The 6th Annual IPD/SAPOA Property Investment Conference, to be held in Cape Town next month, promises exactly that opportunity. Indeed, the conference is known for not shying away from the tough questions facing the industry.

University of Pretoria academic and Nedlac business convenor, professor Raymond Parsons and FNB property strategist John Loos, or respected analysts Francois Viruly of Wits and Brian Kantor of Investec will be on hand to facilitate proceedings.
 
The first day of the conference kicks off with a critical scene-setting session entitled Emerging Trends which aims to sketch out the broader social, economic, political and market context for the property investment sector. Chaired by David Williams, associate deputy editor at the FM, participants include Parsons, Loos, Viruly and Kantor.
 
"Property investors should familiarize themselves with the socio-economic factors in SA that lie beyond the present short-term local and global uncertainties," says Parsons, adding that investors should be focusing on questions like how to build on an SA economy that is undoubtedly bigger, stronger and better than it was in 1994.

"What does the SA economy need to do in future to reduce its vulnerabilities and increase its adaptability from a business perspective? How might the political economy in SA evolve beyond 2009?" he asks.
 
"These are the questions we need to be tackling."
 
Loos agrees that investors need to find ways to see through the current cycles and concentrate on long-term potential.
 
"The global environment is of course crucial for local fortunes," he says, pointing out that investors should stay away from speculating right now because the world economy is still unpredictable.
 
"Property investors need to look through the ups and downs and not be intimidated by the current market," he elaborates.
 
"Look to the long-term shape of the country and see beyond 2010, when many proposed projects and new infrastructure are completed."
 
Aptly entitled Opportunity in Uncertainty, the conference will take place at the Pavilion Conference Centre at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town on 7 and 8 August 2008. Sponsored by Old Mutual Investment Group Property Investments, the conference incorporates the prestigious FM Listed Property Investment Awards for top-performing listed funds in the IPD databank.