MIPIM CONFERENCES WELCOME ECLECTIC SPEAKER LINE-UP

Poland’s Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Economy, the Mayor of Stockholm, the Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme UN-HABITAT and the CEO of the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector, are among the personalities who will be taking the floor during the MIPIM 2010 conference programme.

"In the light of changes in the crisis-driven economic environment, we need to take a new look at the real estate industry if we want to form a clear idea of what is ahead. By listening to the opinions of people from outside the industry, we can gain a more global picture of the market and how it interacts with the business world and civil society as a whole. This will help us generate innovative responses to emerging issues in the sector,” says Nadine Castagna, Director of MIPIM.

Rafał Baniak, Poland’s Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Economy, will keynote the conference dedicated to investment opportunities and real estate development in his country. Poland is the 'Guest of Honour' at this MIPIM and one of the few European countries that have did not go into recession in 2009. This competitive, high-potential market is attracting increasing interest from such key players as real estate investors and international developers. Click here to find out more.

Sten Nordin, the Mayor of Stockholm (Sweden), will present his urban development policy that is widely recognised for its effectiveness. Recently voted "European Green Capital" by the European Commission, this city of 800,000 inhabitants is regarded as a model of sustainable development. Stockholm has expanded its activities in this area in recent years, for example by building the sustainable neighbourhood of Hammarby Sjöstad, formerly a neglected port area that has now become one of the city’s most attractive localities. Click here to find out more.

Dr. Anna Tibaijuka (Kenya), Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme UN-HABITAT, will focus on the growing need for social housing around the world. She has recently been awarded the Gothenburg Prize for Sustainable Development, and will highlight the importance of providing decent housing for disadvantaged people in order to maximise their chances of finding a job, stay in good health and increase productivity. She will urge policy-makers, investors and developers to view social housing as a developmental priority. Click here to find out more.

Khaled Al Aboodi, CEO of the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (Saudi Arabia), will talk about the special nature of Islamic finance and the alternatives it offers at a time when the financial sector is being widely discredited. The rapidly expanding practices of Islamic finance are currently attracting interest from international investment firms. However, there are a number of unresolved questions hovering over the future development of this field in non-Muslim countries. Khaled Al Aboodi will answer these questions during his keynote.
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source : Mipim