Summit Programme Will Address the Growing Urgency for Corporations to Invest in Sustainable Buildings and Green Work Places to Help Combat Climate Change
SINGAPORE, Feb. 6 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- CoreNet Global, the world's leading association representing the corporate real estate industry, today announced that Singapore's Minister of State for National Development, Ms. Grace Fu, will deliver the official opening remarks at the 2007 CoreNet Global Asia Summit to be held at The Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore on March 27-29, 2007.
Ms. Fu will speak to conference participants during the morning of Tuesday, March 28. With Asia's high growth destined to continue far into the future, Ms. Fu will open the summit by sharing the strategies of the Singapore Government to achieve improved long-term investment returns through increased sustainable activity, plus the reinforcement of greener work place practices.
According to Mr. Nigel Harris, Chair of the Singapore Chapter for CoreNet Global, Ms. Fu's visionary leadership on cutting edge issues such as sustainability and the environment comes at a pivotal time for the corporate real estate industry.
He states, "As an industry concerned with minimizing the environmental impact of buildings, we are aware that environmental thinking and social responsibility must be collectively embedded into the heart of every organisation's corporate real estate policy if the commercial real estate sector is to play a key role in helping to halt climate change."
Mr. Harris expresses that his comments follow the recent releasing of a report from the United Kingdom which estimates that through their construction, use and demolition, built structures are the source for nearly 50% of carbon emissions.
"Through our Singapore Summit, our aim therefore is to encourage and influence corporate real estate professionals from around the world to embrace environmental and social issues in their property considerations," he stresses.
"Consequently, the green argument not only applies to the design of new, sustainable buildings but also to the sustainable management of existing structures through the adoption of greener approaches such as strategies for greater water, energy and technological efficiencies."
Mr. Harris continues, "As a profession, it also raises prudent questions as to whether we have the right talent to help champion and drive these environmental changes."
To reaffirm the association's commitment to the sustainability agenda, CoreNet Global has confirmed that many of the world's leading advocates in sustainability will address the audience at the association's forthcoming conference in Singapore which incidentally is themed, 'People, Planet, Profit: Corporate Real Estate & Sustainability for the 21st Century.'
Topping the bill will be Professor Hellmut Schutter, Senior Affiliate Professor of International Management, INSEAD, Singapore, who will address the question, "Is Asia's Growth Sustainable?"
The sustainability theme will be further explored during several featured educational tracks, which include sessions entitled:
-- Green Buildings in China: Momentum and Transformation in Progress;
-- Creative Approaches to Sustainable Development in India;
-- Building Green Pays Off: The Financial Benefits of Sustainable
Buildings.
In conclusion, Mr. Harris points out that given Singapore's own ambitious commercial property plans for the future, it was befitting for this year's Summit to be held in the country.
"Unquestionably, this year's Summit content is extremely relevant to the corporate real estate sector in Singapore," says Mr. Harris.
"Through their participation, delegates will, as a result, gain an insight into how they can manage their corporate real estate assets more effectively, whilst at the same time achieving the best economic and environmental results," he concluded.
Interested parties can register for the summit by contacting Ms. Eleanor Estacio on (1) 404 589 3217 / eestacio@corenetglobal.org, or Ms. Jennifer Gao on (8621) 6122 1251 / jgao@corenetglobal.org. Alternatively, please visit www.corenetglobal.org/singapore for details.
About CoreNet Global
CoreNet Global is the world's premier association for corporate real estate and related professionals. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, the global learning organization is the industry thought and opinion leader, plus the only professional real estate group that convenes the entire industry.
Today, CoreNet Global's members manage US $1.2 trillion in worldwide corporate assets of owned and leased office, industrial and other space. With nearly 7,000 members representing large organizations around the world, CoreNet Global operates in five global regions: Asia/Japan, Australia, Europe, Latin American and North America.
For more information, please visit the CoreNet Global website at www.corenetglobal.org .
For more information, please contact:
Janet Middlemiss
RFP Magazine
Tel: +852-2857 -3832 /9195-7829
Fax: +852-2840-1284
Email: jm@rfpmagazine.com
Jennifer Gao
CoreNet Global
Tel: +86-21-6122-1251
Fax: +86-21-6122-1481
Email: jgao@corenetglobal.org
