In its search for affordable housing solutions, representatives from the island of Borneo, which includes the nations of Brunei, Malaysia, and Indonesia, arrived in China this week to discuss potential options.

According to Borneo Today, a delegation from the Ministry of Housing and Urbanization, and Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers’ Association (SHEDA) has been tasked with searching for housing solutions, and their trip will include visits to several housing-related government bodies in China, as well as factories and production sites of several companies specializing in affordable housing solutions.

“China has done a lot for their public housing sector and I hope we can adopt some of their knowledge from this trip. That is the purpose of this trip and I hope we can work together with them and learn from their experience,” said Urbanization Assistant Minister Datuk Talib Zulpilip.

For the representatives from SHEDA, they have a particular interest in what can be done with factory-built homes.

“We hope to learn from China the cost saving process and see the production of prefabricated modular building system in their factories. We hope to source for alternative affordable housing solutions that may enhance the variety of housing in Sarawak,” said SHEDA Kuching chairman Dr Christopher Ngui.

“This study visit may provide us with the opportunity to do so and if we can successfully incorporate the technology into our housing developments, there is little doubt in my mind that the affordable housing situation in Sarawak will improve on the whole.”

The delegation is scheduled to visit the Hong Kong Urban Renewal Authority (URA) to learn more about how the government agency has managed to revive dilapidated urban areas.

It also plans a visit to the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA), which operates citizen home ownership and private sector participation programs.

While in Mainland China, the delegation is scheduled to visit several factories and sites of prominent prefabricated housing system manufacturers, as well as a briefing on housing and city planning by the Qingdao Municipal Government.

The group also expects to sign a number of agreements with manufacturers during the visit.

For more on nations around the world exploring modular housing, including British insurance giant Legal & General making moves building and lending, click here. ##

(Image credits are as shown above.)

 

Submitted by RC Williams to the Daily Business News for MHProNews.