Malaysia to host Fiabci 66th World Real Estate Congress

PETALING JAYA (May 22): For the second time in a decade, Malaysia will host the Fiabci or International Real Estate Federation 66th World Real Estate Congress.

The three-day event that runs from May 29 to 31 will feature eminent speakers and host about 1,000 delegates from 48 countries meeting to discuss this year’s theme: “Urbanisation: Perils or Prosperity”.

Fiabci World president Robyn Waters (pictured, right) said there is much to learn from Malaysia, which is undergoing rapid real estate growth, with Kuala Lumpur as the most populous and fastest-growing metropolitan city in the country.

“Malaysia offers Fiabci World Congress attendees a unique opportunity to learn first-hand about urbanisation and dynamic real estate markets, and how they handle this growth,” said Waters, in a press statement.

“Fiabci is recognised as a non-governmental organisation for expert view on real estate by the United Nations,” said Fiabci Malaysia president Tengku Abdul Aziz Tengku Mahmud (pictured, below).

The annual world congress is a gathering of experts concerned about the future of real estate development.

According to the United Nations World Urbanisation report, more than half of the global population currently live in townships and this is projected to reach 70% by 2050.

“Hence, urbanisation is an important and crucial issue to be discussed,” said Tengku Abdul Aziz.

Among the speakers at the congress will be chairman of Springfield Corporation in Australia, Maha Sinnathamby, who will share insights into building sustainable cities Down Under; senior research fellow from the Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities at the Singapore University of Technology and Design, Belinda Yuen, who will speak on smart urban development; and former mayor of Taichung City in Taiwan, Jason Hu, who speak on Taichung’s transformation into a model sustainable city.

Apart from the public forums and conferences during the congress, there is also the Fiabci World Prix d’Excellence Awards Gala Night that will be held on May 30. The awards will be presented by the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir.

This article first appeared in The Edge Property pullout, on May 22, 2015. View the full pullout here.