| SA, Iran sign agreement on housing |
South Africa /
Iran Housing
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By Edwin Tshivhidzo
- BuaNews , tel: (012) 314-2454
The South African Government and the Islamic Republic of Iran today signed a
Memorandum of Understanding to co-operate on housing development and
technology.
The agreement was signed at the conclusion of a four-day visit by an Iranian
delegation hosted by Housing Minister Lindiwe Sisulu.
Among other issues covered in the agreement, the Memorandum of Understanding
covers the exchange of expertise between the two countries to assist with
solving problems of increasing urbanisation and housing architectural
practices.
The two countries will explore possibilities for joint research in the
fields of physical planning at national and regional level, urban design and
Geographic Information Systems.
Both governments also committed themselves to building centres and
organisations for research in the two countries to exchange information and
expertise in housing development.
They also agreed to promote co-operation between companies in the building
and construction sector, particularly in mass construction of housing and
construction of low cost and appropriate prefabricated housing units.
This could include opportunities for investment, the facilitation of
specialized exhibitions or seminars on construction material and services,
exchange information to tender possibilities and the development of
networking opportunities between the private sectors in both countries.
Iran has similar housing challenges and these are exacerbated by that
country being prone to environmental hazards such as earthquakes.
Thus, the Iranians are interested in how to build physically secure human
settlements. To this end they will also be meeting the Centre for Scientific
and Industrial Research tomorrow to discuss technology options that can be
useful to them.
To ensure the smooth implementation of the agreement, a joint working group
for the general management of all projects undertaken in pursuant of the
Memorandum of Understanding was established and will interact regularly
reporting to both ministers in six-month intervals.
The Iranian delegation was led by the Minister of Housing and Urban
development, Ali Abdol-Ali-Zadeh accompanied by Deputy Minister of Housing
and Managing Director of the National Housing and Land Agency, Ferydon
Darvish Zadeh, Iranian Ambassador, Mohammadali Ghanezadeh and other senior
officials.
Read
more about Iran here.
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