Ho Chi Minh City has set targets to create a reduction in traffic jams and flooding during 2016, according to what was discussed at the second meeting of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Executive Committee on Tuesday.

Tat Thanh Cang, deputy Party secretary and deputy chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, unveiled a plan to build a total of nearly 580,000 square meters of road surface next year.

In addition, the city will construct 11 new bridges, and strive to complete 26 other construction sites for public transport use during the year.

The addition of the facilities will make the total area used for traffic 8.42 percent of the total urban area of the city.

With regard to the plan to alleviate flooding, the city will focus on carrying out drainage projects funded by foreign ODA loans to dredge canals, strengthen water drainage systems, and treat wastewater.

Ho Chi Minh City officials will also invest in hygiene projects for the canals of Nhieu Loc – Thi Nghe, Tau Hu – Ben Nghe, and Tan Hoa – Lo Gom.

Currently, the center of the metropolis has 17 locations identified as “hot spots” for flooding, especially after rain.

At the opening of the meeting, deputy permanent Party secretary Vo Van Thuong revealed his motivation to turn the city into one of the major economic, financial, trade and technology centers of Southeast Asia.

Thuong set additional targets in 2016, including a GDP growth rate of eight percent, the percentage of skilled laborers reaching 75 percent, creating 125,000 jobs and reducing unemployment to below 4.5 percent, as well as building an additional eight million square meters of housing.

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