With EBRD financing, Serbia will expand science and technology parks (STPs) and construct new ones in cities across the country, including Niš, Čačak, Kruševac and Belgrade (in the BIO4 Campus). A sovereign loan of €80 million and accompanying project agreements were signed in Belgrade by the Prime Minister of Serbia, Ana Brnabić, the Minister of Finance, Siniša Mali, and the EBRD Regional Head of the Western Balkans, Matteo Colangeli, as well as directors of existing STPs.

Brokers report a 30% drop in inquiries for purchasing a new home in Sofia. On an annual basis, the decrease in concluded deals is 15 %.

In 2023, the residential real estate market in Bulgaria is expected to remain calmer and more balanced than during the dynamic previous year. According to real estate agency Arco Real Estate, the forecast is for a slight cooling of interest due to factors such as inflation, the change, and the rise in mortgage rates, as well as the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Real estate market players are starting to recognise the importance of data but finding the right way to collect, analyse and utilise it is still often a challenge. Matej Leskovar, Managing Director at Slovenia-based software solution provider Imagine d.o.o. talked to Property Forum about this topic in detail.

Metro Bulgaria opened its first renovated franchise site in Bulgaria under the name "My Store". The program is one of the main company projects – a soft franchise model that brings together independent traders under one brand.

CA Immo has successfully signed and closed the sale of the Serbian office complex Belgrade Office Park to a domestic investor. With two buildings and an underground car park, the complex comprises approx. 27,200 sqm of total lettable space. The building, which is located close to the city centre, was 97% let as of April 30, 2023, with annualized gross rental income of around €4.4 million.

CBRE has announced the new role of Zvezdana Milutinović as Head of A&T Residential for the SEE region, effective June 1, 2023. Zvezdana joined CBRE at the beginning of the operations in the SEE region, 5 years ago when the direct office in Belgrade for the SEE region was established.

Danish retailer JYSK announced the opening of six new stores in Bulgaria by August 2023, along with the renovation of five existing branches

Slight growth in logistics and retail space rents, despite no new mall expansion or openings being planned. These are the trends for the beginning of 2023, according to the latest report from Cushman & Wakefield Forton.

The first hostel with sleeping capsules has opened in Sofia. Green Cube is a low-budget hostel, which design follows the model of the unique Japanese lodgings with miniature rooms with individual sleeping capsules. The hostel is located next to the central railway and bus station of Sofia.