Tribune News Network
Doha
A delegation from the Association of Filipino Real Estate Executives in Qatar (AFREEQ), led by its founding Chairman Joseph Timothy Rivera, paid a courtesy call on the Philippine Ambassador to the State of Qatar HE Lillibeth V Pono on October 13.
During the call, officers and new members of AFREEQ briefed the envoy about their programmes and activities to support, and at the same time find opportunities, in the thriving real estate industry in Qatar.
The group informed the ambassador that it is committed to improving the competence and professionalism of Filipino real estate practitioners to make them the property professionals of choice in Qatar by both the leading real estate companies as well as the property buyers/investors in the country.
It also assured that all of its members are compliant to the new real estate brokers licensing rules and regulations under the authority of Qatar’s Ministry of Justice. This is in compliance with Qatari Law No. 22 of 2017 on regulating the real estate brokerage works in the country.
It further said that its membership will be limited solely to those in the real estate business/profession and that it will promote the legal practice of real estate sales and marketing activities in Qatar, through business forums, sponsored seminars and community-based awareness campaigns.
The initiative includes the assistance to Filipino real estate practitioners in Qatar who wish to obtain a brokerage license or perhaps open their own duly licensed real estate brokerage companies alongside their Qatari sponsors and /or business partners.
The group also informed that it has commenced its application for accreditation membership with the Philippine Chamber of Real Estate Builders & Association (CREBA) which would eventually lead to AFREEQ organising review programs for the possible real estate brokers & salespersons special professional licensure exams by the Philippine Professional Regulation Commission in collaboration with the Philippine Professional Organization in Qatar (PPOQ).
That it would be organising the 2024 Philippine Property Investment Show-Qatar (PPIS-Q) as a resumption of its secondary advocacy of promoting the Philippines as an investment & tourist destination to the wealthy residents & citizens of Qatar which was briefly halted due to the recent pandemic. The event which would mark as the 5th edition of the PPIS-Q annual exhibition would be themed as the Philippine Health & Wealth Conference Qatar in partnership with Kulinarya Qatar which would also be hosting its annual Philippine Gala Night on the evening of the same date as a back-to-back event.
HE Pono thanked the group for its visit and took note of AFREEQ’s programs and activities.She advised the group to ensure compliance with local (Qatari) laws governing the real estate industry, including the marketing and selling of Philippine real estate products in Qatar. Further, she said that AFREEQ should be able to encourage and guide other (Filipino) real estate players in this country on said compliance, especially on licensing.
AFREEQ was founded in May 2015 and is currently composed of Filipino Real Estate practitioners under the lawful employment of real estate brokerage companies in Qatar duly licenced by the Ministry of Justice, as well as other property management or related firms such as developers, office & commercial space operators, residential administrators, facility management & long-term stay hotel & Philippine property developers legally represented in Qatar.
Members of the AFREEQ delegation that called on Ambassador Pono were: Founding Chairman Joseph Timothy Rivera from KATE Real Estate & SMDC, Bhem Asperilla of Megaworld International, Jamaimah Reyes of Nelson Park Properties and Maylen Landicho of Al Badgeer Real Estate. Also present were Gabriel Wong representing the client referrer sector and Hanz Godicos of Radisson Blu representing the long-stay hotel sector.
