Romania, a target for new retailers from Italy, Spain or Germany

While other sectors in Romania are not so appealing to foreign investors these days, the retail field seem pretty attractive to them and to some 50 new retail brands according the latest retail data Colliers International released in Cannes’s MAPIC (Marche Professionelle Imobiliere Comerciale ) 2013 – the international retail property market, Agerpres informs.

‘A relevant example for the Romania’s retail market attractiveness is the response of the companies attending MAPIC this year specifically that of thosecomapnies focused on development in Central and Eastern Europe. Thus, almost 40% of the retailers interested in Central and Eastern Europe analyze the Romanian market. Out of these, 50 are new retailers, mostly coming from France, Spain, Italy, Germany and Turkey. Also, our country is in the sight of a significant part of the developers attending the event – about 30% of the companies targeting Central and Eastern Europe expressed a particular interest in our country.’, Liana Dumitru, Associate Director of Colliers Romania Retail Division, said.

Such interest in the retail market in the Eastern part of Europe is confirmed by the progress recorded in investments in this sector compared with the volume recorded all over the continent. Colliers evaluates an average growth of 14% in this segment throughout Europe, whereas Central and Eastern Europe registers an annual increase of 50%. So, although the Western Europe still represents the most attractive market to investors, the UK leading the top in terms of investment since got 33% of the allocated amounts in Q2 and Q3 this year, Central and Eastern Europe shows growth potential. Russia and Poland are currently the most appealing economies for retail investors considering the volume of investment they benefitted from. Even if Romania is behind, the retail market here becomes more and more attractive to investors as the rate of the global capital going to Central and Eastern Europe accelerates.

This improvement concerning Romania’s status as a potential retail investment destination, as well as the higher interest shown by investors was also confirmed by the discussions with companies attending MAPIC 2013. The international real estate fare is considered to be the main event of this kind, a major meeting point of the global retail industry, at this year’s edition participating some 4000 companies operating in this sector.

Colliers International is a leader in global real estate offering comprehensive services to investors, property owners, tenants and developers around the world. Operating in 62 countries across the world, the company has a Romanian subsidiary which leads the market on its segment of full real estate consulting services.