I. Geographical location and Administrative divisions

Thai Nguyen is a province adjacent to Hanoi, located in Hanoi Capital Region and identified as one of the regional centers of the Northern midland and mountainous provinces, with a natural area of over 3,500 km2.

The province is one of the political and economic centers of the Viet Bac in particular, of the Northeastern midland and mountainous region in general, Beside that Province is the gateway for socio-economic exchanges between the midland and mountainous region and the Northern Delta; The North of province is adjacent to Bac Kan province, the West is adjacent to Vinh Phuc and Tuyen Quang provinces, the East is adjacent to Lang Son and Bac Giang provinces and the South is adjacent to Hanoi capital with a natural area of 3,562.82 km².

Thai Nguyen province has 9 administrative units: Thai Nguyen city; Song Cong city, Pho Yen town and 6 districts: Phu Binh, Dong Hy, Vo Nhai, Dinh Hoa, Dai Tu, Phu Luong and 178 communes, wards and towns.

II. Population size

The province currently has nearly 1.3 million people with many ethnic groups living together, of which there are 08 ethnic groups making up the majority ( Kinh, Tay, Nung, San Diu, Mong, San Chay, Dao, Hoa), Ethnic minorities account for nearly 30% of the province's population.

III. Potentials of natural resources:

The terrain of province is not complicated. The climate is divided into 4 distinct seasons Spring - Summer - Autumn - Winter; the average annual rainfall is about 2,000 to 2,500 mm; total sunshine hours in a year ranges from 1,300 to 1,750 hours. In general, the climate of Thai Nguyen province is favorable for the development of agriculture and forestry.

The Mineral resources of province are variety of types which is a great comparative advantage in the development of metallurgical and mining industries. Thai Nguyen province has the second largest coal reserves in the country; non-ferrous metals with tin, lead, zinc, tungsten, gold, copper, nickel, mercury, etc. The Minerals and building materials are also potential raw materials for the production of cement, paving stones of all kinds and building materials. Regarding coal, there are 4 mines with reserves of over 100 million tons. Also, there are 47 mines and mines of Iron ore with reserves of nearly 100 million tons. In addition, there are 18 mines of Titanium with exploration reserves of about 18 million tons; 3 mines of Tin with reserves of over 13 million tons; tungsten with reserves of over 110 million tons. For construction materials, there are two clay mines with reserves of over 80 million tons; construction limestone with reserves of 100 billion m3; Kaolin clay mine with reserves of over 20 million m3.

IV. The infrastructure

Thai Nguyen province has a favorable traffic system connecting with the localities and international border gates: The Road system with new National Highway 3 (Hanoi - Thai Nguyen - Bac Kan New Market); National Highway 37 connects the Bac Giang - Thai Nguyen - Tuyen Quang provinces; National Highway 1B connects the Thai Nguyen - Lang Son provinces;

Beside the very favorable location in terms of traffic, 50 km from Noi Bai international airport, 200 km from the Chinese border, 75 km from Hanoi center and 200 km from Hai Phong port, Thai Nguyen is a important traffic intersection for the system of roads, railways, and fan-shaped rivers connecting with provinces; national highway 3 connecting Hanoi to Bac Kan; Cao Bang and Vietnam - China border gate; national highway 1B to Lang Son; national highway 37 connecting Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Tuyen Quang; Ho Chi Minh road; ring road 5; Da Phuc - Hai Phong river system; Thai Nguyen - Hanoi - Kep railway, Lang Son.

The Ring Road 5 in the Hanoi capital area is being invested and will connect National Highway 37 - New National Highway 3 - Hanoi & Lao Cai Expressway; Railway system connecting Thai Nguyen - Hanoi - Hai Phong - Lao Cai - Lang Son and North-South railway; There are Da Phuc port connecting with the provinces of the Red River Delta and Hai Phong port by river way. With favorable traffic connection is only about 200km from the Chinese border gate and Hai Phong port.

Electricity, water, and telecommunications: There are 2 electricity systems (the national grid system and the power system purchased from China) to ensure stable power capacity and quality; there are 2 clean water suppliers in the provincial area (Thai Nguyen Water Joint Stock Company and Yen Binh Fresh Water Joint Stock Company) to ensure the supplying of clean water for daily life and production; Post and telecommunications, transportation (including road, railway and waterway) are all developed favorably.

V. Results of implementation of major socio-economic objectives and targets during the period of 2015 - 2020.

After 5 years of implementing the Resolution of the 19th Provincial Party Congress, for the period of 2015-2020, the province has met and exceeded the all the objectives and targets set out by the Resolution, specifically:

1.The Average rate of Gross regional domestic product (GRDP) is increased 11.1% per year (Target: Increase by 10% per year).

2. The economic structure in 2020: 59% of Industry and construction, 31% of services and 10% of agriculture, forestry and fishery (Target: 53% of Industry and construction; 36% of services; 11% of agriculture, forestry and fishery).

3. The Industrial production value is increased on average 16.3% per year (Target: Increase by 15% per year).

4. The production value of agriculture, forestry and fishery is increased by 4.5% per year on average (Target: increase by 4% per year).

5. The Export value in the provincial area is increased on average by 13.1% per year (Target: 9% per year).

6. The State budget revenue in balance (excluding land use levy) is increased on average 16.3% per year (Target: Increase by 16% per year).

7. The GRDP per capita in 2020 will be reached by 90 million VND (Target: Reach by 86 million VND).

8. In 2020, 72% of communes will meet new rural standards (Target: 70%)

9. For firmly consolidating the results of education universalization at all levels; there is 84.04% of schools reaching national standards by 2020 (Target: 80%; 8% of ethnic minority students attend ethnic minority boarding schools (Target: 8%).

10. In 2020, there is 90% of cultured families; 78% of cultured villages, hamlets and sub-quarters; 90% of agencies and units met cultured (well-manner) standards and reached by the Resolution's target.

11. By the end of 2020, 97.2% of communes is met the national criteria for health (Target: 80%); the rate of children under 5 years of age malnourished by 2020 is decreased to 10%.

12. The supporting of additional jobs for 21,500 employees every year (Target: 15,000 employees). The rate of trained workers in 2020 is reached by 70% (Target: 70%).

13. The average poverty rate is reduced by 2.06% per year (Target: Reduce by 2% per year or more).

14. In 2020, the forest coverage rate is reached by 53.18% (Target: Over 50%) according to the new calculation method is reached 47.59%; 95% of the people in rural areas could access to the hygienic water (Target: 95%).

VI. Results of the implementation of socio-economic development missions in the first 6 months of 2021.

2021 is the first year of implementing the Resolution of the 20th Provincial Party Congress. Despite being affected by the Covid-19 epidemic, under the drastic direction of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, Provincial People's Committee along with the solidarity, unity, cooperation, consensus and efforts of the whole politic system, the consensus of the People, the business community, and entrepreneurs in carrying out the dual task of "promoting the prevention, and mitigation of the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, and supporting to remove difficulties for products and business. Therefore, the activities of socio-economic development, social security, social order and safety are still guaranteed. The results of a number of major socio-economic indicators of the province are achieved as follows:

1. The GRDP in the provincial area is reached by 6.5%; in which: Industry - construction increased by 6.78%; the agriculture, forestry and fishery sector increased by 4.29%; service sector and product tax increased by 6.81%.
2. The Industrial production value (comparative price at 2010) in the provincial area reached by 361.7 trillion VND, up 8.65% over the same period, equal 43% of the whole year target. In which, the local industry is reached 15.4 trillion dong, up 18.48% over the same period, equal 42.96% of the whole year target.
3. The Export value in the provincial area is reached by 13.4 billion USD, up 13.5% over the same period, equal 47.7% of the whole year target. In which, the local export value is reached by 238.7 million USD, up 9.5% over the same period, equal 45.47% of the whole year target; the exports of the FDI sector is reached by US$ 13.18 billion, up 13.6% over the same period.
4. The Total state budget revenue in the province is reached by VND 7,478.8 billion, up 15.5% over the same period, equal 47.9% of the whole year estimate; in which, the domestic revenue is reached 6,482.6 billion dong with 51.4% compared to the estimate, up 19.3% over the same period; the import and export income is reached by 967.2 billion with 32.2% of the estimate, equal 94.7% over the same period.
5. The production value of agriculture, forestry and fishery (comparative price at 2010) is reached by 7,525 billion VND, up 4.4% over the same period, equal 51.61% of the whole year target. In which, the agricultural production value is reached by VND 7,004.6 billion, up 4.27% over the same period, equal 52% of the year target; the forestry sector is increased by 7.3% over the same period, equal 50.37% of the year target; the fishery industry is increased by 4.67% over the same period with reaching 42.85% of the year target.

The grain output for the winter-spring crop of 2021 is reached 220 thousand tons, equal 105.8% of the target. The new concentrated afforestation area in the province is reached by 3.05 thousand ha, up 4.27% over the same period, equal 76.27% of the target. The the Stabilizing rate of forest coverage is reached over 46 % (with reaching 100% of the annual target).

6. The ranking results of Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI) in 2020 of Thai Nguyen province is ranked by 3rd out of 63 provinces and cities, up 36 levels compared to 2019; The provincial competitiveness index (PCI) in 2020 is ranked by 11th out of 63 provinces and cities, up 1 level compared to 2019; the Public Administration Reform Index (Par Index) is ranked by 12th out of 63 provinces and cities in the country, up 2 levels compared to 2019; Satisfaction index of people and organizations with the service of state administrative agencies (SIPAS) is reached by 87.66%.
7. The National defense and security is ensured, social order and safety are maintained. The External affairs is implemented effectively, actively integrating into the world; actively expand relations with localities, promote investment, find potential partners for mutual development.
8. The socio-cultural sectors have made many progress. The Education and training have developed in terms of network, scale, type and quality (the province has 583/684 schools reached by national standards, reaching 85.23%). The protecting and supporting of the People's health and improving the quality of the population is focused. The health network from the province to the local continues to receive the attention and investment, basically meeting the people's medical check and treatment needs. The whole province has 171/178 communes, wards and towns met by the national criteria for health. The monitoring, prevention of disease, food hygiene and safety are concerned, directed and implemented seriously and effectively.

VII. The socio-economic development outlook in the period of 2020 - 2025:

Main indicators:

1. The GRDP will be about 8% per year or more.
2. The Economic structure in 2025: 61% of Industry, construction; 31% of services; 8% of agriculture, forestry and fishery.
3. The Industrial production value wil be increased by an average of 9% per year or more.
4. The production value of agriculture, forestry and fishery will be increases by an average of 3.5% per year or more.
5. The export value in the area will be increases by an average of 7% per year or more; in which, local exports increased by 11% per year on average.
6. State budget revenues in the area (excluding land use levy and lottery) will be increase by 10% or more on average).
7. GRDP per capita in 2025 will be reached by 150 million VND or more; per capita income will be from 100 million VND or more.
8. By the end of 2025, 95% of communes will be met by new rural standards; At least 06 district-level units will complete the mission of building a new countryside and meet the new rural standards.
9. The target of firmly consolidating and improving the quality of education universalization at all levels; striving to have 90% of schools meet national standards. Continuing to maintain the rate of at least 8% of ethnic minority students studying in ethnic minority boarding schools, and improving the facilities of boarding schools in the mordern direction.
10. By 2025, there will be 90% of cultured families; 80% of cultured villages, hamlets and sub-quarters; 90% agencies and units met cultured (well-manner) standards.
11. By 2025, maintaining over 95% of communes meeting the national criteria on health; the proportion of people participating in health insurance will be reached over 98.5%.
12. By 2025, the rate of trained laborers will reach by 75%, of which 32% are diplomas and certificates; unemployment rate in urban areas is less than 3%.
13. The average annual poverty rate will be reduced (according to the new standard) by 1% or more.
14. The Stabilizing rate of the forest coverage will be from 46% or more; By 2025, 98% of people in rural areas will have accessed to the hygienic water.

Information sources:

1. The Political Report of the 20th Congress of Thai Nguyen Provincial Party Committee in the period of 2020 - 2025.

2. The Resolution of the 20th Congress of Thai Nguyen Provincial Party Committee in the period of 2020 - 2025.

3. The Report on the socio-economic situation in the first 6 months and some key mission in the last 6 months of 2021 of the Provincial People's Committee.

4. The Website of the Investment Promotion Center - Department of Planning and Investment of Thai Nguyen province.

5. The Report on the implementation of medical work in the first 6 months, key mission in the last 6 months of 2021.