WB Vice President for the East Asia-Pacific Victoria Kwakwa (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The World Bank on October 3announced its report “Expanding Opportunities for the Urban Poor” through a videoconference connecting its offices in East Asian-Pacific countries, including Vietnam.
Speaking at the event, WB Vice President for the EastAsia-Pacific Victoria Kwakwa said the common challenge is how to bringopportunities to people in cities, from migrant workers living in the suburbsto underpaid workers in factories, so that they could benefit more fromurbanisation and contribute to stronger growth.
WB urban development expert Judy Baker, author of thereport, said rapid urbanisation poses both challenges and opportunities, addingthat measures to improve urban inclusion are practical, effective andnecessary.
The report said Vietnam’s urbanisation is growing rapidly by3.2 percent annually, doubling population growth of the country, mostly inHanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Up to 23 percent of young people aged 15-21 havemoved to urban areas over the past five years.
It underscored the need to take a flexible and multidimensionalapproach to controlling housing supply, facilitating the supply of low-costhousing and involvement of private firms in home building and rent, and linkingtransport with outlying areas.
According to the report, the 3 percent urbanisation growthin the region has lifted 655 million people out of poverty over the past twodecades. However, the number of regional people living in slums is the highestworldwide. Up to 250 million people live in cramped living conditions with theshortage of necessary services and could face risks regarding flooding.
It urged municipal authorities to adopt multidimensionalapproach to planning, considering economic, regional planning, social inclusionissues to promote economic growth and reduce poverty.
The report suggested connecting poor workers with labourmarket, investing in synchronous planning, respecting citizens’ rights tocities, strengthening local governance, building a data system to help citizensmake evidence-based decisions, among others.-VNA
Speaking at the event, WB Vice President for the EastAsia-Pacific Victoria Kwakwa said the common challenge is how to bringopportunities to people in cities, from migrant workers living in the suburbsto underpaid workers in factories, so that they could benefit more fromurbanisation and contribute to stronger growth.
WB urban development expert Judy Baker, author of thereport, said rapid urbanisation poses both challenges and opportunities, addingthat measures to improve urban inclusion are practical, effective andnecessary.
The report said Vietnam’s urbanisation is growing rapidly by3.2 percent annually, doubling population growth of the country, mostly inHanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Up to 23 percent of young people aged 15-21 havemoved to urban areas over the past five years.
It underscored the need to take a flexible and multidimensionalapproach to controlling housing supply, facilitating the supply of low-costhousing and involvement of private firms in home building and rent, and linkingtransport with outlying areas.
According to the report, the 3 percent urbanisation growthin the region has lifted 655 million people out of poverty over the past twodecades. However, the number of regional people living in slums is the highestworldwide. Up to 250 million people live in cramped living conditions with theshortage of necessary services and could face risks regarding flooding.
It urged municipal authorities to adopt multidimensionalapproach to planning, considering economic, regional planning, social inclusionissues to promote economic growth and reduce poverty.
The report suggested connecting poor workers with labourmarket, investing in synchronous planning, respecting citizens’ rights tocities, strengthening local governance, building a data system to help citizensmake evidence-based decisions, among others.-VNA
VNA
