ROYAL INSTITUTION OF CHARTERED SURVEYORS (RICS) SUMMIT AFRICA 2018 RICS signs MoU with Green Building Council SA
June 07, 2018
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Green Building Council SA (GBCSA) at the start of RICS Summit Africa 2018, which kicked off in Sandton Central, Johannesburg, yesterday (Wednesday, 30 May 2018).
As smart urbanism and sustainability is the overall theme at this year’s summit, the MoU represents a commitment by both organisations to work closer together in promoting sustainable development in the built environment arena in Africa. With rapid urbanisation in Africa and challenges around climate change, green building and developing more sustainable cities has gained momentum and more significance.
“It is great to sign this MoU with the GBCSA as it represents yet another important partnership for RICS on the continent. Green building and sustainability has become an important part of the built environment sector globally. Both RICS and the GBCSA are important players in this space, so working together makes sense,” says TC Chetty, South Africa country manager for RICS.
Dorah Modise, chief executive of the GBCSA says: “Signing this MoU with RICS is of significance to the GBCSA as we see sustainability in the built environment sector as a joint initiative. RICS is a global industry organisation and collaboration is crucial if we want to achieve greater strides in sustainability.”
GBCSA is also a key participant and sponsor of the RICS Summit Africa 2018. Major commercial sponsors of the summit include Broll Property Group, Cushman & Wakefield Excellerate, Colliers International and Attacq Limited. The International Facilities Management Association is also a supporter of the summit again this year.
This is the fourth edition of RICS Summit Africa, which brings together leading speakers and professionals in the built environment sphere from business, government, academia and the NGO sector. Currently underway at The Maslow Hotel in Sandton Central, the summit ends today (31 May 2018). The two‐day annual event has attracted more than 220 delegates this year, entrenching itself as one of the main events on the global RICS calendar.
Speaking at the opening gala dinner of RICS Summit Africa last night, RICS President, John Hughes (FRICS), said Africa was a continent of huge opportunities, boosted by its young population and immense natural resources. However, he said rapid urbanisation in Africa to cities and climate change presented major challenges.
