On 3 December 2019, Balkans Property Forum 2019, a conference and networking event for real estate professionals from all over Southeastern Europe will be held in Belgrade. Over 150 guests will come together in the Serbian capital to discuss key issues and explore the latest trends influencing the future of the real estate industry.

Consumers and agricultural producers in Montenegro will benefit from the further expansion of Voli, the country’s leading supermarket chain and one of the biggest purchaser of local produce, thanks to a €10 million loan provided by the EBRD. The funds will finance the opening of four new Voli stores, including a supermarket and a convenience store, and the refurbishment and expansion of five existing stores.

The largest supply of modern office space in 15 CEE countries was recorded in Warsaw, Budapest and in Prague, while the biggest increase of new supply in H1 2019 was noted in Bucharest. The most active tenant sectors are IT, professional services, banking, and BPO/SSC. More and more office buildings can boast of prestigious certificates, modern technological and ecological solutions and innovatively designed space, according to Colliers International’s latest report.

CTP will complete the construction of a new factory in Kragujevac, Serbia for one of the world leaders in the production of car components. The investment is worth €16 million and will help create around 800 jobs in Kragujevac in the surrounding places.

Immofinanz is driving the steady growth of its Stop Shop retail park brand, as previously announced, with a next step that includes the expansion of the portfolio to 90 locations. The most recent acquisitions include six fully rented retail parks in Slovenia and Poland with roughly 54,000 sqm of rentable space. The annual rental income based on invoiced rents amounts to approximately €6.6 million, which represents a gross return of 8.6%.

CTP Invest's first project in Serbia - construction of CTPark Belgrade West - has been completed successfully.

Bulgaria marks the seventh country in which CTP opens operations, stretching the company's portfolio from the German border to the Black Sea.

The share of food & beverages in modern shopping centres in Sofia is two to three times below the European benchmark, according to the latest report by Colliers International. From 5% a decade ago, it grew to 10-15% of GLA in European cities in present times and is forecasted to reach 20% by 2025. The share of F&B in Sofia shopping centres is about 6% or 20,000 sqm of the total space.

Developments in Serbia, the newest country in the CTPark Network, are fully underway. CTP is developing Class A properties around the capital Belgrade and other regional cities to respond to the growing demand in this new CEE business hotspot.

Irish fashion retailer Primark opened its first store in Slovenia at Citypark in Ljubljana. The mall was completely renovated around the popular anchor tenant by Citypark operator SES Spar European Shopping Centers, following a refurbishment investment of €20 million.