The Steering Committee for the Central Highlands will closely supervisethe construction of transport infrastructure across the region to keepup the progress of those projects in the second half of the year, thecommittee said at its quarterly meeting with the press on July 29.

The Central Highlands region groups Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, and Lam Dong provinces.

Thecommittee will particularly focus on the construction of Ho Chi MinhHighway and the Truong Son Dong Road and the upgrade of Pleiku Airportin Gia Lai.

At the same time, the board will work with centraland local authorities to realise annual socio-economic targets, raisethe quality of poverty alleviation, and ensure defence and security.

Coordinationwill also be improved in promoting education and vocational trainingand executing policies designed for ethnic minority groups, the meetingheard.

During the first half of 2014, the region’s gross domesticproduct grew by 10.3 percent while increases were recorded in exportturnover and collection for the State budget.

Thirteen projectsusing Government bonds to build sections of Ho Chi Minh Highway runningthrough the region have been basically finished.

Meanwhile, fivetraffic projects under the build-operate-transfer model are expected tobe completed in 2015 and 2016. Six other projects funded by Governmentbonds will also become operational from now to 2016.

Coveringsome 54,474 square kilometres, the Central Highlands has a population ofnearly 5.3 million from 47 ethnic groups. About 1.6 million people areof ethnic minorities.-VNA