In day 3, MIPIM's the hottest session today has focused on Spain and asked ''Why is Spain the new place to invest?''. After many years of economic decline, Spain is enjoying a robust recovery making the local real estate attractive to foreign investors. 

Speakers from the public sector, covering regions and provinces have given an overview of Spain’s urban transformation, alongside success stories presented by companies from the private sector.

Moderated by Sandra Daza, General Director, Gesvalt, the session included various speakers; Javier García del Río, CEO, Solvia, Mr. Gracia Enrique, Director, Merlin Properties, Dr. Daniel Lacalle, Commissioner for the Madrid Region in London, Madrid Regional Community, Roger Pla, Senior Legal Advisor, Roca Junyent, SLP, Javier Rodríguez-Heredia, Head of Office and Residential segment, Hispania Activos Inmobiliarios and Juan Velayos, CEO, Neinor Homes.

In the first part, Sandra Daza talked about some statistics about the country showing that what has happened in the last year in Spain?, What is going on rent prices? What are the numeric values of completed housings in the country? What is the volume of rental spaces in Spain? 

The statistics showed that 50,000 houses built in 2016 in Spain, %60 of mortgages were sold out and 200,000 housing projects are waiting for construction and student housing rate rises to %7 in Spain. 

Left to right: Sandra Daza, Daniel Lacalle, Javier García del Río, Gracia Enrique and Javier Rodríguez-Heredia

The experts specifically explained that how they set up and develop an open dialogue with banks, companies and other private sectors to boost investment for the country by explaining benefits of investments, tax rates, costs, or values for investments. They stated that ''we try draw a clear picture what is happening in the country right now and find new alternatives to invest.''

''The demand is very high at the moment and try to manage some assets  for retailing spaces but the behaviour is not modernist in the local market in Spain,'' said Javier García del Río, CEO, Solvia.

''We expect to grow in hotel and renting offices and see some potential tenants who want to use local spaces,'' he added.

The talk also discussed alternative investments for housing and student housing as the demand is steadily rising in the country. ''Our focus on the resort type hotels,'' said the speakers. 

Left to right: Javier García del Río, Gracia Enrique and Javier Rodríguez-Heredia, Juan Velayos and Roger Pla

''Particularly, alternative investments are huge and rising in science,'' stated in the session. ''Market is atomized, fragmented and 900,000 keys are waiting to construction and invest,'' experts added.

''We receive very strong demand from students because we have a lot of students coming from Latin America through Erasmus program and student housing is a positive trend to student houses in Spain.''

It has been noted that ''ownership'' concept is out but ''renting houses'' are much more valuable than ownership. The session also evaluated political and economical landscape of Spain and showed that the stability of economy and politics is the key factor for investors and visitors for the country because Spain has many advantages to invest; good infrastructure, healthy and safety transportation etc. ''So, it gains fundamental savings for consuming, energy, or economic saving,'' they added.

''Investors shouldn't fall in love Spain, investors must see try prospects for economy and value for the country,'' said Daniel Lacalle. 

Barcelona-Catalonia has a galamorous exhibition at MIPIM this year with new projects, models, an eye-catching wooden monolithic columns and presents a virtual tour for the upcoming projects. Barcelona-Catalonia's main theme is ''Why?'' -visit stand P-1.K50, P-1.L51 and take a quick drink in Barcelona's Catalonic bar.

All images © WAC