Jan. 9, 2006 (China Knowledge) – Property consultancy group DTZ plans to use a US$400 million Middle East capital fund to explore opportunities in mainland real estate, DTZ’s Asia-Pacific chairman said.

In an interview with The Standard, Leung Chun-ying said that the Middle East investment fund will be targeting non-residential property in the Mainland as a long-term investment. Leung chose China because DTZ has a strong business presence in China and it will be an advantage to the group in diversifying and expanding its business there.

The fund marks the first time that DTZ will be entering fund management, and the new business is considered a major part of the group's expansion strategy in the Mainland. DTZ has offices in Shanghai, Shenzhen, Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Dalian, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Wuhan and Xian, and aims to set up offices in the cities of Shandong, Jiangsu and Fujian next.