CIT Group, a Romanian retailer specialised in IT equipment, has acquired the Nokia building in Timișoara for €6.2 million which marks the company’s entry into the real estate business. The property will be managed by CIT’s Imobiliare division.

In line with its development strategy for AccorHotels branded hotels in Eastern Europe, in particular on the very promising Romanian market, Orbis signed 3 new agreements in recent weeks for a total of 370 hotel rooms.

Orbis has opened a new Ibis Styles hotel in the northern area of Bucharest. The hotel features a restaurant, a conference room, a business lounge and a bar, in addition to 80 guest rooms. The property was rebranded from Hotel Erbas.

The accelerated economic development of the major regional cities in Romania is beginning to influence their real estate market as well. According to Colliers International, there are strong arguments to support the increased interest in office leasing and the strong investment potential, so cities such as Cluj-Napoca, Timisoara, Iasi or Brasov can offer an alternative to Bucharest.

Entrepreneur Ovidiu Sandor’s Mulberry Development has handed over the first phase of ISHO Offices in Timisoara, Romania. Survey Sampling International was the first company to move in with more than 130 employees.

The Iulius Company commences the construction works for the fourth office building of the total six to be included in the Openville Timişoara mixed-use development. Spanning on a 155 m height and 27 floors, United Business Center 0 (UBC 0) will be the tallest office building in Romania. The Openville project is currently under construction in the proximity of Iulius Mall Timişoara and, owing to the 130,000 sqm of office premises it will create, it hopes to become the main business hub in the west of Romania.

Companies have rented almost 70,000 square meters of office space in Bucharest in Q1 2018, according to JLL. One-third of the demand came from companies that formerly had their headquarters in old, small buildings or in other different from modern buildings (non-competitive stock). This segment of demand increased compared to last year when it accounted for only 7% of the total take-up.

Mulberry Development, a real estate developer controlled by businessman Ovidiu Sandor, has announced the launch of the second phase for ISHO Offices, a mixed-use project in Timisoara.

Ikea plans to build its third store in Romania next to the city of Timisoara. The Swedish retailer has reportedly applied for a permit to build a roundabout that would allow access to the future store. Ikea also plans to open stores in Brasov and Cluj-Napoca.

Real estate developer Werk Property Group is planning to invest €14 million in Vox Vertical Village, a residential project in Timisoara. The development of the 120 housing units is scheduled to start soon with completion scheduled for the end of 2019.