Cityscape Asia offers investors some eastern promise

"Though not hobbled by the toxic debts that have paralysed many of their western counterparts, Asia's main economies are not immune to the global downturn,"

said Graham Wood, Group Exhibition Director, Cityscape.

"Some economists believe, however, that government stimulus packages and interest rate cuts will turn the tide with signs of recovery possibly emerging as early as Q4 2009."

Cityscape Asia has been organised with the assistance of an advisory board, which consists of industry professionals such as; Nathan Lloyd, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, MGM Mirage International; Lawrence D. Sperling, Head of Asia Private Equity, Mercury Partners and Chief Executive Officer, Peak Asia Management; and Nicholas Loup, Managing Director, Grosvenor.

In a joint statement, the board commented, "The past few months have been challenging for all of us working in the real estate industry. But out of the doom and gloom we are optimistic - trying to anticipate where the next opportunities will come from and how we can capitalise on them."

"Established firms, family enterprises and individuals with cash reserves, limited debt and an appetite for risk are expected to be among the first to begin searching the Asian market for bargains in the coming months," stated Wood.

"Competition for prime real estate is easing and for investors with money, this could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Predictions of a rebound in Asian property markets are based on continuing regional urbanisation which has, for example, seen an average eight million Chinese people move to cities annually over the last decade," he added.

Cityscape Asia - part of the world's largest business-to-business real estate event brand - is an annual networking exhibition and conference focusing on all aspects of the real estate development cycle. The three day event will run from 19 - 21 May 2009 at Singapore's Suntec.

Top deal-makers from leading developers, banks, institutional investors and investment authorities, as well as senior officers from the foremost private equity funds and investment advisory firms, will gather at Cityscape Asia to discuss the key issues and investment opportunities.

Some of the conference highlights include: surviving the global financial crisis; the future for real estate funds; Asian REITS; markets to invest in for long-term growth and returns; country spotlights in trouble times; the Asian retail decade; and green investments.

Cityscape Asia is an extension of the phenomenally successful Cityscape Dubai, organised by IIR Middle East, which also include Abu Dhabi, India, China, Saudi Arabia and South America.

Cityscape Asia is sponsored by UK-based Scala Land Group, which presents overseas investors with alternative opportunities to buy land in the UK. CNN is the media partner.