The local leaders said Son La wants CARE International to support the province in building small power projects for disadvantaged ethnic minorities; promoting agricultural production programmes; improving fruit and Arabica coffee areas to make the trees resistant to climate change, creating high productivity and value.

The organization was urged to support ethnic minority women to develop One Commune One Product (OCOP) products with cultural identities and production lines.

The province also wished CARE International to cooperate in project research, evaluation and development, aiming to raise awareness of people in disaster-prone areas; have plans to prevent and overcome natural disasters; and create livelihoods for people in the affected areas.

Son La is one of the pioneering provinces to develop a project on forest carbon credits, so it hopes that CARE International will accompany the province in the project implementation so that forest carbon credits can bring profits, thus supporting people in ethnic minority areas.

A CARE International representative said the organisation gives priority to activities to promote gender equality and support women in rural areas; assist in mitigating the impacts of global climate change, especially in reducing carbon emissions; support young people in difficult circumstances; and provide humanitarian crisis assistance for those affected by natural disasters. In some other areas, it also delivers support in food, clean water, health care, and social security.

CARE International hoped that Son La will coordinate, accompany and mobilize resources to implement projects in the province in the near future.

Son La province pledged to create all favourable conditions for CARE International; and coordinate with the organization to realise cooperation contents and promote its mission of supporting Son La province, on the basis of complying with legal regulations.