First Ever International Facility Management Show to be launched in Singapore

By 2017, the global facilities management market forecasts growth up to US$394.69 billion with companies seeing the need to recalibrate their property strategy, building maintenance, communications infrastructure, administration, and space management into a better and more cost-effective solution.

Here in Singapore, the creation of real estate investment trusts (REITs), a result of a robust property market, is a major driver of the integrated facilities management (IFM) services market as the returns from a well-managed property can be profitable for both investors and property owners. Fund managers and other property managers have a part to play in indirectly driving the practice of outsourcing facilities management to qualified third-party providers that are expected to ensure that the property and facilities are well managed and appreciate in value. Technological advances in terms of new software development and new hardware usage also contribute to the growth of the IFM services market in the long term.

The Singapore Government’s efforts to actively promote the concept of IFM and its initiatives to outsource the management of major Government departments and facilities to third-party providers have had a major impact on the country’s IFM services market.

Singapore is poised to hold its first dedicated international trade show targeted for the facility management industry from May 7 to 9, 2013 at the Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre. A conference is also in the pipeline, in tandem with the show for the industry.

iFaME will be a timely exhibition to cater to the needs of a growing market with both real and projected increases in commercial office spaces and industrial buildings and estates. The newly-completed Marina Bay Financial Centre marks a new phase for the industry. At the end of the first quarter 2011, there was a total supply of almost 994,000 sqm in gross floor area of office space in the pipeline. Of this, some 705,000 sqm are expected to be completed by 2013.

“As the building stock in Singapore increases and undergoes significant re-building, the need for expertise to maintain and manage these properties becomes crucial. While it is the responsibility of the facility managers to manage and coordinate the variety of goods and services the specialist trades have to offer, it is the specialist tradesmen that are ultimately responsible for the execution and end-quality of these re-building projects,” said Mr Nelson Tee, President of Specialists Trade Alliance of Singapore (STAS), Host of iFame 2013.

International Facility Management Expo 2013 or iFaME 2013, is supported by the Building & Construction Authority of Singapore, Asian Intelligent Building Institute (AIIB) and Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau and, hosted by the Specialists Trade Alliance of Singapore (STAS) which is a federation of 10 associations serving the building services industry.

“With the focus on sustainable green building, as well as, workplace health and safety issues, there will be increased pressure on facility managers to perform beyond their stipulated roles and responsibilities. iFaME will not only be an exhibition for their procurement needs, but it would also be a learning platform for facility managers to further their knowledge of the discipline. We are pleased to have the Singapore Chapter of the International Facility Management Association as our Strategic Partner,” said Mr Edward Liu, Group Managing Director, Conference & Exhibition Management Services Pte Ltd (CEMS), Organiser of iFaME 2013.

The show is expected to gather 200 exhibitors from 20 countries and: 6,000 visitors from 15 countries and occupy a floor area of 4,500sqm. iFaME 2013 will be co-located with LEDTEC Asia 2013 exhibition, the only specialized LED event in South East Asia. The combined exhibition floor space will be 8,000sqm.