The 5th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Greater Niseko) 2023 celebrate popularity of Japan’s alpine market

TOKYO, May 31, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Organisers of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards have opened the call for entries for Greater Niseko at an opportune time for the world-renowned Japanese holiday property market.

The 5th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Greater Niseko) is now open for entries until 15 September 2023

The 5th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Greater Niseko) are now accepting entries ahead of their presentation on Friday, 8 December 2023. The awards will be announced on an international stage at The Athenee Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bangkok in Thailand, where the best of the best in the region's real estate will gather to celebrate industry excellence. Submissions are accepted online via: https://asiapropertyawards.com/

The emergence of increasingly upscale communities and easy access for Asian tourists and second-home buyers continue to contribute to Niseko's ascent, according to research from Property Report by PropertyGuru, the official magazine of the Awards.

With significant infrastructure developments in the pipeline, including a bullet-train route from Tokyo and a new regional highway, as well as a bid to host the 2030 Winter Olympics, Greater Niseko is bound for greater prominence in the coming years. While foreign families and individual investors continue to be the primary property buyers in the area, Greater Niseko is seeing renewed interest from Japanese individual and corporate buyers, many of whom are increasingly drawn to the area's emerging enclaves.

Jules Kay, general manager of PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards and Events, said: "With its world-class hotels and hospitality projects, Greater Niseko continues to be a significant player in Asia's property landscape, capturing the attention of investors, as well as the judges for the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards. As cross-border travel resumes in Japan, we eagerly anticipate the rebound of tourism in Greater Niseko, and are pleased to recognise and award the development and design firms that are revitalising one of the world's premier ski resort destinations."

Key dates for the 2023 edition:
15 September 2023 – Entries Close
2-13 October 2023 – Site Inspections
18 October 2023 – Final Judging
8 December 2023 – Gala Event and Awards Ceremony in Bangkok, Thailand
8 December 2023 – Regional Grand Final Gala Presentation in Bangkok, Thailand

The public are encouraged to submit their nominations before the deadline of entries on 15 September 2023 here: https://asiapropertyawards.com/nominations

New chairperson elected

Experts in real estate consultancy, design, and other fields have been assembled to form a panel of judges who will participate in a fair, transparent process of selecting the award recipients. This year, Eddie Guillemette, CEO of Midori no Ki (MnK), will serve as the new chairperson of the independent panel of judges, succeeding Bill Barnett, founder and managing director of C9 Hotelworks, who will remain on the panel.

Eddie Guillemette said: "I'm delighted to announce the resumption of the search for outstanding developments, companies, and design practices in Greater Niseko through the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards, in collaboration with an esteemed panel of independent judges. With the revitalisation of Japan's tourism sector and its close association with the real estate industry, we hold a positive outlook for the Greater Niseko property market this year."

Bill Barnett said: "Niseko is Asia's leading alpine real estate market and on the cusp of even greater things with a pipeline of international hotel brands such as Six Senses and Capella adding traction to the branded residences sector. We are optimistic of a significant market uplift this year based on very strong fundamentals."

The nominees shortlisted by the judges will be able to showcase their companies and projects to a wide network of property seekers, real estate agents, banks and valuers, and enterprises served by PropertyGuru Group (NYSE: PGRU), Southeast Asia's leading property technology company.

Supervised by HLB, the global network of independent advisory and accounting firms, the awards programme makes full use of a professionally run judging system, with an established reputation for credibility and integrity.

Representation for Greater Niseko

Main winners of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Greater Niseko) will qualify to compete with the region's best at the 18th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final, which will also be held in Bangkok, Thailand on 8 December 2023.

Greater Niseko was represented last year at the 17th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final with Andaru Collection Niseko by Blue Waves Group winning both the Best Completed Housing/Landed Development (Asia) and Best Housing/Landed Interior Design (Asia) awards. Also representing Greater Niseko, HakuVillas by H2 Group won the Best Completed Condo Development (Asia) award.

Established in 2005, the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards continue to reward high-calibre work within the industry, encompassing property development, construction, architecture, interior design, and sustainable building practices. The series initially covered Southeast Asia and has expanded over the years to include the region's dynamic property markets, including Australia, China, and India.

Organised by PropertyGuru Group, the 5th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Greater Niseko) are supported by official magazine Property Report by PropertyGuru; media partner Powderlife; supporting association Niseko Tourism; and official supervisor HLB.

For more information, email awards@propertyguru.com or visit the official website: https://AsiaPropertyAwards.com.

ABOUT PROPERTYGURU ASIA PROPERTY AWARDS:

PropertyGuru's Asia Property Awards, established in 2005, are the region's most exclusive and prestigious real estate awards programme. The Asia Property Awards are recognised as the ultimate hallmark of excellence in the Asian property sector. Boasting an independent panel of industry experts and trusted supervisors, the Awards have an unparalleled reputation for being credible, ethical, fair and transparent.

In 2023, the Awards series is open to more than a dozen key property markets around the region. The exciting gala events welcome senior industry leaders and top media, as well as reach property agents and consumers via live streaming. Recognising excellence within each Asian market with a variety of categories, including green and sustainable development, each local awards programme will culminate in the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final, which takes place after the PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit during 'PropertyGuru Week' in December 2023.

For more information, please visit https://AsiaPropertyAwards.com

ABOUT PROPERTYGURU GROUP

PropertyGuru is Southeast Asia's leading(1) PropTech company, and the preferred destination for over 41 million property seekers(2) to connect with more than 63,000 agents(3) monthly to find their dream home. PropertyGuru empowers property seekers with more than 3.2 million real estate listings(4), in-depth insights, and solutions that enable them to make confident property decisions across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

PropertyGuru.com.sg was launched in Singapore in 2007 and since then PropertyGuru Group has made the property journey a transparent one for property seekers in Southeast Asia. In the last 15 years, PropertyGuru has grown into a high-growth PropTech company with a robust portfolio of leading property marketplaces across its core markets; award-winning mobile apps; mortgage marketplace, PropertyGuru Finance; and a host of enterprise solutions now under PropertyGuru For Business, including a high-quality developer sales enablement platform, FastKey, DataSense, ValueNet, Awards, events and publications across Asia.

For more information, please visit: https://PropertyGuruGroup.com; PropertyGuru Group on LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/company/propertyguru).

(1) Based on SimilarWeb data between July 2022 and December 2022.
(2) Based on Google Analytics data between July 2022 and December 2022.
(3) Based on data between July 2022 and December 2022.
(4) Based on SimilarWeb data between July 2022 and December 2022.

PropertyGuru Contacts:

General Enquiries:
Richard Allan Aquino, Head of Brand & Marketing Services
M: +66 92 954 4154
E: allan@propertyguru.com

Media & Partnerships:
Piyachanok Raungpaka, Media Relations & Marketing Services Executive
M: +66 94 887 5163
E: piyachanok@propertyguru.com

Sponsorships:
Kanittha Srithongsuk, Regional Manager, Awards Sponsorship
M: +66 93 293 9794
E: kanittha@propertyguru.com

Sales & Nominations:
Nyan Zaw Aung (Jordan), Solutions Manager
M: +66 964 575088
E: jordan@propertyguru.com

NOTE: Use of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards logo is limited to the publication of this article only.

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Hektar REIT’s Portfolio Maintains a Trend of Improvement

KUALA LUMPUR, May 25, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Hektar Asset Management Sdn. Bhd., the Manager of Hektar Real Estate Investment Trust (Hektar REIT), today announced that for the first quarter ended 31 March 2023 (1Q 2023), Hektar REIT registered revenue of RM28.9 million and the Net Property Income (NPI) for the quarter under review stood at RM15.2 million at the back of higher utilities cost driven by the electricity tariff hike due to the adjustments of the Imbalance Cost Pass-Through (ICPT) mechanism, and the increase in minimum wages. Realised Net Income for 1Q 2023 stood at RM9.2 million due to higher finance cost in line with the increase of Overnight Policy Rates (OPR) implemented by Bank Negara Malaysia.

En. Johari Shukri Bin Jamil, Chief Executive Officer of Hektar Asset Management Sdn Bhd

Hektar REIT recorded a robust NPI Margin of 52%, indicating a healthy financial performance throughout the Assets Under Management (AUM). The Gearing Ratio was improved to 44.3% due to prudent financial management.

Hektar REIT's portfolio performance showed considerable improvement and the portfolio occupancy improved to 83.8%. Mahkota Parade & Wetex Parade occupancy rates improved tremendously, recording more than 90% and Kulim Central recorded close to 96%. The Management is also pleased to report a positive rental reversion for this quarter with 78 new or renewed tenancies consisting of 14.0% of the total Net Lettable Area (NLA), equivalent to 287,298 sq. ft. Despite the challenging retail environment, Management remains aggressive in boosting occupancies by focusing on retaining key tenants, reviewing its current mall strategies and working with innovative and creative retailers who are expected to bring the desired impact to the mall.

All malls under the portfolio experienced an uptrend in visitor traffic, showing positive signs of a return in shoppers' confidence at Hektar malls. Overall visitor footfall count for 1Q 2023 increased to 5.6 million, a massive jump of 33% compared to the same quarter in the preceding year. The Management is constantly working on intensifying marketing events & activities and Corporate Social Responsibility related events to serve the communities in the areas where our shopping centres operate.

En. Johari Shukri bin Jamil, Chief Executive Officer of Hektar Asset Management Sdn. Bhd. said: "Retail activities remained strong in this quarter on the back of festivities. Hektar REIT's malls are well-positioned as neighbourhood & community malls. This is where our focus and niche are, hence; we continuously aim at improving the overall tenancy mix & occupancies at the malls. For this year, we are planning for Subang Parade's Repositioning exercise. We believe that remixing of tenancies by bringing in new tenants will complement the existing offerings and will also be able to match the expectations of our loyal patrons. Our focus is on initiatives that will benefit our malls and retailers in the long run through implementing focused strategies that will bring improvements in visitor footfall and encourage higher customer spending, resulting in a continuous positive upward cycle and sustainable returns to our Unitholders. We will continue to sweat our AUM to enhance revenue and NPI. Our committed overall portfolio occupancy is currently 85.4% and will be realised in the subsequent quarters this year. We are in the midst of discussions with prominent & notable tenants to further improve our overall occupancy & tenancy mix."

Hektar REIT: http://www.hektarreit.com/

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Tokenising Tomorrow: CitaDAO Successfully Completes Real Estate Tokenisation, Shaping the Future of Real Estate Ecosystem

SINGAPORE, May 19, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – In a notable step forward, CitaDAO is delighted to share the successful completion of its third Introducing Real Estate On-Chain (IRO) project. This achievement, the tokenisation of a prime industrial property in Singapore's bustling Midview City, exemplifies the company's commitment to broadening access to one of the world's top real estate markets. CitaDAO is proud to be part of the journey towards a new wave of real estate innovation, creating a bridge between traditional and decentralised finance.

CitaDAO IRO Success: 18 Sin Ming Lane, Singapore
Introducing Real Estate On-chain (IRO) – 18 Sin Ming Lane, Singapore

Following the successful IRO, a legal transaction will occur before the Real Estate Tokens can be minted and made available for claiming. For the IRO participants, do follow our Twitter or Discord for the updates.

Key IRO Recap
– Address: 18 Sin Ming Lane, Midview City, Singapore
– IRO Value: US$635,000
– IRO Date: April 18, 2023, to May 16, 2023

Solving liquidity challenges

At CitaDAO, one of our core missions has always been to address the liquidity challenge that has long been a plague in the real estate industry. Our previous IRO, 20SML0253SG, has been a testament to our success in achieving this mission. Through the tokenisation of a prime industrial property in Singapore, one of the most vibrant real estate markets in the world, we've demonstrated the immense value that can be unlocked when real estate is tokenised. Not only did we create a more valuable asset by democratising access to this premium property, but we also ensured constant liquidity in the market by leveraging the concentrated liquidity pool of Uniswap v3. This was evidenced by the $290,000 (46% of the real estate value) in Total Value Locked in the 20SML0253SG RET, making secondary transactions more convenient for all token holders – proving that our vision for making a liquid real estate market a tangible reality was successfully accomplished.

In offering a vibrant secondary market for the RET, CitaDAO creates an opportunity for RET holders to boost their returns by assuming the role of market makers. By adding liquidity to the pool, they can earn liquidity provider rewards passively, a benefit that mirrors the traditional real estate investments.

A Catalyst for DeFi Expansion

The successful tokenisation efforts by CitaDAO have laid the groundwork for a significant growth catalyst for the DeFi sector. By unlocking new capital streams from yield-producing assets, the platform invites new users and capital into the DeFi space, consequently generating innovative opportunities and applications.

Conclusion

CitaDAO firmly believes that tokenising real-world assets is a critical driver for the mainstream adoption of DeFi. If you're intrigued by the process, we invite you to experience the future of real estate through CitaDAO's innovative IRO process and look forward to our next IRO – 15 West Halkin Street.

Contact Information:
Alex C
Marketing Manager
press@citadao.io

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Up to 10.5% increase in GDP possible in some countries with housing improvements in informal settlements, new Habitat for Humanity and IIED report finds

MANILA, Philippines, May 16, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Improving housing at a large scale in slums and other informal settlements can have substantial economic and human development gains, according to a first-of-its kind report released by Habitat for Humanity and its research partner, the International Institute for Environment and Development, or IIED. The report supports the launch of Habitat for Humanity’s five-year campaign, Home Equals, seeking policy changes at the local, national and global levels to increase equitable access to adequate housing in informal settlements.

DHAKA, BANGLADESH – A rainstorm drenches the community in the Duaripara informal settlement in Dhaka as a resident weaves through its alleys. Beginning in July, Dhaka endures three months of rain. Drainage is poor in informal settlements and many homes are not sealed from weather so when it rains water penetrates into the homes. Photo credit: Habitat for Humanity International/ Raymond McCrea Jonesption

DHAKA, BANGLADESH – Beguntila informal settlement in Dhaka. The Beguntila slum began around 1999 and has about 700 homes currently. Photo credit: Habitat for Humanity International/ Raymond McCrea JonesCaption

“The Asia-Pacific region is home to the largest concentration of people experiencing urban poverty, with one third of urban dwellers living in informal settlements or slum-like conditions. The number will only grow bigger and the need for adequate housing more urgent as urbanization continues, driven by internal rural-to-urban migration—particularly of people from poorer backgrounds seeking economic opportunities in cities,” said Luis Noda, vice-president for Asia-Pacific, Habitat for Humanity International.

The report found that gross domestic product and income per capita could increase by as much as 10.5% in some countries. The resulting increase in living standards among residents of informal settlements, taken as a whole, is likely to exceed the cost of improving informal settlements in many countries.

Other startling findings include:

An increase of up to 4% in life expectancy in some countries around the world, adding an average of 2.4 years of life
More than 730,000 preventable deaths could be avoided annually—more than could be saved by eradicating malaria globally
An increase of as much as 28% in the expected years of schooling in some countries

The report used a unique modeling methodology, which combines a review of more than 130 articles and reports with 72 indicators across 102 low- and middle-income countries. The model could not generate projections for specific countries on their own, so the researchers grouped countries into four typologies. Assuming the impacts in a country reflect those of the country type it is most similar to, improving housing in informal settlements in some Asia-Pacific countries could result in:

An increase in GDP of up to 7.25% in countries such as Bangladesh, by as much as 3.3% in countries such as Fiji, and up to 10.5% in countries such as Myanmar
An increase in life expectancy rate of up to 1.7% in countries such as Cambodia and Nepal, and as much as 1.2% in countries such as Thailand
Up to a one-year increase in the mean years of schooling for countries such as India and Indonesia, and 1.35 years in countries such as the Philippines

At the global level, Habitat for Humanity is calling on G7 member states — set to meet this weekend in Hiroshima, Japan — to recognize housing as a critical lever for development progress and commit to addressing housing needs in informal settlements as a way to advance international development priorities in areas such as economic growth, health and education.

Noda added, “The report provides empirical evidence that adequate housing is a powerful catalyst for well-being and sustainability. It makes clear that we must invest intentionally to ensure that residents of informal settlements have access to adequate housing. As Habitat for Humanity launches the Home Equals campaign, we are eager to work hand-in-hand with residents of informal settlements, civil society organizations, local and national governments, and other stakeholders to improve, through policy change, the lives of 15 million people living in informal settlements.”

More than half of Habitat’s network, including 11 entities based in the Asia-Pacific, are working actively on the campaign. Habitat Australia will advocate with the government to adopt policies aimed at addressing the lack of adequate housing for informal settlement dwellers across the region. In Nepal, Habitat will work to integrate policies and guidelines so residents of informal settlements can equitably access land rights through an information campaign, dialogue between the local government and families and the establishment of a land support service center. Habitat Indonesia will help local governments identify funding resources to implement rehabilitation programs for inhabitable housing, to build new houses and explore funding mechanisms between governments and NGOs for housing programming. In Vietnam, Habitat will work with local partners to implement sustainable policy solutions that will enable Vietnamese returnees from Cambodia to have a secure home.

About Habitat for Humanity

Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity found its earliest inspirations as a grassroots movement on an interracial community farm in U.S.A. Since its founding in 1976, the housing organization has grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in more than 70 countries. In the Asia-Pacific region since 1983, Habitat for Humanity has supported millions of people to build or improve a place they can call home. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit habitat.org/asiapacific.

For further information, please contact Ms. Michele Soh, MSoh@habitat.org, +65 9233 1544. Photos, with captions and photographer credits, are available in this folder. The Home Equals campaign video is available to download or to watch on Habitat’s YouTube channel. Video b-roll is available upon request.

The 13th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore) programme begins call for entries in resilient market

BUYERS MAINTAIN A POSITIVE VIEW OF THE MARKET’S LONG-TERM OUTLOOK

SINGAPORE, May 8, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – The PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore) programme is now open for entries for its 13th edition in 2023.

Organisers of the 13th annual PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore) now challenge the country’s leading and emerging development companies and design practices to compete for recognitions that showcase and provide an international platform for their exemplary, outstanding achievements.

Entry submissions are accepted online until 1 September 2023 via: asiapropertyawards.com/

The Singapore property market is off to a promising albeit slower start in 2023. The housing market remains resilient despite uncertain geopolitical and macroeconomic conditions, rising inflation, and increasing interest rates, according to the PropertyGuru Singapore Property Market Report Q1 2023.

Defying economic downside pressures, property prices climbed in 2022, partly due to tight supply, amid declining sales volumes across all property types. Despite the increased cost of acquiring homes, many buyers maintain a positive view of the market’s long-term outlook.

Jules Kay, general manager of PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards and Events, said: “Singapore developers continue to lead the way with designs and concepts that are not only deserving of international recognition, but also set a high standard for Southeast Asia. We are confident that this year’s entries will be just as exemplary, displaying Singaporean prowess in creating sustainable built environments and aspirational developments where people can live, work, and thrive.”

Kristin Thorsteins, chairperson of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore) and head of partnership growth for APAC at IWG PLC (Singapore), said: “In recent years, Singapore developers have demonstrated remarkable resilience and flexibility, responding to changes by creating more sustainable spaces and integrating nature into their projects. As we look ahead, we anticipate witnessing further benchmark-setting innovations among our entries this year, as Singapore continues to adapt to post-pandemic societal changes and prepares to face any challenge with unwavering determination and vigour.

“With a robust infrastructure ecosystem and a commitment to green-building technologies, Singapore is at the forefront of sustainable development, leading the way in reducing energy and water consumption, as well as carbon emissions. We are confident that Singapore’s developers will continue to drive innovation in the real estate industry, creating spaces that are not only resilient, but also sustainable and in harmony with nature.”

The black-tie gala dinner and presentation ceremony of the 13th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore) will take place at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore ballroom on Friday, 27 October 2023.

Key dates for the 2023 edition:
1 September 2023 – Entries Close
11-29 September – Site Inspections
3 October 2023 – Final Judging
27 October 2023 – Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony in Singapore
8 December 2023 – Regional Grand Final Gala Presentation in Bangkok, Thailand

The public are encouraged to submit their nominations before the deadline of entries on 1 September 2023 here: asiapropertyawards.com/nominations

Led by Thorsteins, an independent panel of judges, comprising experts in diverse fields such as real estate consultancy, architecture and interior design, and sustainable development, will participate in a rigorous process selecting the award recipients.

The resulting shortlist of nominees will be able to showcase their companies and projects to a wide network of property seekers, real estate agents, banks and valuers, and other enterprises served by PropertyGuru Group (NYSE: PGRU), Southeast Asia’s leading property technology company.

Supervised by HLB, the global network of independent advisory and accounting firms, the awards programme makes full use of a professionally run and fully transparent judging system, with an established reputation for fairness, credibility, and integrity.

Excellent Asian companies

Main winners from the 2023 edition of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore) will qualify to compete with other excellent companies across the region for the ‘Best in Asia’ honours at the 18th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final in Bangkok, Thailand on 8 December 2023.

Singapore companies scored several regional wins at the 17th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final 2022. GuocoLand was named Best Luxury Developer (Asia) and Best Sustainable Developer (Asia) while UOL Group Limited was named Best Hospitality Developer (Asia).

UOL Group Limited also won Best Hotel Development (Asia) for Pan Pacific Orchard. Park Nova by Shun Tak Holdings gained the Best Condo Architectural Design (Asia) title while Artyzen Singapore by Artyzen Hospitality Group won Best Hospitality Interior Design (Asia).

Established in 2005, the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards continue to reward high-calibre work within the industry, encompassing property development, construction, architecture, interior design, and sustainable building practices. The series initially covered Southeast Asia and has expanded over the years to include the region’s dynamic property markets, including Australia, China, Greater Niseko in Japan, and India.

The 13th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore) are supported by official portal partner PropertyGuru.com.sg; official magazine Property Report by PropertyGuru; media partner d+a Magazine; and official supervisor HLB.

For more information, email awards@propertyguru.com or visit the official website: AsiaPropertyAwards.com.

ABOUT PROPERTYGURU ASIA PROPERTY AWARDS:

PropertyGuru’s Asia Property Awards, established in 2005, are the region’s most exclusive and prestigious real estate awards programme. The Asia Property Awards are recognised as the ultimate hallmark of excellence in the Asian property sector. Boasting an independent panel of industry experts and trusted supervisors, the Awards have an unparalleled reputation for being credible, ethical, fair and transparent.

In 2023, the Awards series is open to more than a dozen key property markets around the region. The exciting gala events welcome senior industry leaders and top media, as well as reach property agents and consumers via live streaming. Recognising excellence within each Asian market with a variety of categories, including green and sustainable development, each local awards programme will culminate in the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final, which takes place after the PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit during ‘PropertyGuru Week’ in December 2023.

For more information, please visit AsiaPropertyAwards.com

ABOUT PROPERTYGURU GROUP:

PropertyGuru is Southeast Asia’s leading¹ PropTech company, and the preferred destination for over 41 million property seekers² to connect with more than 63,000 agents³ monthly to find their dream home. PropertyGuru empowers property seekers with more than 3.2 million real estate listings⁴, in-depth insights, and solutions that enable them to make confident property decisions across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

PropertyGuru.com.sg was launched in Singapore in 2007 and since then PropertyGuru Group has made the property journey a transparent one for property seekers in Southeast Asia. In the last 15 years, PropertyGuru has grown into a high-growth PropTech company with a robust portfolio of leading property marketplaces across its core markets; award-winning mobile apps; mortgage marketplace, PropertyGuru Finance; and a host of enterprise solutions now under PropertyGuru For Business, including a high-quality developer sales enablement platform, FastKey, DataSense, ValueNet, Awards, events and publications across Asia.  

For more information, please visit: PropertyGuruGroup.com; PropertyGuru Group on LinkedIn.

¹Based on SimilarWeb data between July 2022 and December 2022
²Based on Google Analytics data between July 2022 and December 2022
³Based on data between July 2022 and December 2022
⁴Based on SimilarWeb data between July 2022 and December 2022

PROPERTYGURU CONTACTS:

General Enquiries:
Richard Allan Aquino, Head of Brand & Marketing Services
M: +66 92 954 4154
E: allan@propertyguru.com

Media & Partnerships:
Nate Dacua, Media Relations & Marketing Services Manager
M: +66 92 701 2510
E: nate@propertyguru.com

Sponsorships:
Kanittha Srithongsuk, Regional Manager, Awards Sponsorship
M: +66 93 293 9794
E: kanittha@propertyguru.com

Sales & Nominations:
Alicia Loh, Awards Manager (Singapore)
M: +65 8382 0078
E: alicia@propertyguru.com.sg

NOTE: Use of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards logo is limited to the publication of this article only.

10th PropertyGuru Asia Awards Malaysia in partnership with iProperty marks a decade of excellence amid economic expansion

THE SEARCH FOR MALAYSIAN REAL ESTATE ACHIEVERS BEGINS ANEW

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, May 2, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Malaysia’s leading property portals have jointly launched the 10th Annual PropertyGuru Asia Awards Malaysia in partnership with iProperty—inviting the country’s finest property developers to receive and vie for sought-after hallmarks of excellence in real estate.

**The 10th PropertyGuru Asia Awards Malaysia in partnership with iProperty is now accepting submissions until 30 June 2023.**

Bringing two of the nation’s most respected awards programmes to set a new single benchmark for excellence in Malaysian real estate, the landmark 10th edition of the PropertyGuru Asia Awards Malaysia in partnership with iProperty is now accepting submissions until 30 June 2023 via: asiapropertyawards.com/nominations

Now in its 10th year of celebrating achievements in property development and design, the search for Malaysia’s finest real estate begins anew at an auspicious time as Malaysia’s economy shows impressive growth. The Malaysian economy expanded by 8.7% YoY in 2022—the highest annual growth recorded since the year 2000 (8.9% YoY). The economy is expected to expand by 4.0% to 5.0 % in 2023, supported by firm domestic demand and ongoing improvements in the labour market.

Although demand for homes is likely to be tempered in the first half of 2023 due to rising interest rates, the second half of the year is shaping up to be more promising as the Chinese economy opens, according to the PropertyGuru Malaysia Property Market Report Q1 2023. The relaxation of Covid-19 measures in China is set to boost the economy in the second half of the year through an increase in tourist arrivals and reduced supply chain disruptions.

Jules Kay, general manager of PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards and Events, said: “We are thrilled to celebrate the landmark 10th edition of the PropertyGuru Asia Awards Malaysia in partnership with iProperty. Built on two strong brands and guided by Malaysia’s most trusted property advisors, our awards programme leverages our combined expertise and network to further raise the benchmark of property development and design in the country. The Awards also serve as a quality benchmark for buyers looking to invest in Malaysia’s finest real estate.”

The black-tie gala celebration is scheduled to take place at The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur, the official venue of the Awards, on Friday, 24 November 2023.

Key dates for the 2023 edition:
30 June 2023 – Entries Close
24-26 July 2023 – Live Judging Days
17-30 July 2023 – People’s Choice Awards voting period
24 November 2023 – Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
8 December 2023 – Regional Grand Final Gala Presentation in Bangkok, Thailand

The public are also encouraged to submit their nominations before the deadline of entries on 30 June 2023 here: asiapropertyawards.com/nominations

In addition, the People’s Choice Awards will allow consumers and residents in Malaysia to vote for their preferred and most trusted developers, honouring 10 companies that deliver the Best in Trust, Quality, and Value for Money.

Respected leaders, experts

A distinguished panel of judges, comprising 18 respected leaders and experts in real estate consultancy, architecture, interior design, finance, legal, and related fields, will discuss and deliberate over entries during the Live Judging Days in late July 2023.

Datuk Ar. Ezumi Harzani Ismail, president of the Malaysian Institute of Architects: 2020-2022, has been elected chairperson of the independent panel of judges in 2023. He succeeds Dato’ Sr Lau Wai Seang, president of the Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (RISM): 2017-2018, who remains on the panel, to the chairpersonship.

Datuk Ar. Ezumi Harzani Ismail said: “I am so pleased to lead the independent panel of judges of the Awards in Malaysia as the programme recognises the finest real estate in the country for the 10th year running. Along with the independent panel of judges, I join Malaysia’s consumers in helping reward the achievements of the real estate sector and moving the recovering economy towards progress and prosperity. With this year’s entrants and competitors, we will raise the bar of design and development together in Malaysia.”

HLB, the official supervisor of Awards, will oversee the judging and make sure the process is fair, transparent, and credible. John Ler and Kelvin Chew, international contact partner and managing partner for HLB Ler Lum Chew – HLB Malaysia, respectively, will lead the third-party team of supervisors.

Qualifying as the Best in Asia

Main winners from the PropertyGuru Asia Awards Malaysia in partnership with iProperty will qualify to compete for regional accolades at the 18th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final in Bangkok, Thailand on 8 December.

Malaysia’s finest real estate won several ‘Best in Asia’ honours at the 17th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final 2022. KL Wellness City by KL Wellness City Sdn Bhd was named Best Mixed Use Development (Asia) while Infinity8 Reserve JBCC by Infinity Group won Best Co-Working Space (Asia).

Organised by PropertyGuru Group (NYSE: PGRU), Southeast Asia’s leading property technology company, the 10th PropertyGuru Asia Awards Malaysia in partnership with iProperty are supported by official portal partners PropertyGuru.com.my and iProperty.com.my; official venue The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur; official magazine Property Report by PropertyGuru; and official supervisor HLB.

For more information, email awards@propertyguru.com or visit the official website: AsiaPropertyAwards.com.

ABOUT PROPERTYGURU ASIA PROPERTY AWARDS

For more information, please visit AsiaPropertyAwards.com

ABOUT PROPERTYGURU GROUP

PropertyGuru is Southeast Asia’s leading¹ PropTech company, and the preferred destination for over 41 million property seekers²to connect with more than 63,000 agents³ monthly to find their dream home. PropertyGuru empowers property seekers with more than 3.2 million real estate listings⁴, in-depth insights, and solutions that enable them to make confident property decisions across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

For more information, please visit: PropertyGuruGroup.com;  PropertyGuru Group on LinkedIn.

¹Based on SimilarWeb data between July 2022 and December 2022
² Based on Google Analytics data between July 2022 and December 2022
³ Based on data between July 2022 and December 2022
⁴Based on SimilarWeb data between July 2022 and December 2022

PROPERTYGURU CONTACTS:

General Enquiries:
Richard Allan Aquino, Head of Brand & Marketing Services
M: +66 92 954 4154
E: allan@propertyguru.com

Media & Partnerships:
Nate Dacua, Media Relations & Marketing Services Manager
M: +66 92 701 2510
E: nate@propertyguru.com

Sponsorships:
Kanittha Srithongsuk, Regional Manager, Awards Sponsorship
M: +66 93 293 9794
E: kanittha@propertyguru.com

Sales & Nominations:
Samuel Poon, Asst. Manager (Malaysia & China) – Awards
M: +60 16 411 4361
E: samuel@propertyguru.com

NOTE: Use of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards logo is limited to the publication of this article only.

Thousands of supporters join Habitat for Humanity’s 2023 youth campaign for decent, affordable homes in Asia-Pacific

MANILA, May 2, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – "This is fun! It's something new and challenging," said Kimberly, a Filipino test product engineer who spent a day painting houses in Laguna, the Philippines. She is among the thousands of young leaders who joined the 2023 Habitat for Humanity Young Leaders Build, which will culminate tomorrow in a series of virtual and physical events in at least eight countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Organized annually since 2012, the campaign brings together youth from across the region to support people and families in need of decent housing. This year, campaign participants are back volunteering in full force after a three-year hiatus on physical volunteering activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The effects of the global pandemic and disruptions of supply chains showed us the vulnerabilities that many young people face, including diminished economic prospects that could put them at risk of long-term inability to own an affordable home. Yet, we at Habitat for Humanity have also seen firsthand through the Young Leaders Build campaign that the youth can be part of the solution by being aware of the urgent need and ready to take action for decent, affordable housing in their communities. We are incredibly grateful that young volunteers and participants have stepped up to raise awareness, mobilize their own networks, and raise funds and other resources in support of our vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live," said Luis Noda, Vice-President for Asia-Pacific, Habitat for Humanity International.

During the campaign culmination, more than 600 volunteers are expected to help repair and paint houses, build new homes and community facilities, and organize virtual and physical forums on housing market systems and volunteerism as well as leadership and sustainable communities, among others. Supporters will also raise their voices on social media by posting their photos with the campaign's flag and sharing their volunteering experience.

Since launching in December during International Volunteers' Day, the campaign has mobilized at least 500 volunteers from Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, Philippines, and Vietnam. To date, they have helped raise over US$25,000 to help families build or repair the places they call home.

About Habitat for Humanity

Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity found its earliest inspirations as a grassroots movement on an interracial community farm in U.S.A. Since its founding in 1976, the housing organization has grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in more than 70 countries. In the Asia-Pacific region since 1983, Habitat for Humanity has supported millions of people to build or improve a place they can call home. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit habitat.org/asiapacific.

For further information, please contact:
Ms. Angeli Alba-Pascual, AAlba@habitat.org, +63 920 956 3376, or Ms. Michele Soh, MSoh@habitat.org, +65 9233 1544.

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

The 6th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Australia) will showcase the country’s finest to domestic, international property seekers

AN EXCLUSIVE GALA DINNER AND PRESENTATION CEREMONY WILL BE HOSTED IN MELBOURNE FOR THE 2023 EDITION

SYDNEY, AU, Apr 28, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – The PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Australia) programme officially opened its sixth edition in 2023 as overseas property seekers return to the renowned investment destination.

CaptFrom L-R: Josh Chye, Partner, Tax Consulting, HLB Mann Judd, the awards official supervisor;
Lui Violanti, Chairperson of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Australia) and regional manager
for Western Australia at Inhabit Group; Jules Kay, General Manager of PropertyGuru Asia Property
Awards and Events; and Sally Picot, Group General Manager of Sales, Scape Australiaion

Australia’s finest developers and design practices may submit their entries to the 6th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Australia), which will be presented for the first time ever in Australia during a black-tie gala dinner and ceremony in Melbourne in October.

Entry submissions are accepted online until 4 August 2023 via: asiapropertyawards.com

The launch of the Awards in Australia comes as residential real estate in the country strengthens its reputation as a long-term, stable-growth asset class for end use and investment. Australia during the pandemic emerged as a safe haven where residential property prices have since continued to grow, according to research by Property Report by PropertyGuru, the official magazine of the Awards. This has emboldened Asian buyers to look for second homes in the popular international education destination following eased border restrictions.

Jules Kay, general manager of PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards and Events, said: “The Awards in Australia have grown to be much more comprehensive in the post-pandemic era, expanding to cover more states and a wider range of developers. This reflects the needs of an increasingly diverse pool of domestic and international property seekers, including upgraders, seniors, international students and foreign investors. This year, we plan to celebrate the diversity and success of the Australian market in new, even more exciting ways.”

Lui Violanti, chairperson of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Australia) and regional manager for Western Australia at Inhabit Group, said: “With great excitement and pride, we open the 2023 edition of the Awards in Australia to worthy entries from all over the country. We challenge Australia’s finest developers and design practices to showcase their latest and greatest achievements to the rest of Asia Pacific as property seekers across the region eagerly search once more for the country’s best homes, aged-care environments, student accommodations, commercial spaces, mixed-use sites, and investment assets. The sixth edition of the Awards in Australia are truly something to look forward to this year.”

In a milestone occasion, the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Australia) will be celebrated for the first time within the country at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne ballroom on Friday, 13 October.

Key dates for the 2023 edition:
4 August 2023 – Entries Close
28 August – 15 September 2023 – Site Inspections
19 September 2023 – Final Judging
13 October 2023 – Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony in Melbourne, Australia
8 December 2023 – Regional Grand Final Gala Presentation in Bangkok, Thailand

The public are also encouraged to submit their nominations before the deadline of entries on 4 August 2023 here: asiapropertyawards.com/nominations

Jules Kay, General Manager of PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards and Events

Connecting with international property seekers

Jules Kay and Lui Violanti led the ‘Connect with Southeast Asia’ event at Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour that officially launched the 2023 edition of PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Australia).

Sally Picot, group general manager of sales at Scape Australia, winner of the Best Student Accommodation Development award at the 5th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Australia) 2022, attended the launch in Sydney. Also in attendance was Josh Chye, partner and head of tax at HLB Mann Judd, representing HLB, the official supervisor of the Awards.

HLB, the global network of independent advisory and accounting firms, is responsible for upholding the fairness, credibility, and integrity of the selection process. As the official supervisor of the Awards, HLB makes full use of a professionally run, fully transparent judging system.

The selection process, which includes rigorous site inspections and deliberations, involves an independent panel of judges. Led by Lui Violanti, the judging panel is composed of experts in a wide array of fields from architecture and design to real estate consultancy.

Top award recipients from Australia will be eligible to compete with their peers across the Asia-Pacific region at the 18th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final 2023 on 8 December in Bangkok, Thailand. Last year, Spacious Group won the Best Boutique Developer (Asia) title at the 17th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final. Paradiso Place by SPG Land clinched both the Best Smart Building Development (Asia) and Best Integrated Work From Home Development (Asia) awards while Zero Gipps by Dare Property Group and The Archwood Residences by Mayrin Group won the Best Eco Friendly Commercial Development (Asia) and Best Housing/Landed Architectural Design (Asia) awards, respectively.

Organised by PropertyGuru Group (NYSE: PGRU), Southeast Asia’s leading property technology company, the 6th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Australia) are supported by official magazine Property Report by PropertyGuru; official publicity partner Good Talent Media; media partners Australian Property Journal, The Property Tribune, and Your Investment Property Magazine; and official supervisor HLB.

For more information, email awards@propertyguru.com or visit the official website: AsiaPropertyAwards.com.

ABOUT PROPERTYGURU ASIA PROPERTY AWARDS

PropertyGuru’s Asia Property Awards, established in 2005, are the region’s most exclusive and prestigious real estate awards programme. The Asia Property Awards are recognised as the ultimate hallmark of excellence in the Asian property sector. Boasting an independent panel of industry experts and trusted supervisors, the Awards have an unparalleled reputation for being credible, ethical, fair and transparent.

For more information, please visit AsiaPropertyAwards.com

PROPERTYGURU CONTACTS:

General Enquiries:
Richard Allan Aquino, Head of Brand & Marketing Services
M: +66 92 954 4154
E: allan@propertyguru.com

Media & Partnerships:
Nate Dacua, Media Relations & Marketing Services Manager
M: +66 92 701 2510
E: nate@propertyguru.com

Sponsorships:
Kanittha Srithongsuk, Regional Manager, Awards Sponsorship
M: +66 93 293 9794
E: kanittha@propertyguru.com

Sales & Nominations:

Watcharaphon Chaisuk (Jeff), Solutions Manager

M: +66 95 797 0595

E: jeff@propertyguru.com

NOTE: Use of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards logo is limited to the publication of this article only.

Hong Kong advantages in green buildings

HONG KONG, Apr 27, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and Link Asset Management Limited (Link) released a survey study, "Hong Kong Green Capabilities in Real Estate Development and Property Management: RCEP Opportunities", which highlights seven distinct advantages of Hong Kong in the field of green buildings.

Irina Fan, Director of HKTDC Research (L) and George Hongchoy, Executive Director and Chief Executive
Officer of Link (R)

The report also underscores green building challenges across the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) countries, with which Hong Kong can strengthen collaboration in four major areas to expand Hong Kong's and regional green building capacities to create a greener and sustainable future: climate risk assessment and design consulting; green financing; construction and facility management digitalisation; and green material certification and sourcing.

Mr George Hongchoy, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Link Asset Management Limited, said: "We are delighted to learn that Hong Kong's real estate sector is in a leading position in terms of green competences among the major RCEP markets being examined. As a real estate asset manager and investor based in Hong Kong, sustainability is at the heart of Link's operation. We have been incorporating sustainability consideration in almost every part of our business, pioneering many sustainability applications in our daily operations, and striving to achieve net zero carbon emission by 2035. We are keen to work with other industrial practitioners to further advance sustainability initiatives in Hong Kong and showcase the city's green capabilities in RCEP markets to capture new opportunities in the region."

Ms Irina Fan, Director of HKTDC Research, said: "Green real estate development and property management are a key element in achieving net zero by 2050, particularly in the case of Hong Kong, where 50,000 private and government buildings generate 60% of the city's carbon emissions. The progress made towards green buildings in Hong Kong in recent years is encouraging, thanks to the joint efforts of industry stakeholders. At the same time, demand for green real estate and property management services in RCEP economies is also growing. Hong Kong practitioners are well placed to take advantage of the momentum to seize business opportunities in RCEP countries, establish Hong Kong's leading position in green buildings in the global marketplace and create stronger synergies."

Hong Kong's seven green building advantages

The survey has been compiled through a three-pronged approach: (1) Desktop research on Mainland China, Hong Kong and other RCEP countries of interest to understand and compare green buildings trends; (2) In-depth interviews with more than 70 stakeholders in the real estate and property management sectors in RCEP countries and Hong Kong between July and November 2022 to assess the green capabilities of Hong Kong's real estate and property management industries; (3) Questionnaire survey via phone and online of 300 practitioners from Australia, Japan, Mainland China, Singapore and South Korea with the aim of gaining a better understanding of the green capabilities of the real estate and property management sectors across the RCEP bloc, while exploring collaboration opportunities for Hong Kong practitioners. All survey respondents are manager level or above and have been involved in green construction, property development or facility management projects for more than four years.

The report identifies seven advantages of Hong Kong in the green building field, including:

1. Green finance: Hong Kong is Asia's leading green finance hub with a deep capital pool capable of meeting the diverse financing needs of the real estate sector;

2. Green building products and embodied carbon reduction: Local manufacturers of construction materials have made use of waste materials in their production processes to reduce embodied carbon emissions;

3. Industry coherence: Hong Kong's well-established testing, inspection and certification (TIC) industry plays a pivotal role in certifying green building products and projects;

4. Innovative construction methods: The application of new construction approaches with higher efficiency and lower production costs, like digitalisation and prefabrication, has been pioneered by Hong Kong's real estate developers;

5. Facility management: World-renowned for its skyline of supertall skyscrapers, Hong Kong is now turning up the dial on high-rise sustainable development and management;

6. Alternative and renewable energy and sustainable lifestyle: Hong Kong's power suppliers have been promoting a sustainable lifestyle and energy efficiency through measures like renewable energy development, energy management, digitalisation and retrofitting; and

7. Sustainable community development: Hong Kong's industry practitioners have built features, such as common social facilities and shared climate-resilient infrastructure into the design of real estate developments, to create sustainable, well-connected communities.

Challenges for RCEP members

Our survey results show that reducing energy consumption, encouraging sustainable business practices and lowering greenhouse gas emissions are the top three reasons for adopting green building practices, as indicated by 43%, 41% and 35% of the respondents, respectively. In terms of specific green building approaches, site planning and construction management (85%) is ranked highest, followed by sustainable architectural design and construction techniques (83%), and energy and waste management (81%).

The aspects that are considered the most challenging by respondents are efficient use and reduction of construction materials (18%), air quality monitoring and air purification (18%), monitoring and reducing energy consumption (17%) and use of recycled or eco-friendly construction materials (17%). Passive design (2%), BIM modelling (4%) and Daylighting designs (6%) are considered the least challenging in the region, perhaps reflecting Asia's strong expertise in architectural design.

While sustainability has gone mainstream, challenges for green building activities vary across countries. Japan, South Korea and Singapore face high initial costs, with 46%-56% of respondents citing costs as the top challenge for increasing green building activities. Mainland China is faced with a lack of experienced talent (44%), while Japan is struggling with securing financial resources (40%). The low availability of certified green building products and services is another area of concern among the South Korean (32%) and mainland Chinese (33%) respondents.

Hong Kong can meet the needs of the RCEP market in four major areas

The views of the survey respondents together with the in-depth stakeholder interviews carried out in Hong Kong and the five selected RCEP markets summarise four major areas, for which Hong Kong's green building capabilities can best meet the needs of RCEP markets. They are: climate risk assessment and design consulting services; green financing; construction and facility management digitalisation; and green building product certification and sourcing.

1. Climate risk assessment and design consulting services

Hong Kong has a well-established TIC industry and is seen as an experienced player in handling a volatile climate. With 72% of respondents saying that they believe Hong Kong excels in design concepts and construction techniques, the city's experience in handling volatile climates and constructing high rises could be valuable in RCEP markets. According to the survey, biophilic design / landscaping with greenery (42%) and climate risk assessment (34%) will be the most and the fifth most popular green building approach, respectively, for the next 12 months. Hong Kong is well placed to ride on its experience to provide these services to Australia, Mainland China, Singapore, and South Korea.

2. Green financing

Hong Kong is a leading financial centre that actively participates in sustainable finance development and can play a key role in providing green financing and carbon trading services to Japan, Mainland China and South Korea. According to the survey, 84% of the respondents showed an interest in increasing the use of green finance products and services in the coming 24 months, to enhance public recognition of (cited by 72%), public engagement with (cited by 65%) and transparency (cited by 60%) of their sustainability strategies.

3. Construction and facility management digitalisation

Hong Kong is experienced in the adoption of BIM, MiC and DfMa, while city practitioners are also good at implementing digitalisation in facility management and retrofitting existing buildings. Hong Kong can transfer knowledge of installing indoor air monitoring and control systems and smart waste management systems to RCEP. According to the survey, AI to improve energy efficiency (41%) and the construction process (37%) will be the second and the third most popular green building approaches, respectively, for the next 12 months.

4. Green building products certification and sourcing

As the world's sixth largest trading entity in merchandise trade, Hong Kong has a well-established assessment and certification protocol for green construction materials that can facilitate the sourcing of eco-friendly materials, and Japan, Mainland China and South Korea will be the focus markets. According to the survey, even though 40% of the respondents have already adopted recycled or eco-friendly construction materials in their projects, they still find the sourcing and application of eco-friendly materials a challenge due to the lack of standardisation and certification. Hong Kong can work with the RCEP market to develop a standardised assessment and certification protocol for green construction materials and set up a comprehensive regional database and platform of eco-friendly materials and suppliers.

References
– HKTDC Research Portal: http://research.hktdc.com/
– Hong Kong Green Capabilities in Real Estate Development and Property Management: RCEP Opportunities https://research.hktdc.com/en/article/MTM2MTk3MTk5Nw
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/40KTqQl

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn.

About Link

Link Real Estate Investment Trust (Hong Kong stock code: 823) is the largest REIT in Asia by market capitalisation. It is managed by Link Asset Management Limited, a leading real estate investor and asset manager in the world. Since its listing in 2005 as the first REIT in Hong Kong, Link REIT has been 100% held by public and institutional investors. It is a constituent of the Hong Kong securities market benchmark Hang Seng Index, as well as a component of the Dow Jones Sustainability Asia Pacific Index, the FTSE4Good Index Series and the Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Index. From its home in Hong Kong, Link Asset Management Limited owns and manages a diversified portfolio including retail facilities, car parks, offices and logistics assets spanning from China's Beijing, Greater Bay Area (Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Shenzhen), and Yangtze River Delta centred around Shanghai, to Singapore, Australia's Sydney and Melbourne and the UK's London. Link Asset Management Limited seeks to extend its portfolio growth trajectory and grasp expansion opportunities in different markets in pursuit of sustainable growth. For details, please visit https://www.linkreit.com

Media enquiries
For enquiries please contact:
HKTDC
Corporate Communication & Marketing Department
Frankie Leung, Tel: +852 2584 4298, Email: frankie.cy.leung@hktdc.org
Eric Wong, Tel: +852 2584 4575, Email: eric.ks.wong@hktdc.org

Link Asset Management Limited
Kelvin Tam, Tel: +852 2175 1870, Email: kevin.hf.tam@linkreit.com
Krista Chan, Tel: +852 2175 1344, Email: krista.hl.chan@linkreit.com

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

RHTLaw Asia strengthens Real Estate Practice with appointment of new partner

SINGAPORE, Apr 5, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Singapore-headquartered regional law firm RHTLaw Asia has appointed Mr Yeong Wai Cheong as partner in the firm's Real Estate practice.

Mr Yeong Wai Cheong, Partner at RHTLaw Asia and Mr Azman Jaafar, Managing Partner at RHTLaw Asia [L-R]

Wai Cheong brings extensive experience in real estate, banking and finance, representing Singapore-listed companies and banks, purchasers and vendors, developers, landlords and tenants across a range of domestic and cross-border financing and real estate matters.

He has been consistently ranked as a "Recommended Lawyer" for Real Estate in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific for seven consecutive years. Dual-qualified in Singapore and Hong Kong, Wai Cheong has represented parties for the sale and purchase and financing of industrial, commercial and residential properties in Singapore and Hong Kong.

In addition to his prior stint at RHTLaw Asia, Wai Cheong was also previously the General Counsel for Asia for an European bank and the Head of Legal for Singapore for two European banks.

RHTLaw Asia Managing Partner, Mr Azman Jaafar, said, "Real Estate will continue to be an important sector for us given Singapore's position as a global financial centre. We will continue to strengthen our practice with the addition of new talent to support our clients. Mr Yeong is a welcome addition to our team as we roll out our new ONERHT Client UX strategy together with our core multidisciplinary capabilities."

About RHTLaw Asia LLP

RHTLaw Asia LLP is a leading regional law firm headquartered in Singapore with a network of offices in 15 jurisdictions in Asia, Oceania, Middle East and Africa under the ASEAN Plus Group (APG) comprising over 2,000 lawyers. We help clients understand the local challenges, navigate the regional complexity to deliver the competitive advantage for their businesses in Asia. We are also the Singapore member of the Interlex Group, a global network of leading law firms.

RHTLaw Asia collaborates with ONERHT, an integrated network of multidisciplinary professional services, through entities which are not affiliates, branches, or subsidiaries of RHTLaw Asia LLP. For more details, please visit www.rhtlawasia.com

For Mr Yeong Wai Cheong's profile, please visit:
https://www.rhtlawasia.com/people/yeong-wai-cheong/

About ONERHT

ONERHT is an integrated multidisciplinary platform of professional and specialist services. Since 2011, RHTLaw Asia's founding team has developed a second engine of growth through ONERHT, an independent ecosystem of professional and specialist services, and networks, complementing RHTLaw's full service legal offerings. For more details, please visit www.onerht.com

For media queries, please contact:
Elliot Siow / elliot.siow@rhtgoc.com / +65 8375 0417

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com