In the last quarter alone South African investors have spent €1 billion in CEE and it is most likely that they won’t stop chasing higher yields anytime soon. Even though investments in Central and Eastern Europe are generally considered risky by European standards, coming from other parts of the world opportunities in the region may seem rather safe. We report from CEE Property Forum 2016, co-organised by Portfolio Property Forum and RICS, where over 300 visitors and 70 speakers came together to discuss the most pressing issues concerning regional investment markets.

The European industrial and logistics investment market experienced a record breaking H1 investment volume this year, despite a slower Q2. In Hungary, the vacancy rate slipped to 6.6%, and developers’ activity is on the rise according to the latest research data of CBRE.

Prologis has begun the development of an 11,720 sqm speculative distribution facility at Prologis Park Prague-Airport in response to high customer demand, which has resulted in the park being fully let.

Panattoni Europe has announced the lease of three warehouse facilities totalling 42,526 sqm by Raben Logistics Polska. The investment will be carried out at Panattoni Park Grodzisk III. The developer has also recently started the construction of a BTS logistics centre for Sanden Manufacturing Poland in Polkowice, comprising approx. 6,500 sqm.

Ericsson’s new Hungarian headquarters are being built on a site overlooking the Danube by Wing Zrt. This investment is the first phase of the Hungarian Nobel Prize Winners Research & Development Park. The building, which has a total area of 24,000 square meters, will house the company’s largest research and development facility outside Sweden. The building will be constructed to the strict standards of the LEED Gold environmental awareness rating. 

At the end of H1 2016, Poland’s office stock totalled 8.7 million sqm. Warsaw remains the largest office market with Kraków, Wrocław and Tricity becoming major regional office hubs. Nearly 572,000 sqm of modern office space was delivered onto the Polish market in H1 2016, setting a new semi-annual record. Cushman & Wakefield its newest report, Property Times: Office Market In A Growth Phase.

Skanska has laid the cornerstone under its fifth office development in Wrocław, Green2Day. The 17,000 sqm building is scheduled for completion in Q3 2017.

Neinver, a Spanish developer, investor, property and fund manager, has decided to enter the Czech market, the eighth market in which the company has a presence. Neinver has partnered with The Prague Outlet to forge a joint venture launching Prague The Style Outlets, the first premium outlet centre in the Czech Republic. Neinver will be in charge of leasing, retail and property management. The joint venture is financed by PPF Bank.

Building F, the sixth Class A office building of Krakow’s Bonarka for Business (B4B) complex has opened today. TriGranit, the developer plans to deliver three more office buildings in the near future due to the increasing demand for office space in the region. 

The time capsule of the first hotel in Hungary with direct terminal access was placed at Ferenc Liszt International Airport this week. The 145-room ibis Styles Budapest Airport Hotel featuring conference facilities is scheduled for completion in 18 months.