Nearly half of the 53,000 house lots allocated by government between 2020 and 2025 went to low-income families, Housing Minister Collin Croal said Thursday at the opening of the International Building Expo, reiterating the government's pledge to build more than 40,000 homes over the next five years.

Croal made the remarks at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence, where he said land title applications that previously took more than six months to process could now be completed in approximately three months following closer collaboration between the Ministry of Housing and Water, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) and the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority.

More than 2,000 certificates of title will be distributed during the four-day expo, which runs through Sunday under the theme "Guyana at 60: Building Strong Foundations for a Sustainable Future."

Croal said the ministry processed more than 25,000 titles over the past five years, with over 6,500 completed in the first six months of this year alone.

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water Vanessa Benn highlighted the CH&PA's Single Window System, now in its second year, which allows applicants and reviewing agencies to process building applications simultaneously, reducing delays.

The expo, officially opened by President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali in the presence of Jamaican Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, has grown significantly this year, adding more than 25 booths compared with last year and drawing increased participation from companies representing Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom and India.

The exposition showcases building materials, heavy equipment, smart home technology, renewable energy solutions and financial services, and runs through Sunday with nightly entertainment and seminars.