A recent panel discussion at Prague Property Forum 2025 brought together industry leaders to explore the evolving landscape of investment across different asset classes, with a particular focus on retail, office, and industrial properties. Moderated by Josef Malíř from Star Capital Finance, the conversation revealed nuanced perspectives on investment strategies, sustainability, and market challenges.
Tim Wilkinson from Indotek Group emphasised the continued potential of retail investments, noting, "Retail has been quite clearly the opportunity when people have looked the other way. Specifically in the last years, we have had some really good returns, and we're still able to enter markets in Europe with very strong, high-yielding positions because the liquidity disappeared."
The discussion highlighted the complex interplay between traditional and online retail. Tomáš Dadej from Kaufland provided insights into the retail sector's adaptability, stating, "We try to collaborate with online platforms to offer our goods. It doesn't have to be only a hard, competitive fight, but could be a kind of cooperation. We as retailers have to be quite adaptive, and this is already happening, especially in big cities like Prague."
Sustainability emerged as a critical theme, with speakers unanimously agreeing that ESG considerations are here to stay. Tomáš Fabian from Skanska articulated a long-term perspective: "Skanska was established in 1887, and we started collecting sustainability data back in 2008. Our ultimate goal is carbon neutrality by 2045. This is a journey we understand, and while we can adjust to circumstances, the direction is clear."
