Introduction to the Program and Canadevi’s Role
Canadevi, a subsidiary of the Mexican Housing Institute (Infonavit), led by Octavio Romero, has initiated the process to hire private construction companies to execute its portion in the Housing for Well-being Program by President Claudia Sheinbaum. The aim is to build approximately 130,000 affordable housing units across 18 states, contributing to the federal government’s goal of constructing 1.1 million homes.
Canadevi’s Proposed Projects
Carlos Eduardo Ramírez Capo, Canadevi’s national president, mentioned that the proposed projects are awaiting authorization from Infonavit’s technical committees. He expressed enthusiasm about participating in the program, stating that they expect to not only meet but potentially exceed their target.
Collaboration Mechanism
In February of this year, the Senate Plenum approved a reform to the Infonavit Law, granting the organization the power to establish a subsidiary company responsible for building 600,000 homes throughout the six-year term. Although secondary laws and regulations for the subsidiary’s operation are still unknown, initial projects have started to emerge.
Ramírez explained that Infonavit has informed developers they can participate in the program to construct homes, either on their own reserved territories—which Infonavit will pay for—or donated by local governments.
Infonavit to Streamline Processes
Infonavit requires that constructed homes measure no more than 60 square meters (m2) of living space and have a price cap of 550,000 pesos if the land is donated or 600,000 pesos if it belongs to a private developer.
To achieve these prices, Infonavit, under Octavio Romero’s leadership, will provide institutional support to expedite permit and authorization processes, which have been a significant obstacle for developers.
Impact on the Housing Sector
By collaborating with the private sector, Infonavit aims to address Mexico’s housing backlog and stimulate the housing industry. Ramírez highlighted that this partnership will help overcome bureaucratic hurdles, enabling developers to complete the housing plan more efficiently.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the goal of Canadevi’s proposed projects? Canadevi aims to build around 130,000 affordable housing units across 18 states to contribute to the federal government’s target of constructing 1.1 million homes.
- What role does Infonavit play in this initiative? Infonavit will authorize the proposed projects, streamline permit processes, and set price and size limitations for the constructed homes.
- How will this collaboration impact the housing sector in Mexico? This partnership between Infonavit and private developers aims to address the housing backlog and stimulate growth in Mexico’s housing industry.
