RATIONALE AND CRITERIA

Socio-economic regionalism and globalization are intensifying with Africa being increasingly incorporated into both trends. Not only is this supporting both migration and cross border trade and investment, it is increasing international tourism. Indeed in Africa’s predominantly high inflation environment real estate services as a popular store of economic value and a hedge against local currency depreciation against major international trading currencies. Furthermore the African Continental Free Trade Agreement is enabling real estate developers to source their inputs from anywhere around the continent where the best value propositions are available.

Indeed Africans are showing an increasing tendency to invest in the acquisition of real estate outside the continent to, especially in middle eastern jurisdictions that deliberately attract such investments from Africa such as Dubai..

Thus the impending awards are being held to identify real estate developments around the continent that offer residential and/or investment opportunities for both Africans and those from further afield as well developments outside the continent that offer excellent such opportunities for households, enterprises and institutions domiciled in Africa.

The awards also seek to identify exemplary industry operators most deserving of inclusion in top quality value/supply chains in the real estate industry and provide a platform for the creation or expansion of such value/supply chains. The accompanying pan African real estate conference will provide a unique pan continental networking platform for identified exemplary operators to share expertise, experience, ideas and perspectives for the collective benefit of participants while exposing them to various opportunities, regulatory frameworks and facilitation initiatives.

The awards also seek to identify exemplary industry operators most deserving of inclusion in top quality value/supply chains in the real estate industry and provide a platform for the creation or expansion of such value/supply chains.

The following classes of enterprises, institutions and individuals are eligible to be considered for conferment of awards.

• Real estate developers operational in Africa
• Real estate developers operational outside of Africa but whose project targets deliberately include Africans and African domiciled organizations and households.
• Building materials suppliers.
• Architectural firms.
• Construction firms.
• Utility providers.
• Private security equipment and service providers
• Interior décor companies
• Landscaping firms.
• Building project financiers (both debt and equity).
• Mortgage financiers
• Building and home equipment insurers.
• Land surveyors and valuation companies
• Real estate agencies
• Individual entrepreneurs engaged in any of the aforementioned activities
• Individual corporate chieftains engaged in any of the aforementioned activities.
• Housing ministries and other public sector agencies involved in real estate industry activities.
• Regulatory authorities.
• Industry facilitation authorities/organizations

NB. To be eligible a nominee must be domiciled in Africa and/or offer products/services that deliberately include Africans among their targeted markets.