Morocco set to face housing deficit, Minister

The annual demand for residential houses in Morocco property, estimated at about 30000 or 40000, which calls for the north African countries to focus efforts to correct this situation, Minister of Housing, Taoufik Hejira said.
Over 60% of the Moroccan population under the age of 30 years, which generates an annual demand of up to 40 000 new housing units, adding the activities of the existing shortfall in the area, Hejira told French daily, L'Echos.
He voiced that Morocco property is set to build 130000 houses to expand access to housing for low-income families. Entities housing will be built by 2012, and their price will not overtop 13000 euros," he said.
Flats, which will be built using earthquake resistant technology, will be from 50 to 60 square meters and will be devoted to households with monthly income less than 270 euros.
These projects, worth 1.5 billion the euro will contribute to the fight speculation, who recently rapid growth of prices and lower prices per square meter to 180 euros.
In 2005, the Government had set up a program of guaranteed loans, known as FOGARIM, in order to facilitate access to generic housing for families with low or irregular incomes, reminded the minister, adding that 33000 families so far benefited from this program.
About the program, aimed at eradicating slums, Hjira noted that 400000 slum dwellers were re-deployed so far, and ten cities have been declared "cities without slums".
The program was initiated in 2004 and aims at the eradication of some 1000 slums throughout the country.
In the same vein, the government is building new towns, in collaboration with French enterprises, the official said, referring to examples of Tamesna in the outskirts of Rabat, and Tamansourt, near Marrakesh. The six new towns in total should be created.