Eastern know-how

With circumstances looking increasingly unlikely that Law and Justice (PiS) will fulfill its election promise of building three million flats in eight years, the government is trying to seize any opportunity to enrich its experience on the subject of housing. Recently, the Ministry of Transport and Construction decided to invite Ukrainian housing and architecture specialists and let them share their know-how.

"Our meeting had a working character. We exchanged information on the subject of Ukrainian and Polish solutions in the the housing economy, spatial planning, new technologies, and the state's participation in the housing programs," boasts Secretary of State in the Ministry of Transport and Construction, Piotr Styczeń, about his meeting with the Minister of Architecture and Housing Economy in Ukraine, Pavlo Kachur.

Like Poland, Ukraine is busy working out programs and strategies that are to boost the residential sector. The special construction strategy prepared by Ukraine particularly aims at attracting and supporting investors. The Ukrainian side, however, is not much more confident than Poland about its plan, as Kachur admitted, it still needs perfecting.

"It needs agreement on many local issues, and this is where we are interested in Polish solutions," said Kachur.

The bilateral understanding was sealed with Kachur inviting Styczeń to the Ukraine-Poland Construction Forum that will take place in autumn. Both sides agreed they will continue their tight cooperation in the construction sector.

Housing is one of the major social and economic problems in Ukraine. The demand for flats in Kiev significantly exceeds the capacity of construction companies. In 2005 the price per one sqm of residential space increased by 30 percent in comparison to 2004.