(VOVworld)-Ho Chi Minh City aims to move all poor and near-poor households out of poverty by 2020 as part of its 5-year sustainable poverty reduction program.

Horticulture increases income for farmers in HCM city (Photo: K.V)

To fulfill the target, the city will provide preferential loans worth 130 million USD to help poor and near-poor households open small-scale production facilities or household businesses, said Nguyen Van Lam, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs at a recent conference in HCM city. Last year, nearly 10,000 poor families with annual income below 930 USD per person were assisted. The city also aims to reduce the unemployment rate from 4.4 percent to below 4 percent this year.