Reply #2: Gruesome details re: conference

[KamaAina]

http://www.apicforum.com/news.htm

First Asia Pacific Investment Congress Postponed

Leading professionals from the real estate, property development, finance, investment and other related industries were expected to gather this coming April 25-28 at the Hawaii Convention Center in Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii. But plans have since been postponed due to a recurring problem in obtaining guest visas for foreign visitors to the conference. The occasion was to be the first annual Asia Pacific Investment Congress (APIC), sponsored in part by CB Richard Ellis Hawaii, Asia and Pacific, Enterprise Honolulu and the State of Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. The unique gathering was conceived as a way to lay the groundwork for future partnerships and business opportunities in the burgeoning Asia Pacific region. CB Richard Ellis Vice President Investment Properties, Andres Albano, is understandably disappointed that the APIC has been postponed. After all, he says, the timing couldn't be better for the upcoming conference. "For the first time in a long time, both Asia and the United States economies are booming at the same time," he explains. "China is just going crazy with opportunity. Japan is already seeing 7% growth from last year, so they're coming out of the doldrums, too. That's two of the largest economic engines in the Far East that are revving up right now." Unfortunately, tightened national security measures put into place by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security have significantly hampered the process of issuing visas to both scheduled speakers and conference attendees from mainland China. Says CBRE's Albano, "Based on a long discussion with our Hong Kong office and also with the Governor's office, our committee has decided to postpone the conference until April of 2005." Continuing, he said, "It was a painful decision to make, but ... there was so much uncertainty of not knowing whether the speakers and an anticipated large contingent from China would be able to attend. It was too great a risk for all of us to take." Many of the attendees from the mainland U.S. and Hawaii were excited about the conference because the event would have "brought China to Hawaii," says Mr. Albano, expanding on the reasons to postpone the conference. "It was a chance for westerners to develop relationships and understand the real estate opportunities in China. We certainly did not want to run the risk of disappointing these attendees if the speakers and participants from China were unable to attend." Mr. Albano says the APIC committee chose the original April 25 - 28, 2004 specifically to take advantage of the fact that many Chinese businesspeople would be able to attend due to their traditional May 1st (May Day) holiday. He also notes that the current investment climate in the Asia Pacific region is red hot with opportunity. "The stars are aligned, if you will. Now is the time to take advantage of a great investment situation."

Hmmmm... not much word on this in our trusty (?) local media, or from the repuke governor, who was victimized by this crapola. Hmmm...