Rui Coelho, Invest Lisboa’s CEO, comments to VI that «the balance of this year’s participation couldn’t be better. We are having fantastic years in Lisbon, and that is also reflected in our Lisbon stand at MIPIM», where «25 partners and 5 municipalities besides Lisbon are represented. We have here several Lisbon real estate specialists, with large projects being promoted».
He adds that «we are promoting Lisbon municipality’s affordable rent program, Beato’s Creative Hub, the new theme park», assuring that «the dynamic has been fantastic». And he highlights that «for the first time Porto comes to MIPIM and is right here next to Lisbon, with its own stand, but physically very close, it is important for all the promotion of the two cities».
Porto debuts at the event to «bring investment to the city»
«It is important to present, not only what is Porto’s reality today, but also to show our more structural projects», comments Porto’s Mayor, Rui Moreira, to VI. The city takes part in the event for the first time this year with its own stand.
He states that he has «the conviction that this presentation in what is the most important fair in this sector may contribute to showcase Porto’s opportunities, and to find partners for the public-private partnership projects the municipality intends to develop, namely low-cost housing».
«We contacted other mayors present at the fair, to share experiences and concerns, and we have made other contacts which will surely, bring investment to Porto», guarantees the Mayor.
Baía do Tejo reinforces its presence
Also present at MIPIM for the 4th consecutive year is Baía do Tejo, with Cidade da Água (Water City). Sérgio Saraiva, Baía do Tejo’s administrator, explains that «it is always important to be present at MIPIM, it is the 4th year we participate in it together with Invest Lisboa», at a time when «we are approaching an essential stage, which has to do with the project’s formal presentation to the investors, which will take place during the month of April with the goal of offering the city of Lisbon a distinctive real estate product which intends to relieve the pressure in terms of offer and to create a development driver in the region ».
This is the largest urban development project in the country since Expo 98: «it is a large project, an intervention which has about 1/5 of Expo 98’s area, which will create a new centrality. 60% of the area is for mixed use, it can accommodate any profile and type of investor», a project which should be developed through the next 15 years.
«For a project of this nature, there must be consistency in its promotion, namely institutionally», he highlights. «To congregate 3 municipalities and a state-owned company in a concerted promotional strategy is unusual, besides the partnership with Invest Lisboa».
He also highlights the importance of Porto being present at the salon, since «we can’t afford to have a small presence at MIPIM. It is important to have an increasingly reinforced presence of Portugal as a real estate investment destination».
Iberian Property promoted the debate on Portuguese investment hubs
This Thursday, 14th of March, the conference «Lisbon & Oporto: New European and Atlantic Hubs for Investment» took place, a co-organization with Iberian Property.
The session marks a moment when Porto and Lisbon are two of the largest and most important destinations for IT and for retaining talent in Europe, which has given a new boost to the real estate market. It had the presence of speakers such as Rui Coelho, Peter Holden, Group Development Director at Round Hill Capital, Sérgio Saraiva, Ricardo Valente, councilman at the Porto City Hall, in a debate moderated by António Gil Machado, director at Iberian Property.