Hanoi (VNA)💝 – Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has requested promptlytackling obstacles in social housing development policies and mechanisms, withincentives in infrastructure, land and finance for developers engaged in the effort.

Hemade the request during a meeting in Hanoi on March 10 to discuss a project onbuilding at least 1 million social housing apartments. Hastressed that the long-term goal of the project is to improve Vietnam’s rankingin ensuring citizens’ right to access housing. In each stage, specific targets need to be set such asbuilding dormitories for students, social housing for workers in industrialzones and for vulnerable groups, based on which, appropriate solutions,policies, allocation of resources could be proposed, he said. The Deputy PM reiterated the need to conduct a full studyand evaluation of housing needs among the public, especially low-income workersand vulnerable groups up to international practices. In particular,consideration should be given to the average income of workers and their affordabilityfor social housing. It is necessary to study a policy thatenables workers with stable jobs and incomes to access loans for home purchaseor rent at low-interest rates, Ha said. When it comes to launching any project, it is a must to clarifyresponsibilities of the State and private sector, and have criteria for projectsusing public, public-private and private capital, he said, adding that socialhousing projects should be added to land, construction and urban developmentplanning. In his view, social housing purchase and rent policies needto be flexible in order to encourage workers to stay longer with their firms./.