Successful World Congress

FIABCI, the International Real Estate Federation, has completed its 65th World Congress in Luxembourg from May 17-22, 2014.  This was FIABCI’s 65th World Congress, which annually attracts global real estate industry leaders.  This year’s event included over 1,000 attendees who participated in opportunities to network, build business, share experiences, advance industry knowledge and stimulate conversations. During these six days, Luxembourg guests of honour included His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, François Bausch, Minister of Sustainable Development and Infrastructures, Pierre Gramegna, Minister of Finances, Lydie Polfer, Mayor of Luxembourg City and Maggy Nagel, Minister of Housing.

This year’s FIABCI 2014 World Congress theme focused on “Building Humanity“. Each day of the meeting was tailored to highlight specific topics designed to stimulate conversations including: “Architecture & Urban Design,” “Cities & Technologies,” “Real Estate Opportunities,” and “Finance & Tax.”  Several renowned experts and internationally recognized business leaders from the global real estate and development industries led the discussions and presented information and cutting-edge ideas that coincided with the theme.  Presenters included Jeremy Rifkin, an economic and social theorist, who delivered the Keynote Address and discussed his recent book, “The Third Industrial Revolution.”  He is the President of the “Foundation on Economic Trends” and an author of 19 books that focus on the impact of scientific and technological changes in the economy, the workforce, society and the environment.  Zhang Yue, Chairman and President of BROAD Group, led a discussion on the topic of: “The mission of architects.”   Mr. Yue is internationally known as the man who built a 30-story building in only 15 days.  There was also a presentation by the Honorable Michael Jeffery, Former Governor General of Australia and Founder and Chairman of Future Directions International, and Paul James, Professor of the RMIT Global Cities Institute/Director of the UN Global Compact Cities Program who led a workshop on: “Sustainability, Cleaner Environments and Friendly Alternatives.”  Award-winning French architect and engineer Rudy Ricciotti provided a thought-provoking presentation focused on the importance of architecture and urban design which was followed by a lively panel conversation about “Building Tomorrow’s Cities” which included Rudy Ricciotti,  Claude Turmes, Member of the European Parliament and Vice-President of the European Parliament’s Green Group, Nils Kok, Executive Director, GRESB and Maastricht University’s Associate Professor of Finance and João Crestana, President of FIABCI’s World Council of Developers/Investors.  The panel was moderated by Architect Tatiana Fabeck, Vice-President of the Fondation de l’Architecture et de l’Ingénerie de Luxembourg (Luxembourg Foundation for Architecture and Engineering).  The FIABCI World Congress also provided an abundance of informative panel discussions and workshops from leading real estate thought leaders throughout the world including a “City Panorama” with Taichung City Mayor Jason Hu and Budapest Chief Architect Eva Beleznay.

In addition, the FIABCI World Congress provided a broad range of international marketing sessions, as well as recreational and study tours in which participants saw, experienced and heard about local culture and important real estate, landscape and development projects in Luxembourg.  The new FIABCI Meet & Match initiative enabled participants to connect with professionals based on their personal and business profiles and interests to generate new leads and benefit from the great business expertise at the World Congress.

The prestigious FIABCI World Prix d’Excellence Award Dinner took place with winners represented from all over the world.  It is considered the “Oscars” of the global real estate industry and honours the “best of the best” in the global real estate industry.  Winning a Prix d’Excellence award is one of the highest awards that can be received.  It is a significant honour that signifies outstanding achievement.

During the Closing Ceremonies of the World Congress, the FIABCI World Presidency was transferred from Flavio Gonzaga Nunes (Brazil) to Robyn Waters (Australia).  Australia was well represented at the FIABCI World Congress with over 50 attendees, including FIABCI long-term member and Robyn Waters’ father, Barry Waters.  Another highlight of the World Congress included the signing of an official agreement of cooperation between FIABCI and the United National Global Compact Cities Programme.  The agreement confirmed a strategic collaboration that began earlier this year in Dubai to write a Charter for Sustainable Property Development and to develop a set of associated tools and assessment processes.

More information on www.fiabci65.com

About FIABCI

Founded in 1948, FIABCI, the International Real Estate Federation is a business organisation of real estate professionals worldwide. With membership including 100 professional associations, themselves representing over 1,5 million members, 65 Academic Institutions and 3000 individual members from all professions of the real estate sector, FIABCI is the most representative real estate organisation in the world.

Members are located in over 65 countries on all continents.

FIABCI holds special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

About Farvest

Farvest is the Luxembourg community’s marketing leader and organises major b2b events, including national awards (Luxembourg HR Awards, Luxembourg ICT Awards, Luxembourg Finance Management Awards, Luxembourg Marketing & Communication Awards, Luxembourg Green Business Awards, Luxembourg Best Workplaces, etc.). The agency has 6 community information portals and 40,000 local and professional contacts, half of whom are subscribers to the different weekly e-newsletters. In 12 years, Farvest has acquired a unique know-how in modelling and promoting media and financial events but also in initiatives in numerous other sectors.
Today, Farvest is a reference within the Luxemburgish framework and a recognised agency, particularly with regard to event innovation. The agency is proud to generate event marketing and communication, and to insure its sponsorship and media coverage.

Sponsors:
Agora – Baker & McKenzie – BCEE –  BDO – BNP Paribas Real Estate – Chambre de Commerce – CIGDL – Codic – Cushman & Wakefield – Drees Sommers – GIL – INOWAI (Property Partners)– JLL – KPMG – Loyens & Loeff – LuxembourgforFinance – Neobuild – One Planet Communities – OPF Partners – Paul Wurth – PROGroup – PwC – Reding Avocats à la Cour – Sales Lentz – SGG – Solum Real Estate – CRP Henri Tudor – vyzVoice

Partners:
ALIAI – ACI Luxembourg – AMCHAM Luxembourg – EURAF – Fondarch – IFMA Luxembourg – Trade and Investment Office-Luxembourg for Business – Luxembourg National Tourist Office – Ordre des Architectes Ingénieurs – City of Luxembourg

Medias Partners :
Accommodation Times – Agefi – Agir Céramique – Akmu – AMCHAM Luxembourg – Archello – Archi-Europe – Banque & Finance – bobsguide – BusinessMir – Business Review (Romania) – CFO World – Chronicle – e-architect –Editrice Le Fonti – Ekaruna – Entreprises Magazine – Eurobuild – Europe Real Estate (REP) – Explorimmo – Family Office – Financial Bridges – Financial Places – Facilities Management Magazine – GreenWorks – HR One – IAIR – Immobilier et Services – imot.bg – Indesign Indonesia – Investor.bg – IT One – La Revue Technique – LeadersLeague – Marketers – OPP Connect – Paradnyj kvartal – Pro-Real Estate – Property & Wealth – Australia’s Property Review – PAM Insight – Premium – Propriétés de France – Real Estate Monitor – Realty Plus (India) – REM en ligne – REM online – RFP magazine – Schiller Publishing – Surface Asia – The Scandinavian Architecture Magazine – Thomas Daily – Warszawski Kurier Mieszkaniowy – Wspólnota Mieszkaniowa – Yookô

Charity:
SOS Villages d’Enfants Monde