One year EuroCham Property Working Group

One year EuroCham Property Working Group

GERMANews

The European Business Chamber of Commerce (EuroCham) is a business organization in Indonesia, which promotes European business interests and represents European member companies. EuroCham provides members with excellent opportunities to network and share business experiences. 13 Sectoral Working Groups are the backbone and the main communication tool of the chamber. Initiated by Mike Broomell, Managing Director of Colliers International in Indonesia and Jochen Sautter, President Director of the German Centre Indonesia, in December 2008 a Property Working Group was formally established, headed by Mr. Sautter since then. Its objective being to provide EuroCham members a platform for gaining inside information about the Jakarta property markets and a forum for exchanging practical experiences of property owners and lease holders and to address special points of interest towards third parties, especially the Indonesian government.

In May 2009 a property survey was conducted to evaluate the interests and needs of  EuroCham members regarding the property topic and to reset targets  and mission of the working group,. The results showed that the biggest interest of the EuroCham members lies in office space related issues, mostly from a lease holders viewpoint and in the exchange of practical experience. Topics of the survey that members want to see discussed were especially market comparison of prices and values, legal aspects of lease agreements, security issues and energy efficiency particularly green building issues. Another outcome of the survey: property is a high level issue, which is mostly handled at the director level in European companies, especially when they are the owner of the utilized premises.

In the following working group meeting in June, Ferry Salanto of Colliers International, presented an overview of the office and commercial market in greater Jakarta amidst the Global Financial Crisis.

On July 28th the Property and the Finance working group co-hosted a meeting with the title: "Cost Savings Available through Greening your office Building". Guest speakers were David Cheadle (Cushman & Wakefield) and Holger Bormann (Deutsche Far East). They informed about the topics Waste Prevention; Recycling; Water Conservation; Sustainable Purchasing; and Energy Conservation.

In August the Property working group was happy to welcome Mr. Theodoor Bakker and Mr. Agung Derajat from the law firm Ali Budiardjo, Nugroho, Reksodiputro (ABNR) as guest speakers. They dealt with the topic “Current issues in property law, with special focus on commercial lease” and answered many questions from the participants.

In November the working group met again, for an update on the Property trends in the 3rd Quarter of 2009, with focus on offices in Jakarta by Ferry Salanto (Colliers International) and for a presentation by Dr. Scott Younger (Glendale Partners) on the Urban infrastructure in greater Jakarta and its impact on the development of industrial and residential property.

Due to recent events, the last meeting of the year in December focused on the issue of earthquakes and their implications on building safety in Jakarta. Prof. Jacques Kamm of Frisa Mulia Indonesia explained the causes of earthquakes, their effects on buildings and the earth quake resistance of buildings, and things to be aware of when checking on cracks and other possible damages.

For further information about the Property Working Group please contact:

Jochen Sautter; sautter@germancentre.co.id

For further information about EuroCham please contact:

Patrik Jonasson

patrik.jonasson@eurocham.or.id

tel. +62 21 521 1650

www.eurocham.or.id