ASIA - Pension funds will be able to join the Asian Public Real Estate Association for the first time after the organisation created a new membership category.

The Singapore-based association has already evolved to represent unlisted real estate in Asia Pacific in addition to its historic remit of the Asian listed sector, and is now expanding its membership to not only include unlisted property fund managers but also pension funds.

Peter Mitchell, chief executive at APREA, said he been asked to form a new membership category to enable pension funds to take part in affiliated conferences and gain access to the body's research initiatives.

"We have received enquiries in the past from pension funds and that was largely behind the move," Mitchell said.

"It is also consistent with a number of investor-related initiatives we have under way or that are in the pipeline."