By Jasmine Chin (The Borneo Post)
25th August 2011
KUCHING: The SARBEX 2011 Annual Living Home and Property Exhibition is certainly a viable platform for a growth in Sarawak.
Organized by Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers Association (SHEDA) with the joint support the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, SARBEX is focused at bringing and housing as well as property developers.
Establish in 1998, the event itself creates a one stop centre for all parties to operate their transactions and is a gateway for the local industry players to showcase their products to the market.
With over 80 booths fully booked, the organizing chairman of SARBEX and Treasurer General of SHEDA, Richard Tan, encouraged all local events.
“With a majority of developers gathered under one roof, it is indeed a fantastic access for patrons to scout the properties, furniture and compare the prices. The patrons visiting the event are serious visitors who are on the lookout for house.
“We have an estimate 20,000 visitors last year, an outcome which was beyond our expectations. Hence, with the overwhelming response garnered from last year, we expect to achieve an additional 10 per cent to 20 per cent increase in patrons this year,” noted during the press conference.
On the property segment, the Secretary-General of SHEDA, Sim Kiang Chiok noted that demand for housing has been moving on a relatively stable growth, particularly in Kuching.
“Depending on the area itself, some have a fairly higher demand compared to others. This is evident particularly in areas like Bintulu which has witnessed a property boom over the last few years. Kuching on the other hand is experiencing a stable growth.
“However, over the past few years, rural to urban migration has been rapid with two per cent to three per cent growth on the demand side,” highlighted Sim.
Dr. Richard Tan (centre) and Sim Kiang Chiok (2nd right).
As price for commodity materials have increased and expectations of the price of houses was on the uptrend, purchasing a house now, according to Sim, would save the extra financial burden in the future.
Hence, SARBEX serves as the platform for convenience to interested home-buyers as there were many options made available.
Additionally, with the presence of Malaysia Property Incorporated which aims to drive foreign real estate investment into Malaysia, it is without a doubt that the participating players would not only be recognized in the local scene but on the international level as well.
Moving ahead, Sheda and Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) had tied a five-year contract which would see both collaborating on future events.
SARBEX 2011 Total Living would be held from September 30 to October 2 at BCCK.
