’Cities are the future’ – Mayors’ Day on MIPIM

The second day of MIPIM was entitled the Mayor’s Day. Beside the aldermen, London and the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, the 40-year-long strategic plan of the City of Copenhagen also came into spotlight.

Central Eastern Europe and its investment opportunities was a highlighted topic of yesterday’s MIPIM conference. The heterogene markets of the region are considered as a neither cold, nor hot business destination. As a result of the crisis, potential investors are only willing to enter stable markets.

Poland is still the number one business destination in Central Europe. At MIPIM its dominance is demonstrated by the numerous attending cities and regions of the country, like Warsaw, Gdansk, Krakow and Poznan. On the second and third place the Czech Republic and Slovakia were mentioned as prosperous countires. Altough the romanian real estate market is less attractive than three years ago, it is still a considerable investment area. The fact that Hungary was not even mentioned amongst the potential investment destinations of the Central Eastern European region is disappointing.

Moving to the West, Copenhagen’s 40-year-long strategic plan has got big publicity as well. As part of the startegy Copenhagen’s aim is to lay the basis for cooperation and the infrastructural development between the city and Oresund Region.

In 2011 MIPIM’s Country of Honour is the United Kingdom. Therefore numerous programmes are related to the island country. The 2012 Olympic Games and their positive effect on Londons’ hotel trade were highlighted topics. Experts analyzed the already perceptible impact of ’the greatest show on Earth today” on the metropolis’ suburban part and the surrounding towns as well. At the press conference of the UK, held on the 8th of March, Boris Johnson, Mayor of London’s remarks engaged the attention of the audience.

Johnson’s statement that „Cities are the future” also came from Johnson and the representatives of four hundred different cities and regions aggreed with it on the Mayors’ Lunch in the Majestic Hotel of Brussels. Pros of citylife are the better education, productivity and effectivity.Mayor of Budapest Mr. István Tarlós also attended the event.

’Cities are the future’- This is not new for us, but what MIPIM 2011 adds to understand the real estate trends is that this idea has been accepted by the political decision makers and declared in fornt of the professionals.

On Budapest stand the day was closed by Budapest Business Region’s Wine Tasting programme called ’B my guEST’, where next to its five exhibitors, their international partners and the representatives of 20 different companies took part. The event was opened by the speech of Mr. Bálint Nemeth, vice president of BBR and Mr. Elemer Eszter, CEO of Studio Metropolitana. The programme was so popular that it lasted until the closing moment of the expo.