Thai government pushes public-private partnership for housing scheme

By Chatrudee Theparat

The Thai government will let domestic and foreign investors collaborate with government agencies in developing housing projects through the public-private partnership (PPP) scheme for low-income earners and the lower-middle class under the Pracha Rat Home scheme.

Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak has authorised the state-owned GH Bank and the National Housing Authority (NHA) to design the housing development plan for low-income and lower-middle earners nationwide.

The two organisations are required to complete the plan within six months.

“Previously, I authorised GH Bank to join state agencies and private firms to build housing projects for low-income earners, but the initiative has yet to get off the ground,” said Mr Somkid.

“The government is very ambitious to help those low-income earners, lower-middle class people as well as state officials who have just started working, to have their own houses or empower them to at least rent the houses. So the public-private partnership scheme will be allowed in this ambitious plan.”