Indonesia Aims to Draw Global Attention to Aff ordable Housing Development

ONCE again, Indonesia had earned the international community’s trust to organize the prominent FIABCI Global Business Summit 2018, from 6 to 8 December in Bali. Indonesia is determined to bring an issue close to the country to the meeting.

To understand more about FIABCI Global Business Summit 2018, Media Indonesia journalist Ahmad Punto talked to Realestat Indonesia (REI) Chairman and FIABCI Asia Pacific President Soelaeman Soemawinata on several occasions. Here’s an excerpt.

How did they decide to hold the prestigious summit here in Indonesia?

The decision was made during the 69th FIABCI World Congress in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in May. What makes us proud is that this is going to be the very first time for the FIABCI December annual meeting to take place in an Asia Pacific country. In the past 68 years, they have always held the meeting in Europe.

Why do you think the members picked Indonesia this time?

At the time, Belgium also proposed to be the host. However, Indonesia was chosen because it is considered an emerging country with rapid development. Including development in the property and real estate industries.

The summit will focus on the topic: Affordable Housing and International Tourism Development. Was that REI’s idea as the host?

REI and FIABCI Indonesia proposed the topic. Why? Because in my opinion, as a global federation FIABCI must not only focus on the commercial property industry. It is time for the federation to pay attention to two-thirds of the world’s population who still live in poverty and are low-income earners. Most of them still live in poor housing conditions.

Do you think it is in line with the government’s One Million ­Houses Program for the low-income ­earners?

It is indeed. We have worked on housing projects for the low-income group for quite some time now. It is not a coincidence that FIABCI’s agenda this year has a similar focus with REI’s 2018 Annual Working Meeting. REI’s topic was REI’s Commitment Together with the Government in Supporting the One Million Houses Program.

What does it mean for the low-income earners?

It certainly means something, we are bringing the issue to global stage. Moreover, the World Bank has serious concern over affordable housing programs for the low-income earners.

In the topic of housing for low-income earners, what lesson does Indonesia offer?

I think Indonesia is a unique case. From a number of countries that we have visited and learned from, we found that it’s always the government who provided housing facilities for the low-income group. But here that is not the case. The private sector are involved as well. Perhaps, we are the only country with such involvement.

Is the concept merely unique or does it actually work?

Other countries think the concept worked. That is why many foreign countries asked me to explain how we develop affordable housing in Indonesia.

Besides the issue of affordable housing, the summit will also discuss international tourism development. How does it connect to real estate?

We must not forget that Indonesia has a very pro­mising tourism potential, and of course, it will need property development to support it. But fellow developers have not actually worked on that because of several factors, one of them is the financial issue. We hope the forum can serve as a bridge for developers with interests in tourism but have yet to realize their plans.

So, the agenda of the meeting is to introduce businesses and investors?

Yes, that is one of our objectives. The programs at the FIABCI Global Business Summit 2018 are investment forum and B to B meeting. The program is aimed to enable (developers) to offer cooperation on property projects to potential investors. We will welcome at least 150 potential global investors at the summit.

Do you have any details on that you can share with us?

As many as 56 projects by 17 REI’s developers, worth Rp68 trillion, will be offered to investors at FIABCI’s Global Business Summit 2018. In short, we would like the Indonesian economy to benefit from the meeting. It is a role that REI tries to uphold, as the national economy’s locomotive.