Vets asked to help reduce poverty

President Tran Dai Quang has asked the Vietnam Veterans’ Business Association (VVBA) to help reduce poverty by developing commercial production, intensify scientific-technological applications in production and promote high value added services. Speaking at the VVBA’s second congress in Hanoi yesterday, the President also requested the association remove difficulties facing enterprises, replicate outstanding models and take part in charity activities, especially drives to help war invalids and families of fallen soldiers. He applauded the contributions of businesses run by war veterans to the socio-economic development of localities and the country as a whole. The VVBA was established in April 2013, aiming to encourage war veterans to carry forward the spirit of self-reliance; support each other in economic development and poverty reduction; and step up charity activities. The association now has 38 chapters with 7,728 businesses and 82,791 farms run by war veterans, with total revenue in the past five years of nearly VND200 trillion ($8.6 billion), generating jobs for more than 800,000 labourers. It has financed the construction of nearly 450 houses for social policy beneficiaries and contributed VND524 billion ($22.5 million) to charity activities and poverty reduction. President Quang presented the Labour Order, third class, to the association; and the Labour Order, first class, to its President - Labour Hero Le Van Kiem. (VNS Aug 9)