Two hundred contractors to build over 1,000 homes.

An agreement signed yesterday between the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) and the departments of Public Works and Housing will see over 200 emerging contractors gain access to finance, jobs and skills over the next two years.

As part of the programme, emerging contractors graduating from the ECDC's Integrated Emerging Contractors Development Model (IECDM) and public works emerging contractors Incubator programme have preference when tendering for the department of Housing infrastructure projects.

The Housing department has set aside 1 098 housing units for emerging contractors in the interim and a new directorate to empower emerging contractors has been established.

"Currently one of the major obstacles for emerging contractors is access to finance. This agreement allows contractors from the Public Work's programme to gain access to ECDC finance and mentorship.

"The Department of Housing now in turn has access to skilled and properly trained contractors. Our programmes are approved by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB)," says ECDC project manager Eugene Mfaka.

ECDC has 62 emerging contractors registered in its R5 million flagship programme this year while Public Works 180 contractors in its programme from all over the province.

Mfaka says the ECDC programme, done in conjuction with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), is the first of its kind in the country and the CIDB rates it as an industry best practice and now recommends it.

Public Works construction industry development programme manager Thembakazi George says the agreement is necessary to offset the challenges facing emerging contractors in the form of a lack of access to finance.

"This agreement will also allow our contractors to benefit from ECDC finance and its emerging contractors mentorship programme, creating a mutually beneficial relationship for all three parties concerned," says George.

George says there are currently about 7 000 contractors registered on the CIDB database in the Eastern Cape and many lack the required competencies.

Housing department capacity - building and municipal accreditation director Nomzi Koyana says the aim is to improve the quality of services and products offered by emerging contractors.

Koyana says they have 312 emerging contractors in their database and 17 are undergoing construction management training at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU).

Mfaka explains that the construction industry is a growth sector for the Eastern Cape and a major contributor to the provincial economy "hence the need for structured programmes to enhance the capacity of emerging contractors."

He says the agreement comes at a time when the construction industry will continue to benefit from World Cup preparations and government's infrastructure spending.

Two hundred contractors to build over 1,000 homes.

An agreement signed yesterday between the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) and the departments of Public Works and Housing will see over 200 emerging contractors gain access to finance, jobs and skills over the next two years.

As part of the programme, emerging contractors graduating from the ECDC's Integrated Emerging Contractors Development Model (IECDM) and public works emerging contractors Incubator programme have preference when tendering for the department of Housing infrastructure projects.

The Housing department has set aside 1 098 housing units for emerging contractors in the interim and a new directorate to empower emerging contractors has been established.

"Currently one of the major obstacles for emerging contractors is access to finance. This agreement allows contractors from the Public Work's programme to gain access to ECDC finance and mentorship.

"The Department of Housing now in turn has access to skilled and properly trained contractors. Our programmes are approved by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB)," says ECDC project manager Eugene Mfaka.

ECDC has 62 emerging contractors registered in its R5 million flagship programme this year while Public Works 180 contractors in its programme from all over the province.

Mfaka says the ECDC programme, done in conjuction with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), is the first of its kind in the country and the CIDB rates it as an industry best practice and now recommends it.

Public Works construction industry development programme manager Thembakazi George says the agreement is necessary to offset the challenges facing emerging contractors in the form of a lack of access to finance.

"This agreement will also allow our contractors to benefit from ECDC finance and its emerging contractors mentorship programme, creating a mutually beneficial relationship for all three parties concerned," says George.

George says there are currently about 7 000 contractors registered on the CIDB database in the Eastern Cape and many lack the required competencies.

Housing department capacity - building and municipal accreditation director Nomzi Koyana says the aim is to improve the quality of services and products offered by emerging contractors.

Koyana says they have 312 emerging contractors in their database and 17 are undergoing construction management training at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU).

Mfaka explains that the construction industry is a growth sector for the Eastern Cape and a major contributor to the provincial economy "hence the need for structured programmes to enhance the capacity of emerging contractors."

He says the agreement comes at a time when the construction industry will continue to benefit from World Cup preparations and government's infrastructure spending.