Expo Real 2008 – Growth Despite The Credit Crisis

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Again this year Expo Real has recorded strong growth. The 11th International Commercial Property Exposition, which took place in Munich from 6 to 8 October 2008, attracted 24,500 trade visitors from 77 countries (2007: 23,800 from 77 countries). In addition, at the exhibition stands, there were over 17, 500 company representatives. The figure for participation in EXPO REAL 2008 was thus 42,000 (2007: 39,000) – a rise over last year of 7.7 percent. The next Expo Real takes place from 5 to 7 October 2009 in Munich.

"These figures show that even and especially in a time of uncertain financial markets the sector needs a forum in which it can analyse the situation and develop perspectives for the future. That is why it is supporting the biggest commercial property fair in Europe, EXPO REAL, " said Eugen Egetenmeir, a member of the management board of Messe München. "At this year´s EXPO REAL we are seeing a continuation of the positive effects of recent years. This trade fair is a platform for both generating new business and consolidating existing customer relations, " said Ulf Buhlemann, Managing Director / Head of Valuation, CB Richard Ellis, Germany.

The top ten countries of origin among the visitors, after Germany, were (in this order). Great Britain, Netherlands, Austria, Russia, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Poland, USA, France and Spain.

Bavaria´s Minister of Economic Affairs, Emilia Müller, attested to the fair´s excellent international reputation during her visit: "Here representatives from a wide range of countries and regions can present themselves to an international audience."

Alongside the subjects of investment and finance strategies another focus at the fair was sustainability. The Deputy Minister of Economics of Catalonia, Andreu Morillas, said: "EXPO REAL featured projects of the highest quality that point out the tremendous opportunities that exist for sustainable development. EXPO REAL is an indicator for the direction of urban development generally in Europe."

A total of 1,856 companies from 45 countries exhibited at EXPO REAL 2008. Of this number, 487 came from outside Germany, which represents a stable international proportion of 26 percent. The strongest contingent from abroad came from Russia, which was represented with 62 exhibitors. "We take part in many trade fairs, but for us EXPO REAL is one of the most promising platforms at which to present new projects. This explains why we are so active at this event, " said the Mayor of Moscow, Yuri Luzhkov.

In 2008, for the first time, EXPO REAL encompassed seven halls, covering 74,000 square metres of exhibition space – which is a rise of 11,000 square metres, or 17 percent, over last time.

The over 100 individual events in the conference programme at EXPO REAL provided an opportunity for 500 experts to exchange views on developments in the property markets. The most popular events were those on financial themes, for example, strategies for crisis management, global capital flows and how to finance investments against a background of dwindling liquidity.

Other themes, alongside the overall focus of sustainability in project developments, were current market data and market overviews on growth markets such as Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Turkey and Kazakhstan. Marc T. Lerch, General Manager CEE / Central Asia, CAB Invest, exhibiting at the joint stand of Kazakhstan, said: "EXPO REAL is a tremendous event – it is an ideal platform for a country like Kazakhstan to present itself to the investment community."

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