Promoting Poznań

Agnieszka Barteczko: Which of the real estate sectors in Poznań has the most potential?

Piotr Górecki: Residential. Just as in Warsaw and cities such as Wrocław, Kraków and Tricity, the residential market has the biggest supply deficit. When it comes to Poznań's retail market, it is already saturated - further projects by Apsys and Polimeni will fill potential gaps. Although no boom is seen on the office market in Poland, the vacancy levels are dropping systematically. At the moment the vacancy level is 15 percent, which could be considered high, especially if compared with Kraków, for example. However, it has to be remembered that two years ago it was 34 percent, and no bigger new office space will be delivered to the market by 2007.

Could you point to the most wanted plots in Poznań - the ones that are as attractive for investors in Poznań as Plac Defilad is for investors in Warsaw?

The equivalents of Plac Defilad in Poznań are areas located in the vicinity of the Old Market Square (Stary Rynek) and ul. Półwiejska. The surroundings of the Poznań University of Economics are also very attractive. Of course everything depends on the type of investment. The best site for a single-family housing estate would be Suchy Las or near Kierskie Lake.

How did Poznań promote itself at MIPIM compared to other Polish cities? What did the city offer investors?

The advantage of Poznań as well as of other cities were offers of attractive plots within the administrative borders of the cities. The Poznań stand was more modest than Kraków's or Warsaw's. Poznań concentrated more on the presentation of specific investment opportunities rather than on the creation of a marketing image of the city. Warsaw's stand - with a bar and chairs, was also a meeting point. Trying to arrange an appointment many times I heard: "Let's meet at the Warsaw stand."

Interviewed by Agnieszka Barteczko