Sigrid Zialcita, CEO of the Asia Pacific Real Assets Association (APREA), joined the REIT Report during Nareit's REITweek: 2026 Investor Conference in New York earlier this summer to highlight the long-term investment opportunities in both developed and emerging markets in the Asia Pacific region.
Zialcita described a "balanced opportunity set across Asia Pacific. There's something for everyone in terms of opportunities.”
Zialcita pointed to emerging markets, including India, and parts of Southeast Asia, where the growth outlook is still quite positive. “They're going be driving the economic growth in Asia Pacific and that bodes well for real estate,” she said. Investors can leverage the continued urbanization in those markets, she added.
Developed markets such as Japan, Australia, and Singapore are also positioned to be core allocations for many global investors, and that will continue to be the case going forward, Zialcita said.
Meanwhile, China can be a significant long-term opportunity for many, according to Zialcita. APREA is very positive about developments in China, she noted, based on the country’s willingness to amend regulations to ensure they are conducive to the growth of REITs.
While China does get a lot of negative publicity, “it is too big to ignore. There's still a lot of potential for this country. It is home to among the largest real estate and infrastructure in the world,” she said.
Elsewhere in the interview, Zialcita discussed:
- The role of REITs in democratizing real estate access in Asia Pacific
- Evolution of core real estate assets and diversification
- Market variations across developed and emerging Asia Pacific markets
- Impact of geopolitical tensions and supply chain realignment
- Climate resilience and sustainability in real estate assets
- Performance trends of REITs in 2025 and 2026
- Growth prospects for emerging markets like India, Vietnam, and Malaysia
- Regulatory developments and their influence on market maturity
- Investor education and the importance of liquidity in REIT markets
- Long-term opportunities and strategic considerations for global investors