Kim Bang, confidently embarking on a new journey...

Strategic geographical location

Following the merger of three communes – Thanh Ha, Thanh Thuy, and Kim Bang – Kim Bang officially became a new border commune with a strategically important location, bordering Xay Cham Phon district (Bolikhamsai province, Laos). With a natural area of ​​over 183 km² and a population of nearly 28,000 people, Kim Bang possesses both development potential and the responsibility of maintaining security and defense at the southwestern gateway of the province.

Kim Bang's border location offers both advantages in trade and cultural exchange between the two countries, as well as responsibilities in national defense and security. The mountainous terrain, complex natural disasters, and incomplete infrastructure present significant obstacles. However, the community's will and revolutionary tradition have enabled Kim Bang to transform challenges into motivation: from planning reforestation areas and developing tea plantations to building infrastructure to support trade, all efforts are aimed at improving the people's lives and maintaining border security.

The process of consolidating the political system after the merger was carried out urgently: the commune Party Committee was established and currently has 45 affiliated grassroots Party organizations with a total of 1,082 Party members; the first Executive Committee consists of 23 members, and the Standing Committee has 10 members — expected to be the leading core to guide the locality through the transition period. The mountainous terrain, complex natural disasters, and underdeveloped infrastructure are major obstacles. However, with a spirit of unity, Kim Bang has gradually exploited its advantages: expanding the area of ​​industrial tea cultivation, developing raw material forest areas, aquaculture, and investing in transportation and irrigation to serve production and trade.

Transformation in the economy, changes in life.

The 2020-2025 term is a challenging period, but also a time of transformation for Kim Bang. Despite the pandemic, natural disasters, and market fluctuations, the locality has maintained its economic development momentum: the growth rate of total product value is estimated at 10%, and per capita income is projected to reach 52 million VND/year – figures demonstrating the effort to sustain growth in an unfavorable context. The economic structure has also shifted significantly: agriculture, forestry, and fisheries account for 34.23%; industry and construction for 24.12%; and trade and services for over 41%.

But what is noteworthy is that these figures are not just data but reflect the concrete lives of the people. On the hillsides, the people are expanding the industrial tea growing area, aiming for approximately 1,000 hectares by 2025, nearly completing the term's target and occupying an important position in the local agricultural production structure. The area of ​​planted forests for raw materials has increased to 387 hectares, exceeding the set target, creating jobs while protecting forest land; raising the forest cover rate to nearly 60% (exceeding the target of 56%), showing a sustainable development direction, harmonizing livelihoods and the environment.

Food production, livestock farming, and aquaculture have also made transformative progress: the total cultivated area reached 2,292 hectares (93.58% of the target), rice cultivation nearly reached the target (1,532/1,533 hectares), while the aquaculture area exceeded the target (340 hectares implemented compared to the target of 270 hectares), showing that farmers are gradually diversifying their livelihoods and taking advantage of the local area. Total food production reached 11,719 tons (78.45% of the target), indicating that there is still room for productivity increase, but the direction towards commodity production is becoming clearer.

Along with production, the development of trade and services has truly permeated daily life. Markets, private shops, small-scale warehousing services, and small-scale industries (woodworking, non-fired brick making, mechanics, agricultural and forestry product processing) have contributed to diversifying household income sources, raising the service sector's share to nearly 42% of the economic structure. Social welfare has also seen significant improvements: the poverty rate has decreased to 2.2%; health insurance coverage has reached nearly 94% of the population; and the rate of access to clean water and waste treatment has improved.

In social life, changes are evident: schools are being invested in, and the quality of education is improving; the healthcare system is being strengthened, with the health insurance participation rate reaching 92% in 2024 and projected to reach 93.6% in 2025; the expanded immunization program maintains a full vaccination rate of approximately 98%; the rate of households using clean water reaches 92%; the rate of household solid waste collected and processed is 98.33%... This demonstrates the efforts to improve the basic living conditions of the people.

Resource management, forest protection, raw material forest development, and forest fire prevention have been emphasized, with a focus on forest development linked to community livelihoods and climate change adaptation. Land management, planning, and the improvement of technical infrastructure (electricity, irrigation, rural transportation) have been prioritized, laying the foundation for longer-term socio-economic development.

Notably, Party building and the political system are becoming increasingly substantive: Party branches are being strengthened, the quality of branch meetings is being improved; and the work of developing Party members is being maintained with clear objectives, aiming to create a suitable pool of leadership cadres for the new period. These changes reinforce the people's trust in the local Party committee, which is a prerequisite for achieving development goals.

Clear purpose, sustainable path

Entering the 2025-2030 term, Kim Bang not only sets ambitious goals but also concretizes them into clear targets. The commune strives for an average growth rate of 10-11% per year, an average per capita income of 82-86 million VND, and local budget revenue exceeding 32 billion VND by 2030. These figures reflect aspirations for progress, but more importantly, they are linked to practical directions.

In the economic sector, Kim Bang aims to continue developing tea, raw material forests, and aquaculture in a commercial direction, linked with processing and consumption. Agriculture will no longer be self-sufficient production but will become the foundation for the formation of OCOP products, with at least two products achieving 3-star or higher standards. Trade and services will be boosted based on the advantages of border gates, logistics, and warehousing services. When services become the "driving force," the economic structure of the commune will continue to shift, creating a stronger impetus for growth.

Alongside economic development is the improvement of social quality. By 2030, Kim Bang aims for 100% of schools to meet national standards; the poverty rate to be reduced to below 2%; over 98% of the population to participate in health insurance; all household waste to be collected and treated; and 100% of households to have access to clean water. These are not just numbers, but a commitment to a more civilized and sustainable life for the people in this border region.

The overarching focus remains on Party building. The Party Committee has set a target of admitting 33-38 new Party members each year, increasing the total by 165-190 members throughout the term; striving to ensure that by 2030, 100% of villages and hamlets have Party members as village heads. This is a step towards strengthening the political system at the grassroots level, ensuring that every Party decision reaches the people. Simultaneously, inspection, supervision, and anti-corruption efforts are being tightened, linked to the requirement of exemplary conduct by cadres and Party members.

Given its unique border characteristics, maintaining national defense and security is identified as a cornerstone. Kim Bang strives to build "communes that meet security and order standards" and "communes free from drugs"; while simultaneously strengthening coordination with border guards, consolidating Vietnam-Laos friendship, and ensuring a peaceful and stable border. This is both a political responsibility and a condition for sustainable socio-economic development.

With the foundation already built and a clear direction, Kim Bang is entering a new phase of development. The aspiration to build a safe, prosperous, and sustainable border region will become the driving force for the Party Committee, government, and people of the entire commune to continue to unite and strive on the road ahead.