Fiji’s construction industry injected $14.5 million into the local economy in the last quarter of 2008, a 20.5 growth over the previous quarter of $12 million, the Fiji Islands Bureau of Statistics’ building statistics report revealed.

The $14.5 million accounted for 112 completion certificates issued for the complete construction of private dwellings, commercial and residential buildings – out of the 261 building permits issued in the same quarter valued at $17.4 million.

Of the total value of building permits issued;

- 48.2 per cent were issued for private dwellings; new dwellings accounted for 80.1 per cent and 19.9 per cent for additional ones.
- 44.4 per cent were issued for other buildings, of which 77.3 per cent comprised permits for commercial buildings, 18.5 per cent for education, 6.5 per cent for factories, and 1.7 per cent for religious buildings;
- 12.7 per cent accounted for additional buildings in the other buildings category; and
- 12.8 per cent were issued for alterations and repairs to all types of buildings and miscellaneous work.

Of the total number of completion certificates permits issued, 167 (64.0 per cent) valued at $14.4 million were issued for the Central division; 85 (32.6 per cent) valued at $2.7 million were issued for the Western division; and 9 (3.4 per cent) with a value of $0.3 million were issued for the Northern and Eastern divisions.

For the completion certificates issued:

- 31.5 per cent was issued for private dwellings, of which 86.4 per cent were issued for new private dwellings and 13.6 per cent for additional ones;
- 61.6 per cent were issued for other buildings of which 67.2 per cent were issued for new buildings and 32.8 per cent for additions; and
- 6.9 per cent were issued for alterations and repairs to all types of buildings and miscellaneous work.

Of the 61.6 per cent value of completion certificates issued in the other buildings category, the Bureau said 48.5 per cent comprised value for commercial buildings; 40.8 per cent for factories; 4.7 per cent for hotels; 3.8 per cent for educational buildings; and 2.2 per cent for religious buildings.

The report showed that compared to the previous corresponding quarter, 148 completion certificates were issued and valued at $14.6 per cent – a decrease of 24.3 per cent in the number and 0.5 per cent decrease in the value.

For whole of 2008, 11.84 building permits were issued valued at $83.7 million; and 372 completion certificates were issued valued at $41.0 million.

17/04/2009