612 development applications worth $663.7 million has been recorded by the Ministry of Housing, Industry, Trade and Tourism for the first half of this year.
Minister Premila Kumar says 84 percent of the applications were for residential development, 12 percent was for commercial and industrial development while 4 percent was for tourism related projects.
Kumar says the highest number of applications were from the Western Division followed by the Central and Northern divisions.
She says some major developments were recorded in the second quarter which have not commenced but the projects were approved.
This includes the Tanoa Group Developments in Cuvu, Sigatoka and Votualevu in Nadi.
Kumar says the total number of building permits approved for 2018 was 1,725 and it was worth 370 million. 48 percent of these applications were from the Western Division, 37 percent were from the Central Division and 15 percent were from the Northern division.
She says in the first quarter of this year, completion certificates for residential dwellings accounted for 100 million dollars while commercial and industrial buildings accounted for 150 million dollars.
Kumar also says that there is a committee put in place where any business can put through applications if there is a shortage of a particular skill particularly for the construction industry.
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