The shadow overlying this event was credit crunch and uncertainty – what, who and in what magnitude will be next? The most important “spice” of doing business – confidence in the (possible) business partner(s) is on the lowest level in past years.

And the general task of the fairs is exactly that: finding a creditworthy partner.

Therefore the success of the new initiative - Holland Property Plaza (www.hollandpropertyplaza.com) was even a greater success, having in mind the current real estate circumstances. HPP – a plaza measuring more than 565 m2 was a home to SHBE European Real Estate Circles, Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency, the largest Cities in Holland Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and app. 20 other Dutch parties associated with the real-estate sector.

App. 2.000 people visited the stand and its participants and many also attended the expert meetings organized by HPP participants. One of them was SHBE Network picnic at the atrium of the fair – different and refreshing way of knowing new people, exchanging ideas and starting building the most important component – the trust.

As SHBE always tries to do in its activities.

Who knows, maybe that was the reason why HPP stand was one of the most visited, and most enjoyed stands of the fair..

EXPO REAL 2009 will take place from the 5th till the 7th of October. SHBE will be there again.

This year City of Zadar joined us as the co-exhibitor with the same goal – to promote its capital projects and find reliable partners. It was a success for all parties, as Expo Real is Europe’s biggest trade fair for commercial property – here are few facts and increase compared to 2006:

• 23,800 visitors: + 13 %
• 1,823 exhibitors: + 11 % (some 15,000 representatives from the exhibiting companies were also present at the fair. This brings the total number of participants to over 39,000.)
• 63,000 m2 exhibition space (6 halls): + 20 %

Companies from outside Germany accounted for over one third of this total. Including the international spectrum of companies – from Europe, Russia, the Middle East and the United States of America.
The top ten countries of origin among the visitors – after Germany – were (in this order): Great Britain, Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Russian Federation, France, Poland, the US and Italy.

In the 100 or so individual events in the conference programme accompanying EXPO REAL, 400 renowned experts discussed the latest developments in the property market.

The next EXPO REAL, an international platform for networking on projects, investment and finance, takes place from 6 to 8 October 2008 in Munich.

Who says that networking could not have a different shape?

In the period from 14-18 September the foundation SHBE European Real Estate Circles organized a sailing competition for their members and invited European real estate professionals. The participants were teamed up at 10 sailing boats, and the team of Innvire Innovators from Holland (on the picture) took away the winning challenge cup, given by the vice mayor of the City of Zadar at the award winning ceremony hosted by the Zadar Tourist Board.The participants (many of them visited Croatia for the first time) were enthusiastic about the city of Zadar and its archipelago, especially Kornati national park.

These were 3 days of intensive team working, networking and making friendships, and the fact that already 6 teams applied already for the Regatta 2008 (13-17 September 2008) shows the success of the event.

We truly hope this will bring even more professional connections between Croatia and foreign partners.

If you are interested, working as a RE professional on management level in your company, to receive information on the next year SHBE regatta, please feel free to contact us or meet us at Expo Real in München.

Zlatna dob Association was founded in the end of 2000 in Zagreb with the goal to „Ensure that elderly people conduct their lives in a dignified and quality manner“. The working scheme of Zlatna dob comprises all activities contributing to the better life of its users.

The representatives of Zlatna dob, Mr. Dragutin Vujic and Mrs. Lidija Pipunic were invited and hosted by directors of Iktus Zagreb /Thijssen PR Holland, Mrs. Christa Thijssen and Mr. Paul Voogd, to join SHBE European Real Estate Circles seminar in D üsseldorf , Germany “The greying population of Germany is no threat but chance!” .

Zlatna dob was introduced with topics as:

• greying population of Europe and possible consequences – something that could be also applied to Croatia;

• how Dutch developer company Rabo Bowfounds Property Development handles these demographic and living movements;

• what are new trends in housing for elderly people.

The last topic is especially interesting for Zlatna dob, as they have incentive to organize such way of living for their members in Croatia and are looking for partner in such project.

In order to present the problematic of active seniors and the idea of constructing quality senior housing Zlatna dob and Iktus are planning to organize the seminar/presentation regarding this topic in autumn.

The same presentation was held the next day in the City of Dugo Selo.

We would like to thank the representatives of the City of Bjelovar and City of Dugo Selo, as well as all other local government units (Beli Manastir, Osijek, Sisak, Zadar, Rijeka, Karlovac, Pula, Đakovo, Velika Gorica) that were open for the presentation of this new model.

Mr. Saša Marenjak , HIMK PPP Knowledge Centre, as a first lecturer, presented to the greater number of people there examples from theory and practice, he also mentioned different models which PPP offers as well as gave some examples of it, like construction of gymnasium in Koprivnica or renovation of County palace in Varaždin stressing out how the greatest advantage of PPP is its speed. He also mentioned that the one that makes PPP to be an attractive solution is the fact that large scale investments can be realized faster while all expenses like maintenance and repairs are a burden of lessor/private partner.

Mr.Marenjak has, among all other mentioned how PPP could in future be implemented in all infrastructural projects like construction of light city railway, schools, apartments, prisons.

Adding to the lecture of Mr.Marenjak, Mr. Herman Kok from Dutch company Multi Development introduced us with some urban development projects upon in which mentioned company is still working or has finished through PPP including the private and public sector, he mentioned how the cooperation and mutual work not just during the construction but before and after it are important for a successful project. Urban development which Mr.Kok showed had in many ways been a subject these days in Croatia, transformation of one part of the City in totally self-contained city centre including all at one place by creation of new urban connection and reshaping the vision of the Cities inside existing contours and infrastructure, giving them during the process a special landmark.

Mr. Cor von Vliet , representative of City of Alkmaar, has on the example of construction of football stadium in that City showed how public sector (the City) cooperates in PPP project. Basing his lecture at idea of communication and interest between public and private sector he explained how PPP functions in practice. He mentioned also that the project of construction of football stadium lasted for 8 years, 3 of which were necessary to get all permits and approvals by which he showed this old and known problem in the shape of red tape. But despite the poor start, the final product was above all graded as successful not just by investor but even by the City. It did not mean the acquisition in the way of the stadium but even in commercial spaces which were build near the stadium, as well in a way of new tourist offer, and not to mention new apartments which were built at the area of former stadium.

The last lecturer was Mr. Rick Ummels from Coman engineering and contracting which talked about PPP in construction of parking lots and public garages, a necessity of every larger City which is being smothered by cars. Talking about garages he did not forget to mention how they have to before all be spacious, light and safe to attract potential users. Regarding the fact that construction is expensive, but necessary PPP is an excellent solution not just for the City or investor but also for citizens who will have a safe and clean garage which maintenance is fully under investor/private partner.

In connection with the plans that Osijek has for the development of housing construction projects and the redevelopment of the existing housing stock, a knowledge exchange was realised by Thijssen PR between the abovementioned Dutch and Croatian parties.

Visits were made to various projects of Ymere, Multi Vastgoed, OBR Rotterdam and the architectural firm Woerkom de Brouwer. A visit was also made to Project Organisatie Stationsgebied Utrecht (Project Organisation for the Utrecht Station Development) to gain an insight into large-scale area (re)development.

Earlier this year, Thijssen PR organised an intensive educational visit to the Netherlands for the Department of Urban Planning and Strategy of the Municipality of Zagreb, a rapidly growing city of 1 million inhabitants.