AREC, ARCHIDEX Position Malaysia At Forefront Of ASEAN Real Estate - Fadillah

KUALA LUMPUR, July 23 (Bernama) -- The integration of the ASEAN Real Estate Conference (AREC) and the Architecture, Interior Design and Building Exhibition (ARCHIDEX) 2025 positions Malaysia as a regional leader in real estate and urban development within ASEAN.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the events — held simultaneously at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) and Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) — place Malaysia at the heart of regional collaboration, while showcasing ASEAN’s urban development priorities to the world.

He said AREC drives high-level policy dialogue and strategic insights from housing ministers, city leaders and developers, while ARCHIDEX complements it as Asia’s leading exhibition, showcasing cutting-edge products, materials and solutions for architecture and the built environment.

“ARCHIDEX attracts over 56,000 visitors from over 110 countries, providing AREC with an influential international platform to elevate ASEAN’s real estate and housing agenda to a global audience.

“Ultimately, our goal is to support the development and publication of practical, actionable and impactful strategies that reflect the unique social, economic and environmental context of ASEAN’s housing landscape,” he said in his opening speech here today.

Fadillah, who is also the Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, urged industry players and stakeholders to seize the opportunity during the four-day event to showcase new and emerging real estate innovations, and to foster collaboration among industry players.

He said both events serve as a collaborative platform to address challenges in the housing and real estate industry, with the aim of building a resilient, inclusive and forward-looking sector.

“We believe in innovation, not as a luxury, but as a necessity for resilience and progress. From advancing green buildings and climate-adaptive design to deploying digital land systems and prop-tech (property technology) solutions, innovation must be the engine that powers our housing policies and urban strategies.

“It is how we make our cities smarter, our developments more efficient and our communities more liveable. I therefore call upon all ASEAN member states, our industry partners and international organisations to keep this momentum alive through working groups, joint research, investment facilitation and annual progress reviews,” he said.

Fadillah said ASEAN is home to some of the world’s fastest-growing cities, with over 70 million people expected to be added to the region’s urban population by 2030, bringing the total projection to 373 million.

He noted that this rapid growth places immense pressure on housing, infrastructure and sustainability — creating an opportunity for ASEAN to lead the world in developing real estate models that are smart, inclusive and climate-conscious.

Also present was Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming.

-- BERNAMA