Ferenc Kis-Szölgyémi, CEO of B+N Reference Zrt., a CEE-based facility management provider, spoke with Property Forum about the company’s recent international expansion and shared his vision for further growth.

According to Colliers, CEE markets continue to feel some impact on transactional activity with flow volumes down ca. 22% year-on-year. Poland captured more than half of all invested capital in the first half of the year. Colliers estimates for 2021 that year-end volumes will remain between €10-11 billion.

Oxford Economics, one of the sources of CBRE Research, predicts a GDP growth of 6.9% for Romania, most likely the highest in the CEE region. With this in mind, it is clear that we are heading towards a fast-paced recovery. Luiza Moraru, Head of Property Management CEE at CBRE shared some facts and figures on investment market trends and talked about the growing activity of local investors on the Romanian market.

Radu Boitan, Investment Director at Revetas Capital Advisors talked to Property Forum about the importance of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives, proactive asset management and investment strategies.

Colliers continues the process of changes in the company's structure in Poland. After Monika Rajska-Wolińska's promotion to CEO for the CEE region announced on July 1, 2021, the company informs about the appointment of new members to the company's Management Board in Poland. Joining the board are: Marta Machus-Burek (Vice-President of the Management Board, responsible for the Corporate Development Strategy), Paweł Skałba (Board Member, responsible for Sales and Client Relations), Piotr Mirowski (Board Member, responsible for Landlord Advisory Strategy) and Maciej Chmielewski (Board Member, responsible for Tenant Advisory Strategy). Thus, they will support the President of the Management Board - Monika Rajska-Wolińska in implementing Colliers strategy in Poland in the designated areas.  

Péter Számely, Head of Real Estate Finance Department at Austrian mortgage bank HYPO NOE talked to Property Forum about the funding of COVID-resistant property assets and the growth potential of markets in Central and Eastern Europe.

Cushman & Wakefield summed up the first half of 2021 on the commercial real estate market in the CEE region. The investment volume at the end of the first half of the year amounts to €3.7 billion and is nearly 25% lower than in the same period in 2020.

Hannes Wimmer, Executive Director, Loan Syndication at Erste Group Bank AG talked to Property Forum about the segments driving the property investment market and the funding focus of banks on sustainable projects. He reveals that compared to Western Europe, the CEE region is lagging a bit when it comes to financing sustainable projects, but big changes can be expected during the next 6 to 12 months.

In order to sustainably minimize the CO2 emissions and energy consumption of its international property portfolio, CA Immo relies, among other things, on centralized energy management and green building operation.

Occupiers looking for quality workspace in Europe will face tough competition for the best space in the leasing market despite the most active period of new office construction in half a decade, Savills predicts. Newly developed offices set to complete in the region this year will provide 26% more space compared with 2020, says the European Office Development report.