Poland’s convenience retail market has seen dynamic growth during 2020 and 2021 with several significant investment transactions closed and many new developments launched. Michał Ćwikliński MRICS, Principal, Managing Director and Paulina Brzeszkiewicz-Kuczyńska, Research and Data Manager at Avison Young in Poland talked to Property Forum about the trends driving this market segment.

The pandemic has not changed the strategy of RSJ Investments. The company’s core focus in the real estate segment remains predominantly on investments in residential and logistics/industrial development projects. Nevertheless, the pandemic indeed makes certain asset classes, such as retail, riskier, admits Marcel Kolesár MRICS, Transaction Manager at the real estate division of RSJ Investments, in an interview to Property Forum.

Kamil Kowa, Member of the Board at Savills Poland talked to Property Forum about the rapid development of the Polish private rental sector, its attractiveness for investors and the current state of PBSA industry.

There is increased demand for all categories of property assets in Romania, with office and industrial set to continue their growth streak this year. Property Forum talked to Victor Constantinescu, Managing Partner of Kinstellar’s Bucharest office and Co-Head of the firm-wide Real Estate practice, about the impact of the pandemic on Romania’s real estate market and how the country’s property investment potential can be harnessed in the next years.

What exactly is the circular economy in real estate and why it is so important? Why do impact investments make a real difference? Monika A. Dębska-Pastakia, Founder and Managing Partner of PADMO Group and renowned real estate expert explains it for Property Forum in detail.

CPI Property Group has committed to significantly reducing its portfolio’s carbon footprint and, at the same time, encourages its tenants to do the same. The Group also invests heavily in special building management systems to reach sustainable operation even faster, says Mátyás Gereben, Country Manager at CPI Hungary who talked to Property Forum about the company’s asset management strategy on the local market.

One United Properties continues to develop its Bucharest-based office portfolio which has reached an estimated value of almost €400 million. Property Forum spoke with Mihai Păduroiu, CEO of the Office Division of One United Properties, about the transformation in the office market triggered by the pandemic and the drivers of demand going forward.

With around 122,000 sqm of new industrial space under development in Romania, WDP is seeing growing demand across its entire portfolio. Property Forum talked to Gijs Klomp, Business Development Manager at WDP Romania, about the new demand drivers and the investment potential in areas where infrastructure development is accelerating.

There is scepticism in the market regarding the correlation between sustainability and financial performance but it is beneficial to be sustainable if you consider the overall life-cycle of the building, explains Oana Stamatin, ESG Chief Officer | CEE & Romania at Colliers. She talked to Property Forum about the challenges and opportunities owners of real estate face in striving for ESG compliance. 

Maxim Shkolnick, General Partner at CEE-based retail investor Focus Estate Fund talked to Property Forum about recent acquisitions in Poland, the Covid-driven evolution of the retail market and the astonishing popularity of convenience centres among investment funds.