Program

7 April – CEDES CONFERENCE

09:00 – 09:30 | Keynote Address

09:30 – 10:30 | Is industrial growth finally on the way?

With Germany's economy continuing to be strong, and a gradually improving consumer environment, Slovakia's powerful, hyper-modern automobile and electronics manufacturing base should be well- placed to take advantage. So far, however, rising take-up hasn't managed to wake warehouse developers from their hibernation. But are the financing conditions on offer to developers and would- be industrial park tenants attractive enough to spark new growth in what could be Slovakia's strongest sector?

10:30 – 11:30 | Debate – Investment: Is Slovakia even on the map?

As they divide up Central and Eastern Europe in terms of where they will and won't invest, investors often give Poland and the Czech Republic the thumbs-up. By contrast, Budapest and Bucharest get a "wait-and-see" approach, but investors seem unsure where to place Slovakia. Which camp does this Eurozone member belong in? If the big funds aren't active there yet, isn't this an opportunity for local groups? If the economy is growing, why are there still no transactions?

11:30 – 11:45 | Networking break

11:45 – 12:45 | Office: Does preleasing have a chance?

Given the willingness of Bratislava's primary office developers to build speculatively, what chance do projects requiring a prelease have of getting into the ground in the middle of a downturn? End users may benefit in that they can reduce risks, and make decisions much closer to when they need to move, but do they actually benefit in terms of rent and choice?

12:45 – 13:45 | Lunch

13:45 – 14:45 | Development finance: Banks vs. Developers – Whose court is the ball in?

Bankers and developers are pointing at each other when asked whose fault it is so little is being developed. Banks claim there are very few feasible projects they can back. Developers say the bank's conditions are simply too harsh and are unworkable in today's environment. Can they get tenants to make up the difference?