STAR Property Fair is back this year ? bigger, better and spread over four days for the first time.

Touted as Penang?s premier pro-perty expo, the fair?s ninth edition will be held at Gurney Plaza and the adjoining G Hotel from July 21 to July 24.

The exhibition will feature an exciting array of new projects both locally and abroad, property talks and forums, a roundtable discussion as well as contests offering attractive prizes.

To date, 28 major developers ? representing almost all the big boys in the industry ? along with several financial institutions have taken up booths in the fair.

The Star regional operations manager (north) Chung Chok Yin said that for the first time, foreign property by Henry Butcher, Hartamas International and Rescom Asia (Pg) would also be showcased at the fair.

?This will provide property investors with the opportunity to check out investment options in UK and Australia,? he said after the unveiling of the fair?s logo by Star Publications (M) Bhd executive director Tan Sri Kamal Hashim at Star Northern Hub in Bayan Lepas yesterday.

Chung said financial institutions taking part in the fair included EON Bank and Hong Leong Bank while other exhibitors were KPWG International, Capitawealth International and Swiftlet Ecopark.

Besides showcasing prime property projects in Penang and overseas, the fair would also include talks and forums to be conducted by specialists in their respective fields to provide useful information and updates on property investment and related issues including feng shui.

?We?re anticipating large crowds to flock to the fair,? he added.

Henry Butcher Penang director Dr Jason Teoh Poh Huat spoke on the fair?s right timing in view of the country?s buoyant and stable economy.

?The property market is showing growing signs of positive sentiment,? he said, adding that the exhibition was a great opportunity for developers to unveil new projects while potential buyers could look for hou-ses to call their own.

Dr Teoh said they would be showcasing not only new schemes from local developers but also those from London and Melbourne.

Among the major exhibitors are IJM Land, Sunway Grand, Vienna Home (Mah Sing), Ideal Property Development, SP Setia Group, Taman Sri Setia (Boon Siew Group), Ivory Properties Group, Nusmetro, MTT Properties & Development, Reka Indah Development, Lembaman Development (Belleview Group), DNP Land, GD Development, Lone Pine Group and Tambun Indah Development.

For contest buffs, there will be the ?Surf, Click & Win? contest where participants can join in a simple on-line contest and stand to win great prizes including iPad 2 devices, Acer Iconia Tabs and Samsung Galaxy Tabs.

All the contest prizes, worth RM30,000, are sponsored by IJM Land. The fair, which is open to the public from 10am to 10pm daily, is organised by The Star in co-operation with Henry Butcher Penang. Admission is free.

The event is also listed in the Penang Trade Calendar under the state government.

SOURCE: The Star