Mikhail Merkulov, a General Director of Arricano Real Estate Plc, took part in 8th annual Central-Eastern Europe Retail Real Estate Awards which took place on January 27-28, 2016, in Warsaw (Poland).

Those who took part in the event, retailers from Austria, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Ukraine and Poland, discussed the tendencies and trends of real estate market, possible ways for market development as a whole and particularly for markets of East European countries. Over 400 guests from leading European companies, among which there were Multi Development, ECE, GTC, CBRE Global Investors, Deutsche Pfandbriefbank AG, Acteeum Group, Redevco, Immochan, H&M, Ikea and many others, familiarized with successful experience of retail market in 2015 in East European countries. Arricano Real Estate Plc (a leading developer and network operator in Ukraine) and Ukrainian Real Estate Club (URE Club) participated from Ukrainian delegation.

Mikhail Merkulov took part as a speaker in New Opportunities of Belarus, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine panel discussion. Mr. Merkulov says that the interest of European banks, investors, developers and retailers to specific projects in Ukraine and to collaboration with strong players in our country is very high. Ukraine is considered as attractive market at the same time expecting real steps from the government in economic stabilization, property rights protection, changes of legal framework, including the active fight against corruption. Unsteadiness in Ukraine prevents our prospective foreign partners from making a positive decision on entering.

“This forum is a perfect opportunity for Arricano to present the prospects of national market of commercial real estate, draw the attention of international companies to new projects in Ukraine, as well as to tell about the results achieved by Arricano in the middle of the crisis,” stated the General Director of Arricano. “Prospective international partners consider the Ukrainian market on the same basis as the markets of Turkey and Belarus. Our country has a great potential; that’s why foreign investors are closely following the changes in Ukraine and eagerly waiting for the government to improve the investment climate and implement property rights protection and investors support programs. Negotiations which we had with prospective partners of Arricano evidence that more and more foreign retailers are ready to cooperate.”