Vietnam Aims to Cut Poverty Rate by 2% Next Year

The Vietnamese government targets to cut the poverty rate by 1.7%-2% by end-2014 from the estimated 7.8% for 2013, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said in a report at the opening session of the National Assembly on Oct 21. Earlier in an interview, Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Pham Thi Hai Chuyen affirmed that the government will not cut investments in anti-poverty activities despite economic uncertainties. The ministry may even may raise funding for the work. Instead of providing direct support for the poor, the state should invest in infrastructure and help their business. More attention should also be given to those living near the poverty line, Ms. Chuyen added. According to statistics of the Construction Ministry, between 2009 and 2012, up to 513,000 poor households nationwide received government housing assistance, exceeding the target of 500,000. The state budget for poverty reduction rose from about VND90 trillion ($4.24 billion) each year during the 2008-2010 period to around VND120 trillion annually between 2011-2012. (www.na.gov.vn Oct 21, vietnamplus.vn Oct 21)