Developing FIABCI in South America

Sep 19, 2019 Latest News

World President Walid Moussa spent two weeks on a tour across South America visiting Chapters and promoting FIABCI in Brazil and Colombia. By doing so, he highlighted the importance of “connectivity”, one of the core themes of his presidential agenda for the upcoming year: connecting professionals working in a market to a FIABCI Chapter, connecting FIABCI Chapters to enable practical business opportunities, and connecting individual members located in 70 countries and working in dozens of professions with other FIABCI members.

The trip to Brazil was very successful, involving important events for the local Chapter, business meetings, official visits and project visits in less than a week. It started with the SECOVI Convention 2019, one of the largest national forums in real estate of the country organized by Secovi-SP, a Principal Member of FIABCI-Brazil. Under the theme “Anticipate Trends, Influence Decisions”, the three-day event focused on the market, products, services and behaviors that have brought a new logic to the actions of companies. World President Walid Moussa was guest of honor of the convention, having taken part in the opening ceremony along with Minister of Environment Ricardo Salles, Secretary of Housing of the State of São Paulo Flavio Amary, Mayor of São Paulo Bruno Covas, and President of Secovi-SP Basilio Jafet.

On August 27, World President Walid Moussa attended a lunch organized by the Lebanese General Consul in São Paulo General Rudy Azzi at his official residence, where many important personalities of the Lebanese diaspora were present.

The 25^th edition of the National Prix d’Excellence - Prêmio Master Imobiliário – took place the next day in the presence of Deputy Governor of São Paulo Rodrigo Garcia, Mayor of São José do Rio Preto Edinho Araújo, Secretary of Environment of São Paulo Eduardo Castro, Secretary of Housing of Rio de Janeiro Fernanda Tejada, Secretary of Housing of São Paulo Flavio Amary, and Lebanese General Consul in São Paulo General Rudy Azzi.

Before leaving to Colombia, there was still time to meet with the Chairman of the Agrarian and Urban Law Commission of the Brazilian Lawyers Institute (IAB) Frederico Price Grechi for a working lunch, were they discussed the development of Mr. Grechi's Commission as well as future activities and events to be prepared by FIABCI-Brasil and FIABCI International. President of Secovi-RJ Pedro Wahmann and FIABCI Board Member Alain Duffoux also attended the meeting.

From September 2 to 3, World President Walid Moussa was in Colombia, the second leg of the trip. Day one was reserved for a series of meetings with Secretary of Housing of Bogotà Guillermos Herrera, President of FEDELONJAS Maria Clara Luque, Representative of Fenalco House Luis Enrique Ayala and, last but not least, Ambassador of Lebanon H.E. Mr. Georges Abou-Zeid.

On day two, Mr. Moussa sat down with Executive Director of CCCS Viviana Valdivieso and President of Lonja Medellin Federico Estrada for a business meeting and finished the day with a tour of the Congress with Senator Efrain Cepeda to whom he gifted a plaque of recognition for his work as a Senator and contribution and committment not only to the real estate industry but to the development of the country.

In a nutshell, the trip to Colombia allowed World President Walid Moussa to reunite with the President and Board Members of FIABCI Colombia and the opportunity to meet with the representatives of the main real estate institutions in the country, as well as visit the Senate in order to discuss the future of real estate regulations.