13th BREL Forum to Spotlight Sustainability, Geopolitics and AI impact on real estate sector

The 13th annual Baltic Real Estate Leaders (BREL) Forum is set to take place on October 17, 2024 at Hanzas Perons, bringing together influential voices and industry leaders to discuss the future of development and investment in the Baltic region. This year’s forum, divided into three dynamic sessions, will address key economic challenges, regional security and geopolitics, the role of investments, AI and sustainability in driving growth, and the future-proofing of development strategies in the Baltics. Highlights include expert speakers from diverse fields, insightful panel discussions, and the much-anticipated BREL forum awards.

Session I: The Future of Baltic Region Development

Kicking off the forum, the first session will delve into the economic prospects and geopolitical landscape of the Baltic region.

• Olegs Krasnopjorovs, Chief Economist at the Bank of Latvia, will present on the “Future of Baltic and Latvian Economy: Challenges and Opportunities.” He will emphasize the importance of Riga development, which accounts for a significant portion of Latvia’s population and economy, but currently lags behind other Baltic capitals in terms of quality of life.
• Janis Sarts, Director of the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence, will explore the geopolitical challenges facing the region, with a focus on AI, cybersecurity, and the implications of NATO’s presence in the Baltics.
• Yngvar Ugland, Head of DNB NewTechLab, will challenge attendees with his talk, “AI? WTF? Is AI Your Industry’s Best Friend or Worst Enemy?” focusing on the impact of AI on shared services centers and the broader implications for industries across the region.

Session II: Investments for Growth

The second session will spotlight investment opportunities and the evolving business landscape in the Baltics.

• A panel discussion, moderated by Gabrielė Gegevičiūtė from Capitalica Asset Management, with the participation of regional and foreign investors will cover the calculated risks and opportunities of entering the Baltic market as well as the motivation of Baltic investors looking for alternative opportunities outside domestic market.
• An office sector panel, led by Anna Lalova from Colliers Baltics, will feature discussions with representatives of major players about the evolving office market, new project pipelines, sustainability impact on the sector and the ongoing transformation of office spaces.

Session III: Future-Proofing Development

The final session will focus on long-term strategies for sustainable development in the Baltic region.

• The panel on sports infrastructure impact and added value to real estate objects, moderated by Maksims Krivunecs, president of Latvian Football League, features panelists from real estate and sports sector. The discussion will highlight recent projects, the impact of sports infrastructure on community development and public health, and the role of public-private partnerships in these developments.
• Uwe Vosse, Head of EMEA Retail at Colliers Germany, will offer strategies on keeping department stores relevant amidst changing consumer behaviors, drawing on examples from the Baltics.
• Tuoma Kuosa, PhD, Founding Partner of Futures Platform, will provide a foresight-driven talk on “Urban Living and Construction 2040: Getting Ready for Future Opportunities,” discussing key drivers and trends shaping urban development over the next two decades.
• An interview with Stella Lapina, a medical centers’ business developer will round off the session, highlighting the growth potential of the medical sector in the Baltics and discussing obstacles and incentives for further development.

The forum will conclude with the BREL Awards, celebrating excellence in Baltic real estate. The public voting for BREL awards is ongoing until October 1st: https://www.brelforum.com/brel-awards/

Forum is organised by Colliers Baltics.

Main partners: Capitalica Asset Management, Investment and Development Agency of Latvia.

Partners: Baltic Horizon Fund, Novira Plaza, LiveRiga, Pillar, Signet bank.