Stakeholders exchange ideas on housing sector |18 October 2019
The Ministry of Habitat, Infrastructure and Land Transport has organised a housing seminar to provide the platform for various local stakeholders to exchange information and ideas related to the housing sector.
The seminar, held on Wednesday this week at the Avani Hotel, Barbarons, was divided in two sessions. During the morning session there were various presentations by the housing, lands and infrastructure department, depicting the developments in the field of housing.
The Agency for Social Protection was also present, showcasing housing schemes for the vulnerable groups available through the agency.
The afternoon session was dominated by financial sector whereby various banks and financial institutions presented the various products available for Seychellois looking to purchase, construct or even renovate a house, alongside the challenges these institutions face with regard to housing products.
Among those who made presentations were representatives from the Housing Finance Company (HFC), Seychelles Commercial Bank (SCB), Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) and Central Bank (CBS).
UN Habitat officers present during the seminar also presented the work being done by the UN Habitat in the Indian Ocean, so as to support these island nations with their experience with other countries on how to better manage increasing demand for housing.
The one-day seminar was facilitated by Marie-Celine Zialor who encouraged participants to share their views and ask questions following the various presentations. Participants were also able to share ideas and innovations to better guide the ministry towards improving strategies in managing demand for housing across various sectors which meant the objective of the seminar was attained.
In an interview with members of the press, the principal secretary for housing, Denis Barbe, confirmed that all points raised during the seminar will be used to support future strategy formulation when it comes to managing the increasing demand for housing in Seychelles.
PS Barbementioned in his presentation that the condominium prices for a three- bedroom apartment costs 1.5 million.
Other speakers who made presentations at the workshop were Roma Edmond, the deputy chief executive of the Agency for Social Protection; Yves Choppy, the principal secretary for infrastructure; Nathalie Didon, the loans manager of HFC; Lizbeth Belmont and Cressheila Ladouceur, loans officers for HFC; Josepha Albert, the head of department and retail business at the SCB; Lindy Monthy, the manager for retail business unit at the MCB; Aaron Leong Pon, the director of the financial surveillance division at the CBS; and Lenny Palit also from the CBS.
The UN Habitat was represented by Mathias Spaliviero, the senior human settlements officer and Maiti Cagny, technical advisor who is an architect by profession. They both come from the UN Habitatregional office for Africa based in Nairobi.