Govt to engage in PPP to provide affordable housing units

The government will be engaging in public-private partnership for the development of affordable housing projects in the Central and Western Division.

While making an announcement on decisions following yesterdays cabinet meeting, Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka says the cabinet has approved the future developments of the Public-Private Partnership Affordable Housing Project.

He says in 2019, cabinet had agreed that Government pursue public-private partnership for an affordable housing project and subsequently, a Financial Advisory Services Agreement was signed with the International Finance Corporation to engage IFC as the lead advisor for the PPP Project.

Rabuka says six sites have been selected for the project where four sites are from the Central Division and two from the Western Division.

The sites are in Raiwaqa, Nepani, Wainibuku, Davuilevu, Tavubuku and Tavua.

The Prime Minister says the intention is to develop affordable housing units on the selected sites with private sector participation or on a PPP model, where a private developer shall design, build, finance, transfer, and maintain the affordable housing units.

He adds the Ministry of Finance will closely monitor the project progress and provide regular updates to the ministries of Housing, and Local Government.