Minister for Local Government and Housing, Premila Kumar says the government is currently engaged in developing 10 more informal settlements.
While speaking at the Pacific Urban Forum in Nadi, Kumar says over 2,000 households will receive land titles after the development.
Kumar also reveals that they have learnt through their experience that it could cost in between $2 million to $10 million to upgrade an informal settlement.
The Minister says that in the last 5 years they have upgraded 5 informal settlements and over 400 households received their land titles, which is the first step in home ownership.
She says the total capital investment on municipal assets over the last ten years stands at $130.6 million. The government invested $68.6 million whilst donor agencies such as UN Women, contributed $31 million and the Municipal Councils also contributed $31 million.
Kumar also says that the government has recently signed a Financial Advisory Services Agreement with International Finance Corporation (IFC) to assist in the design and implementation of apartments with strata titles.
She also says that they are continuing to encourage home ownership through the government’s first home/ land grants. So far over 1,800 households have been assisted with these programs and another 600 households will benefit from this program this year.
Kumar says the program is accessible to all first home/land buyers including informal settlers.
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