After more than 2 years of implementing Decree No. 28 of the Government on preferential credit policy to implement the National Target Program on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, many households in Go Quao district, Kien Giang province have been supported to develop many types of livelihoods, rising up to escape poverty sustainably.
The family of Ms. Luong Bach Tuyet, residing in Phuoc Tho hamlet, Vinh Phuoc B commune, Go Quao district is a typical example. Having been married for many years, Ms. Tuyet herself is a housewife. Her husband, Mr. Tran Van Duoc, is a traditional carpenter.
With the small amount of savings, the couple opened a small carpentry workshop at the wife's parents' house. The carpentry workshop was mainly manual, because there was no supporting machinery, the products were not only labor-intensive, but also time-consuming and costly, so the profit was not high. Ms. Tuyet approached the Women's Union of Vinh Phuoc B commune and was given favorable conditions to support a loan from the Social Policy Bank.
Ms. Tuyet shared: “Because we do not have capital to buy machinery and equipment for the job, the products we make are few and the profits are not high. Since receiving a loan support of 50 million VND from the Social Policy Bank, we have bought a wood sawing machine to help my husband and I do carpentry work more smoothly, make a living and save money, and develop the family economy.”
Mr. Duoc (Ms. Tuyet's husband) expressed: "Since buying the automatic wood saw, my wife and I's carpentry work has become less arduous. Before, we had to transport trees to the district town to hire wood sawing, which took a lot of time and transportation costs. Now, with the wood sawing machine, we save nearly half of the cost, we produce more products than before, and our profits have also increased significantly. I am very happy and will try to expand our business further."
Ms. Nguyen Thi Chuc Ly - President of the Women's Union of Vinh Phuoc B Commune - said: Thanks to the loan support from the preferential credit program for ethnic minorities entrusted through the Women's Union of Vinh Phuoc B Commune, many families have escaped poverty. Like Mr. Duoc's family, the initial capital to open a carpentry workshop was about 100 million VND, and now the investment capital for the carpentry workshop has increased by nearly 500 million VND.
“Mr. Duoc and Ms. Tuyet’s family are Khmer ethnic people who are diligent in business and strive to improve their lives. They have used their capital very effectively, helping their family’s economy to become increasingly prosperous,” said Ms. Ly.
"Nearly 50% of the population in Vinh Phuoc B Commune, Go Quao District is Khmer ethnic minority, most of whom live mainly on farming. Due to the characteristics of rural areas, most ethnic minority households have little land for cultivation and production. In addition, their educational level is not high, so finding a job with a stable income is also limited," Ms. Ly added.
Currently, not only does Mr. Duoc's family have a fairly stable source of income, striving to become rich legitimately, but it also contributes to creating more jobs for idle workers in the locality.
By the end of September 2024, through the implementation of the credit loan program under Decree 28, Go Quao district had 30 ethnic minority households accessing capital, with a total outstanding debt of over 1.1 billion VND.
