Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (LeadingRE) President/CEO Pam O’Connor and Vice President Global Operations Chris Dietz joined hundreds of real estate industry leaders from 65 countries in Panama City, Panama recently at the 67th FIABCI World Congress. This is the first time this respected industry event has taken place in a Latin American country.
“As we expand our global footprint, which now extends to more than 55 countries, our participation in events such as the FIABCI World Conference is a vital part of our outreach,” Dietz said. “We especially welcomed the opportunity to travel to the Latin American region and connect with existing and potential members there.”
“The FIABCI World Congress in Panama offered our participants a unique perspective focused on ‘Connecting Development for a Better World.’ Panama’s expanding and dynamic real estate market and strong economic potential made this a perfect venue for this year’s event,” explained Danielle Grossenbacher, FIABCI’s immediate past world president.
The conference theme, “Connecting Development for a Better World,” served as the basis for the program, which was filled with world-class speakers, international networking and marketing sessions and exciting recreation and study tours where participants experienced all that Panama has to offer. Special guests included the President of the Republic of Panama Juan Carlos Varela and Panama’s Ministry of Housing Mario Etchelecu. There was also a unique presentation by the famous Venezuelan Kinetic Artist Carlos Cruz-Diez, whose innovative artwork integrates sculpture with architecture.
Eric Van Hoorde, president of ACOBIR, the organizing association of the event explained that “the organization of this global real estate congress represents a country event of great significance and was an excellent opportunity for Panama, due to the fact that in recent years we have grown significantly in the global real estate sector. Thousands of people consider Panama as the ideal place to live and do business because of the important first class infrastructure and its relevant tourist attractions that provide the city a cosmopolitan destination connotation.”
Ivan Carlucci, president of FIABCI-Panama, added that this event created new business relationships with representatives of the real estate industry around the world who were visiting. “Our goal was to encourage multi-national real estate companies to become established here, especially with vast opportunities generated by the opening of the canal expansion next month. We were committed to being the best hosts for the more than 50 delegations from 65 countries on five continents that visited us,” said Carlucci.
Katherine Shahani, president of the Organizing Committee for ACOBIR and former president of ACOBIR, referred to the FIABCI World Congress program, which included global networking events, social activities that strengthened links between participants and organizations, theme forums, vital presentations from national and international exhibitors, as well as a social program filled with a series of sightseeing and shopping tours. The agenda was designed to combine robust international business with tourism.
One of the many highlights during the Congress was the FIABCI World Prix d’Excellence Awards Gala Dinner. The FIABCI World Prix d’Excellence is a prestigious honor that recognizes real estate development projects that best embody excellence in all real estate disciplines involved in its creation and illustrates the FIABCI ideal of “providing society with the optimal solution to its property needs.”
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