Interview: Mr. Christian Schindler, General Manager Korea, Lufthansa German Airlines,

Lufthansa German Airlines' representation in Korea began in 1966 with the signing of a General Sales Agency agreement between Lufthansa and Hyopsung Shipping. However, it was not until November 1984 that Lufthansa commenced its own flight services, flying from Seoul via Anchorage to Frankfurt. Since then, as noted by Mr. Christian Schindler, General Manager Korea, Lufthansa German Airlines, the company has grown as a major partner in Korea's air-travel sector. Currently it offers a total of 11 weekly flights between Korea and Europe with six weekly flights on the Seoul-Frankfurt route and five weekly flights on the Busan-Munich route (via Seoul). “Today, we are the largest European airline on the Korean market and are enjoying a growing number of Korean customers. We are also the only European...

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Interview: Mr. Lee Sang-min, Fund Manager, FRM/ Alternative Global Investments Team, KFCC

On June 10th, this year, 333 Market Street, a 33 storey San Francisco office tower occupied by Wells Fargo & Co. sold for $333 million, the city's biggest commercial property deal in three years. San Francisco-based Wells Fargo occupies 100 percent of the rentable space and has a lease that runs to 2026. The deal was put together by Goodwin Gaw, a Hong Kong-based investor and developer who recently bought 550 Montgomery St. in San Francisco for $12.65 million. The seller was Des Moines, Iowa-based insurer Principal Financial Group Inc., which bought the tower from Wells Fargo for $370 million in 2006 before a collapse in commercial property values. The last single San Francisco office building to change hands for a comparable price was 650 California St., which sold for $300 million in...

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Interview: Mr. Raj S. Inamdar, Principal, Red Fort Capital

PDF Copy of Magazine which includes the Interview Available H...

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Interview: Mr. Kim Jong-hoon, Minister of Trade

South Korea and the EU formally signed a free trade agreement in Brussels on October 6th and both sides agreed they will aim to ratify the agreement by July 2011. The deal, which has been negotiated starting in May 2007, will lower tariffs, boost trade and investment, and create jobs for both Korea and the 27 EU countries. The agreement was signed by Korea's Minister for Trade Kim Jong-hoon and European Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht and others. President Lee Myung-bak took part in the ceremony after he met with Prime Minister Yves Leterme of Belgium at the Egmont Palace and said the two sides should work hard to meet the ratification deadline. In an exclusive interview Minister Kim speaks about the implications of this agreement and also the various other FTA's that are being negotiated...

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Interview: Mr. Michael Bowles, National Director of Asia Capital Markets, Jones Lang LaSalle Japan

The Japanese real estate market makes up a majority of the investable world of Asian real estate for institutional investors due to its sheer size and Japan`s low-risk, developed country profile within Asia. Compared to other high growth and higher risk countries within the Asia region, Japa's real estate performance has been sluggish and effected by recent turmoil in the domestic economy and global securitization markets. However, after posting an unprecedented steep decline in economic activity in 2009 with a contraction of 5.2%, the growth rate in Japan turned positive, rising 4.2% in the first quarter of 2010, thanks to the increase in external demand and positive effects from the government's stimulus package. Despite policy reforms, back to basics and investment conservatism taking...

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Interview: Mr. Oh Se-hoon, Mayor of Seoul City

Over the past couple of years, Seoul Metropolitan Government has been working to make this city a favored destination for the international business community. The city has the advantage of a highly-educated human talent pool, high-tech industrial and social infrastructure, and information and transportation networks. Excerpts of interview with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon: >>Over the past four years, Seoul has joined the ranks of the ten most global cities in the world. This achievement was possible based on the two-dimensioned governance of enhancing the citizens' quality of life and reinforcing the city's competitive edge. -By creating over 738,000 new jobs and building a tightly-knit social safety net, Seoul could act as a sturdy pillar for the people even in the times of global financial...

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Interview: Mr. Erwin Stouthamer, Principal, Composition Capital Partners,

In the 2009 PERE LP Survey, Composition Capital Partners BV is the only General Partner listed as particularly admired for its thorough work and transparent communication The company has an extensive network in Europe, Asia and the US, built up over a period of twelve years. The members have strong direct real estate experience and in addition to their network, bring a broad range of skills in deal structuring, due diligence and investment monitoring. The cultural diversity of the company not only provides it with local insights, but also helps us better appreciate and understand the cultural and behavioral aspects of the markets. Mr. Erwin Stouthamer, Principal, Composition Capital Partners: >>Composition Capital Partners is a real estate investment management company which was founded...

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Interview: Mr. Jeremy Stewardson, Executive Director, ANREV

The Asian Association for Investors in Non-listed Real Estate Vehicles (ANREV) is the sister organisation to INREV in Europe. It seeks to generate increased levels of liquidity within the Asian private real estate fund market through promoting greater transparency, accessibility, professionalism and standards of best practice. As a regional body, it strives to provide a platform for the sharing and dissemination on the non-listed real estate fund market. ANREV now has 57 member companies in eight countries. ANREV’s agenda is driven by the members, in particular the investors, and is focused on improving transparency and accessibility of market information, promoting professionalism and best practices, sharing and spreading knowledge. The objectives are being achieved through implementing research...

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Interview: Mr. David Martin, Head of Retail, Commercial Property,Hongkong Land Ltd.

Founded in 1889, Hongkong Land has interests across the Asian region. In Hong Kong, the Group owns and manages some five million sq. ft of prime commercial space that defines the heart of the Central Business District. In Singapore, it is helping to create the city-state's new Central Business District with the expansion of its joint venture portfolio of new developments. Hongkong Land's properties in these and other Asian centres are recognised as market leaders and house the world's foremost financial, business and luxury retail names. Hongkong Land also develops premium residential properties in a number of cities in the region, not least in Singapore where its 77%-owned listed affiliate, MCL Land, is a significant developer. Hongkong Land Holdings Limited is incorporated in Bermuda. It...

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Interview: Mr. Oh Byung-don, Mayor of Icheon City

Located in the South-Eastern part of Gyeonggi-do, Icheon has naturally developed good plains and hilly areas of Bokhacheon and Cheongmicheon due to the Namhan River tributary. The east-west Yeongdong Highway intersects with the center of the north-south highway. It is accessible from all directions by crossing national road 3, that connects from Seoul to Chungju, and national road 42, that connects Suwon with Yeoju, so it has a good base for manufacuting. Also Icheon has the best quality rice in the world, peaches, which are especially big, white & sweet, soil & fire and traditional ceramic ware which has its own eternal life and the artistic spirit of craftsmen. It is also the original place of ceramic ware of the world's ceramic art, natural hot springs that fly up by the folding...

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Interview: Mr. Lee Kwi-nam, Minister of Justice

The Ministry of Justice serves the citizens by guarding and enforcing the Constitution and laws of the Republic. In addition to rendering legal advice to the President, Prime Minister, and other ministries, MOJ supervises the prosecution. It is also in charge of correctional and rehabilitative administration and immigration. In what should be of more interest to foreign investors, it is responsible for Policies with respect to an Investment-Friendly Legal Environment. I interviewed him to learn more about the policies and plans on this front. Excerpts: >>The vision of the Ministry of Justice is to bring about a happy nation with an advanced rule of law. To realize this vision, we are pushing ahead with the following priorities. First, in order to create a transparent society, we are...

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Interview: Ms. Arlida Ariff, President & CEO, Iskandar Investment Berhad

Located in Johor, the southern gateway to Peninsular Malaysia, Iskandar Malaysia economic region is just six to eight hours flight radius from Asia's burgeoning growth centres such as Bangalore, Dubai, Hong Kong, Seoul, Shanghai, Taipei and Tokyo, and within reach of a global market of some 800 million people. Accessible by air, land, rail and sea, it is flanked by three major ports, the Pasir Gudang Port, Port of Tanjung Pelepas and Tanjung Langsat Port. Because of its strategic location, accessibility to leading Asian cities, proximity to some of the world's most rapidly growing and important economies, and a range of attractive fiscal incentives, Iskandar Malaysia is poised to attract an exciting influx of foreign and high-level corporate investments as discerning investors look to benefit...

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