Douala will host the 4th edition of the housing forum dubbed, ‘Batimaide,’ next April.

Talk of affordable housing, talk also of living conditions of the urban population and poverty reduction. Such is government’s focus as the country gears towards becoming an emergent economy by 2035.

This again came into the spotlight during a ceremony to present the 4th National Exhibition of Building and Housing in Cameroon, dubbed ‘Batimaide,’ which kicks off in Cameroon’s largest port city, Douala, on April 14, 2015.

In his speech, the Regional Delegate of Housing and Urban Development, Aboubakar Ngalam, said the urbanisation rate in the country was an undeniable asset to the economy, but also constitutes a challenge.

The situation has resulted in the disorderly occupation of spaces without connection to basic services. Reason why he said the theme of the event, “Promote quality habitat at lower cost,” is in line with government’s efforts to improve the situation by providing decent, low-cost houses to most citizens; especially to the underprivileged and poor.

Batimaide, an avenue for sharing and creation of contacts between housing professionals, will feature workshops, lectures and exhibitions by national and foreign companies at the CPDM Party House in Bonanjo, according to Gaston Nemadeu, the organiser.

The urbanisation rate in Cameroon rose from 48.76 per cent in 2005 to 52.86 in 2010 and 55 per cent in 2015. This represented a population increase of 17,463,836 to 19,406,100 and 21,917,602, respectively. Average population growth rates in Douala and Yaounde now stand at 5 per cent and 6 per cent, and 2.4 per cent in 17 other towns with 50,000 and 200,000 inhabitants.