NHC told to earmark areas to attract PPP investment

The National Housing Corporation (NHC) has been urged to identify key investment areas for undertaking Public-Private Partnership projects to boost the sector’s contribution in achieving the envisioned economic growth.

Deputy Minister of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements, Mr Ridhiwan Kikwete made remarks here recently, when inspecting areas that have been earmarked for PPP investment in the Kilimanjaro Region.

“The government continues to create friendly environments for investment and this has helped in boosting demands for residential and commercial houses,” he said.

He said this is an opportunity for NHC to classify these areas as early as possible so that they can be worked on to meet the existing housing needs.

He said that the demands for residential and commercial housing units have continued to grow rapidly, adding that if these ideas are acted upon quickly, tangible fruits will be realised.

He further said that NHC will add other buildings that will be able to meet the increasing demands available through various applications.

“Apart from increasing the NHC’s and the nation’s revenues through rent payments, the housing programme through PPP will also help increase job opportunities and that will result from the housing construction projects that will be implemented,” he added.

Mr Kikwete said the government recognised the importance of having residential and commercial houses and that is why it came up with plans to implement some NHC projects through the PPP initiative.

On his part, the NHC Kilimanjaro Regional Manager, Mr Juma Kiaramba, said that the institution had more than 700 residential and commercial housing units in the region but was few compared to the existing demands.

Mr Kiaramba said that NHC had many areas in the region which were suitable for the PPP investment initiative

“There are many areas which are suitable for investments through the PPP initiative, but so far we have identified three and potential investors have already submitted their applications and the procedures to find those who will enter into joint ventures with NHC have started,” he said.