26,000 real estate, urban and political leaders, including 5,400 investors, from over 100 countries gathered from March 13-16 at MIPIM in Cannes, the world’s leading real estate business and networking event.

Among the main points of discussion, the growth in real estate investment expected this year, reinvent global cities, urban development, innovation and technology, with focus on innovative start-ups. CBRE, one of the world’s largest commercial real estate investment and services companies, confirmed that 2017 was a record year for real estate investments in Europe, with volumes of € 291 billion and a forecast of 2018 growth. Among the activities attracting the greatest investors’ interest are the development of hotels, residential and infrastructure, not to mention the office, industrial and retail segments, and the creation of hubs to host research laboratories, student houses, hospitals and other public services.
The Region of Tuscany in synergy with ICE – Italian Trade & Investment Agency – official organizer of the Italian Pavilion, in cooperation with the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministries of Defence and Economy and Finance, held 30 meetings with selected international investors, presenting the real estate opportunities of Villa Basilewsky, the Complex of San Domenico in San Gimignano, the Tuscan Freight Village Amerigo Vespucci and – for the first time – also a selection of private properties, mapped through a public notice recently launched on the regional territory. The Municipality of Florence took part in the regional collective presenting projects for urban regeneration and reconversion (former barracks of Lupi di Toscana, former military hospital of San Gallo and the complex of Sant’Orsola).