THE Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents (MIEA) will be hosting the Malaysian Annual Real Estate Convention 2004 themed Global Real Estate Trends: Local Applications at Nikko Hotel in Kuala Lumpur from Feb 21 to 22.

Organising chairman Low Weng Soon said the convention would focus on the impact and implications of globalisation on the Malaysian economy, especially the property sector.

Low said as globalisation was ''at our doorstep'', estate agents must adapt to changes, such as new marketing styles and practices to remain viable and competitive.

He said almost 500 people had signed up. ''We're targeting between 600 and 800 participants. We expect a significant increase for this coming convention as compared to 590 in 2003,'' he said.

The MIEA, he said, had been organising conventions for the past decade and these had attracted a rising number of delegates every year from estate agents, investors and the general public. The target participants include real estate agents, valuers, negotiators, project managers, property developers, property owners and investors, fund managers, marketing personnel and financial institutions.

The convention's objectives include imparting the latest skills and knowledge to real estate practitioners, creating a platform for estate agents to share their views and knowledge and providing business opportunities for real estate practitioners to meet developers, property owners and prospective property investors.

The guest of honour will be Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen.

Among the speakers are DBS Bank Singapore senior economist Wong Chee Seng (who will touch on concepts and methods of financing that are evolving in the global scene); Standard Chartered global research team principal economist Joseph Tan (an outline of the prospects and forecast on the Malaysian property sector for 2004); architect Ms Saw Quee Kim (essential tips on selection of property investment portfolio); and Malathi Thevendran, head of JLW Malaysia property consultancy team who will discuss the need for estate agents to consider options of remaining as an entrepreneur, merge with others or seeking employment with the onslaught on globalisation.

Source : The Star  9/2/2004