The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, a body that
produces regular surveys of the state of the property market among other
services, has widened its Asian footprint by signing a memorandum of co-operation
with the Japan Association of Real Estate Appraisers.

“The memorandum marks the beginning of a long term
relationship between RICS and JAREA, through effective and regular joint
promotion of professional knowledge and training. The agreement will provide
pathways for membership and services through mutual recognition,” RICS said in
a statement.

Under the agreement, the two bodies will support and
organise professional events and also work together to share and contribute
information on industry guidance notes and research, as well as organising
study tours abroad, the organisation said.

In September, RICS set up an office in Japan. At the
time, RICS chief executive Sean Tompkins said that the organisation sees Japan
as a “long-term strategic market and it is our priority to continue to invest
in this part of the world”.

The RICS Asia organisation supports a network of over 11 000
individual professionals across the Asia Pacific region.