Aware of the affect that a strong unified retail real estate industry can have in regards to addressing advocacy and other industry issues, the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) has struck a collaborative membership agreement with the South African Council of Shopping Centres (SACSC). SACSC joins a number of other national councils that have signed agreements with ICSC in the last 18 months, including the Shopping Centre Association of India (SCAI), the Shopping Centre Council of Australia (SCCA) and the British and French Councils of Shopping Centres.
On 1 January 2014, all of SACSC's 2,260 members will become ICSC members as well.
Michael Kercheval, president and CEO of ICSC, and Marius Muller, president of SACSC, made the announcement during SACSC's conference on September 12in Johannesburg. "This collaborative agreement is a significant step towards strengthening the global shopping centre industry," Kercheval said. "SACSC has always put its members first, and this agreement will provide SACSC's members with all the benefits and services of ICSC," he added.
ICSC will collaborate with SACSC to provide education, advocacy, research and networking opportunities for the retail real estate industry. They will work together to develop publications, workshops, programs and other events.
"SACSC has long provided our members with quality resources and support and nurtured the growth of the industry in South Africa and on the continent," said Amanda Stops, CEO, SACSC. "The collaboration with ICSC will provide our members with significant additional benefits and enhance our association's influence outside of the region through ICSC's global network. I am confident that the relationship will be beneficial to our members and the industry here in South Africa."