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.