveness of production and business as the goal of growth, building brands, and bringing into play proactiveness, creativity, and good approaches against the market economy’s fluctuations. Doing so has also contributed to lifting many members of the VWVA and households out of poverty, improving employees’ income, maintaining social security, well performing charitable work, and disseminating the Party’s guidelines and the State’s laws and policies on socio-economic development. Between 2016 and 2021, with their achievements in the Movement, 18 individuals were given Third-Class Labour Order by State President, while 4 collectives and 283 individuals were presented with Certificate of Merit by the VWVA Central Committee.

Leaders of the VWVA and Provincial Party Committee of Soc Trang visiting a veteran-owned farm owned in Vinh Chau town

In the upcoming time, grounded on Directive 05-CT/TW, dated June 23rd, 2021 by the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat on “strengthening the Party’s leadership over sustainable poverty reduction towards 2030” and Resolution of the VWVA’s 6th Congress, all-level VWVAs and their members shall focus on several basic tasks and measures as follows.

First, heighten the virtues of “Uncle Ho’s soldiers,” well implement the Movement, and improve members’ material and mental life. All-level VWVAs shall continue playing their central role in uniting and encouraging their members to preserve and improve revolutionary morality, political zeal, and knowledge of laws and policies on production and business, while well executing the emulation movement titled “the whole country joins hands for the poor - no one will be left behind.” Great value should be attached to disseminating guidelines and national target programmes on socio-economic development by the Party, the State, and local party committees and authorities to members of the VWVA, improving their economic, cultural, scientific, and technical knowledge, and encouraging them to overcome challenges, seize chances, and develop their potential for the sake of rapid, sustainable economic development. Due regard should be paid to ensuring members’ material and mental life, developing economic models, and speeding up poverty reduction and legal enrichment.

Furthermore, grounded on the entire VWVA’s targets and each locality’s socio-economic development plan, all-level VWVAs shall establish and assign targets of poverty reduction to each branch, with emphasis placed on clarifying the root of poverty amongst members’ poor and near-poor households, especially in poor communes and districts, and taking measures to provide financial, technical aid and vocational training for members so that they could get out of poverty in a rapid, sustainable way. Significance should be attached to encouraging effective economic models and poverty reduction initiatives, giving more instructions, and spreading valuable experiences in economic development so as to widely, deeply develop the Movement.

Second, further develop economic models and increase their productivity, quality, efficiency, and competitiveness. This measure acts as a motivation for all-level VWVAs and the entire VWVA to fulfil their targets. Thus, it is necessary to keep increasing the number of effective economic models created by veterans in accordance with each region and locality and developing highly adaptable, competitive, and productive businesses. Importance should be attached to fostering household economy, farms, and cooperatives. Emphasis should be placed on applying science and technology to developing new and supportive products for each season and local market. Besides, it is essential to organise production under value chains and production networks, multiply links in production, business, and services, and gradually build brands both at home and abroad. Due attention should be paid to actively taking part in restructuring the economy, transforming crop and animal husbandry, diversifying economic sectors to create more employments, and combining production and business with environmental protection, defence of national sovereignty and security, search and rescue, tourism, and reforestation to facilitate rapid, sustainable socio-economic development.

Third, mobilise and maximise resources, encourage innovation and creativity, apply science and technology, and develop international business and digital economy. To that end, all-level VWVAs and their members shall take advantage of financial and material support from authorities, unions, enterprises, and benefactors to develop production and business. It is necessary to closely cooperate with Vietnam Bank for Social Policies in exchanging information, managing and effectively using preferential loans, and raising the quality of credits. All-level VWVAs shall continue improving the quality of operation of saving groups and mobilising finance from their members and economic development projects, with priority given to providing loans for members under preferential treatment policies, poor and near-poor households, students, and families in difficulty. They shall proactively, closely manage funding via specific regulations. Due regard should be paid to developing production and business in line with innovation, creativity, and application of fourth generation technology, carrying out digital transformation in industry, agriculture, culture, and tourism, and training human resources to manufacture high-quality, safe, competitive products for domestic market with powerful brands. Great value should be attached to boosting international economic cooperation and relations with war veterans’ associations of other countries, and combining diplomatic activities with economic development. Via people-to-people exchanges, a favourable condition should be created to enable veteran-owned businesses to develop foreign markets and partnerships.

Fourth, combine economic development with the VWVA’s political task and build a strong VWVA capable of defending legitimate rights and benefits of its members. To do so, it is important to step up the emulation movement entitled “exemplary veterans” in tandem with the Movement titled “veterans help one another with poverty reduction and economic development” to contribute to building a pure, strong VWVA. Those movements should be included in major programmes and campaigns, particularly in the study and following of Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, ethics, and lifestyle. Due attention should be paid to regularly organising conferences to draw lessons and commend typical individuals and collectives in the Movement. Additionally, the VWVA should collaborate with the Business Association of Veterans in well implementing coordination programmes and protecting their members’ legitimate rights and benefits.

Bringing into play the virtues of “Uncle Ho’s soldiers” and its tradition of “loyalty, unity, exemplification, and innovation,” the VWVA will keep effectively executing the Movement as a significant contribution to eradicating hunger, reducing poverty, fostering socio-economic development, and consolidating national defence and security in the new period.

Sr. Lt. Gen. NGUYEN VAN DUOC, Secretary of the VWVA Party Committee

Chairman of the VWVA