Amman: Jordan and the European Union co-chaired the 4th Meeting of the UfM Working Group on Affordable and Sustainable Housing, which was held from January 15-16 in Barcelona. During the two-day event, participants discussed several issues on social housing programs and industrial construction, implementation mechanisms, and their cost-related impact. They also reviewed the member states' experiences and assessed their policies.
According to Jordan News Agency, the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDC) stated that standards were set to promote policies and discuss challenges facing building renovation and housing production at reasonable prices. These challenges primarily include the high costs of building materials and a shortage of skilled labor. HUDC Director General, Jumana Attiyat, highlighted the importance of technical meetings to exchange expertise and praised the partnership in this field.
The event also focused on the Jordanian government's role in supporting housing, emphasizing the significance of the Economic Modernization Vision. HUDC's current initiatives and priorities aim to implement this vision, with particular steps to prepare studies for establishing low-cost housing units. The dialogue saw participation from Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt, Turkey, Italy, Montenegro, Hungary, Spain, and France.
On the event's sidelines, participants made a field visit to review the Spanish experience in industrial and social housing and its role in meeting the public's needs.