Modernizing the Fort de France University Hospital Center, sanitation on Reunion Island, social housing construction in French Polynesia and New Caledonia, AFD pledges over 67 million euros in Overseas France at its 12 November 2008 Overseas France Committee meeting.

AFD operates in France’s Overseas local authorities in its traditional capacity as a financial institution when financing requests are made by the relevant authorities. The guidelines for AFD’s general policy are defined in close cooperation with the French Secretariat for Overseas France which is one of the State representatives on AFD’s Overseas France Committee and Board of Directors. The following decisions were taken during the proceedings of the 12 November Overseas France Committee meeting:

Martinique: modernizing the Fort de France University Hospital Center

AFD approved the allocation of a 17 million euro loan to the Fort de France University Hospital Center (CHU) to partially finance its modernization program.

The Fort de France CHU is Martinique’s biggest hospital and at the local level meets the needs of 160 000 people. It does however attract populations from way beyond its theoretical catchment area.

The project, in line with the recommendations of the Regional Master Plan for Health Organization (SROS), will help improve the hospital’s healthcare supply by computerizing the CHU, modernizing buildings and medical, surgical and obstetrical equipment and by purchasing imaging and research material (PET-SCAN and cyclotron).

Reunion Island: sanitation in the Port and Possession municipalities

AFD approved the allocation of a 13.73 million euro loan to the SIAPP, the Port and Possession Intermunicipal Sanitation Authority, for the extension of its wastewater treatment plant.

The Port and Possession municipalities jointly set up the SIAPP in 1980 in order to build and operate a treatment plant for their wastewater. Works to extend the plant and improve standards compliance will increase treatment capacity from a per capita equivalent of 37 000 to 87 050. They will also improve environmental health for populations and reduce the impacts of discharge into the ocean.

French Polynesia: building and rehabilitating social housing

AFD approved the allocation of an 11.6 million euro loan to the Polynesian Housing Office (OPH) for the construction and rehabilitation of social housing.

OPH is a public territorial establishment created in 1979 with a mission to acquire land and build and manage social housing for modest-income families, mainly on the island of Tahiti.

The financing is for a construction program comprising ten operations for a total of 310 homes and a rehabilitation component for 128 homes. Three operations (82 homes) are located in rural areas and seven (228 homes) in urban areas. The program comprises 102 individual homes, 40 homes in strips or blocks, 153 in apartment buildings and 15 temporary homes. AFD’s financing will help improve housing conditions for Polynesian families with little or no resources.

New Caledonia: housing construction

AFD approved the allocation of a 25 million euro loan to SIC, the New Caledonia Real Estate Company, to finance the first operational phase of its business plan.

SIC has a 7 500 strong housing stock including 80% of social housing. It houses over 10% of New Caledonia’s population and over 20% of the population of Greater Noumea. From an economic point of view it is also a major player and an influential ordering client in New Caledonia.

SIC targets a delivery rate of 600 homes a year in order to meet local political expectations. It also aims to be an engine for sustainable development in New Caledonia by developing model housing from an environmental and social point of view. AFD’s financing will support the implementation of SIC’s project and will finance the main investments for the first operational phase. These activities will help improve living conditions for the population of New Caledonia and will help preserve the environment all over the territory.

Agence Française de Développement (AFD) is a public establishment with a mission of general interest: financing for development. It finances projects to reduce poverty, support economic growth and preserve the environment on the five continents and in France’s Overseas Local Authorities. These projects can be led by local public authorities, public companies, the private sector or associations. In 2007 Group commitments (AFD and Proparco its subsidiary specialized in financing and promoting the private sector) totaled 771.3 million euros in Overseas France (out of a total of 3.5 billion euros) and were allocated to its three intervention areas: support for public policies, SME financing and promoting sustainable development. www.afd.fr

Press relations - AFD

Laure Weisgerber, weisgerberl@afd.fr - Tél.: 01.53.44.30.57
Anne-Sophie Morizot (Hopscotch), asmorizot@hopscotch.fr – Tél. : 01.58.65.00.88