PM approves national target program on new rural development PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc has signed Decision 1600/QD-TTg approving the National Target Program on new rural development for 2016-2020 period.    The Government expects to increase income of rural residents by 1.8 times in 2020 compared to that in 2015. The program was designed to improve material and spiritual life of rural residents, develop socio-economic infrastructure and proper economic structure, combine agricultural development and industrial-service development among other goals. The Government expects to increase the number of communes fulfilling norms of new rural development to 50% by 2020. Each province/city will have at least one new rural district and income is expected to rise by 1.8 times compared to the level of 2015, according to the program. To achieve the above figures, the Government plans to continue issuing more policies and mechanisms, including those for disadvantaged areas to develop essential infrastructure works that facilitate agricultural restructuring process. The Government will also accelerate decentralization and empowerment to communal level to give them more autonomy in rural development provided that transparency, openness and accountability are ensured. Regarding financial resources for the program, the Government will integrate this program with the National Target Program on sustainable poverty reduction and other programs/projects. At least 80% of revenues sourced from land use fees at communal level will be retained for deploying the program while businesses’ capital and voluntary financial contributions of rural residents are encouraged. The Government estimates that it needs some VND 193,155.6 billion for the program, including VND 63,155.6 billion from State budget and VND 130,000 billion from local budget. VGP