Illinois REALTOR® Alex Ruggieri represented IHC Global and NAR at the World Urban Forum held in February in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The photo is of the grounds near the meeting site. (Photo courtesy Alex Ruggieri.)

Illinois REALTOR® Alex Ruggieri got a chance to attend one of the largest economic development gatherings in the world in February when he attended the ninth session of the World Urban Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Ruggieri, CCIM, CIPS, CRE, GRI, attended the Feb. 7-13 event referred to as WUF9 as part of his role as a board member for IHC Global, a collection of non-profit organizations focused on worldwide economic development. Ruggieri represents NAR’s interests with the international organization.

Ruggieri got to sit in presentations on all aspects of urban development, an experience he called “consciousness raising.”

The presentations and panel discussions explored nearly every aspect of urban development from creating housing for seniors to working with refugee populations living in tent cities. The World Urban Forum was created in 2001 by the United Nations to promote discussion of how to address challenges faced by urban areas.

“There was something of interest no matter what point of the spectrum you were interested in,” Ruggieri said.

A commercial broker in Champaign, Ruggieri said elements of the various presentations touched directly on challenges in his community. Sessions on redevelopment of the inner city and attracting the creative class are just as relevant in large cities as they are in Champaign, he said.

“The meetings were about how to use real estate as currency for economic development,” Ruggieri said. “It’s very relevant to the here and now and what we should be paying attention to.”

A highlight of the meeting was a private dinner at the U.S. ambassador’s residence in Kuala Lumpur. The meal was catered by a company that uses refugees as staff.

The trip fits with Ruggieri’s efforts at promoting global real estate. He’s represented Illinois REALTORS® at the MIPIM real estate conference in Cannes, France, and he is a member of the NAR Commercial Committee. He has served as chair of NAR’s Commercial Leadership Forum, and as chair and vice chair for Illinois REALTORS® Global Working Group (Now called the Global Business Council).