Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai and former State President Nguyen Minh Triet were among those who attended a groundbreaking ceremony for a massive social housing project in the southern province of Binh Duong on Feb. 24.

The 220-hectare project, to be undertaken by Becamex IDC Corporation, will spread over 37 sites in five locations — Thu Dau Mot, Thuan An Town, and Di An towns and Ben Cat and Tan Uyen Districts – and have 64,707 apartments.

It will provide total floor space of more than 2.7 million square metres.

Ground was broken for the first three sites on Feb. 24.

To cost 10.830 trillion VND (515.7 million USD), it will provide housing for more than 164,000 people including workers, people with low income, public servants, and other State beneficiaries.

Those eligible to buy include local urban residents, people whose lands have been acquired for public works, and those with jobs in Binh Duong but no houses.

The province is also encouraging local companies to buy apartments to provide accommodation for their workers.

On behalf of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Hai appreciated Binh Duong province's leaders for the effort to improve living conditions for workers and others with low incomes.

The houses will cost 3 million VND to 6 million VND a square metre, meaning a 30sq.m apartment could cost as little as 90 million VND (4,200 USD).

Le Thanh Cung, chairman of the Binh Duong People's Committee, said workers have contributed a great deal to the province's economic development, and the project will help attract more workers and investment.

Every year the province attracts 70,000 to 80,000 workers from outside, and demand for housing has shot up, he said./.