Iberian advice

She took time out from the event to speak with WBJ about Spain's experience with its real-estate market and her government's policy concerning its formerly overheating housing market 

Andrzej Wróbel: How can Spanish companies contribute to Poland's development?

María Antonia Trujillo: Our companies, both dealing in the real-estate and the infrastructure sectors, have gained a lot of experience in Spain. Poland is now receiving financial support from the EU. Spain also took advantage of that and was able to manage the funds in a reasonable way. Thus cooperation between the two countries can be important. In terms of urban development, the qualifications acquired in Spain can contribute to the development of Poland. Great prospects are ahead of the real-estate market and infrastructure here. It was similar in Spain 20 years ago, when we started the absorption of EU funds.

How do you see the cooperation between Polish and Spanish companies?

Such cooperation is already present here amongst the exhibitors, not only in terms of finances but also with regard to taxation matters and consulting. There are companies which renovate residential complexes. The fair offers valuable help for investors. They can learn their way around the market and investment opportunities.

That was a lesson for business. Are there any Spanish legal solutions Poland could adopt?

I had a chance to talk with the Construction Minister and compare the regulations in Poland and Spain. We have new regulations such as the construction law, which took effect only last month. It introduces the obligation to build in agreement with quality, safety and balanced-development criteria. This refers to ecological and energy-saving construction and translates into saving energy, innovativeness, higher productivity and competitiveness. Poland is currently working on its regulations and is interested in Spanish experiences in that respect as well as in terms of plot management. We will soon adopt this law and are now working on the "urban law."

Apartment prices in Poland are a hot issue. In Spain, are they now growing more slowly than they were a few years ago?

Yes. Three years ago apartment prices grew at some 19 percent per annum. Today they are growing at about seven percent. Thanks to the state's policy, we managed to lower the pace of growth. I think that Poland should also stabilize prices. We worked with our entrepreneurs in order to achieve that.

How did the state's policy help lower the prices?

During its first 100 days in office, the government adopted a "shock plan" in the housing sector and plot management. Then we introduced a national plan aimed at financing newly built social apartments and developing as well as strengthening the apartment-lease market thanks to financial support given to landlords and tenants. We also adopted other regulations, for example, in fiscal policy. Currently, we have a few programs financed by the Spanish government. There is a program for young academics and graduates and another program called "young town," implemented in cooperation with municipal authorities, which gives young people free plots where they can build their houses.