Australian listed property trust Goodman Group announced on Thursday that it plans to increase the pace of development of warehouses in Hungary, Czech Republic, Romania and Slovakia. The expansion in the area will be led from Goodman's CEE head office in Budapest, it added. With robust economic growth, strong consumer spending and still rising industrial activity, Goodman noted that it sees ample growth opportunities in Central Eastern Europe.

Australian listed property trust Goodman Group announced on Thursday that it plans to increase the pace of development of warehouses in Hungary, Czech Republic, Romania and Slovakia. The expansion in the area will be led from Goodman's CEE head office in Budapest, it added. With robust economic growth, strong consumer spending and still rising industrial activity, Goodman noted that it sees ample growth opportunities in Central Eastern Europe.

Goodman's new Central Eastern European expansion will be headed by Zsombor Torok from Budapest. 'International logistics players and manufacturers continue to relocate logistics and production facilities to Central Eastern Europe. We are pleased to respond to the strong demand for high-quality warehouse space with Goodman’s integrated customer service offering,' Torok said in a statement.

The company is currently developing a 22,000 m2 warehouse in Gyal, one of the logistics hot spots in the Budapest area. The Gyal project will be available for rent in the first quarter of 2009.

Following on a 23,000 m2 project realised for logistics service provider HOPI in Hungary last year, Goodman is also developing a 16,000 m2 project for HOPI in the Bratislava area in Slovakia. The new project forms part of Goodman's 180,000 m2 logistics centre in Senec, Slovakia's major distribution hub. The centre offers warehouse and office space suitable for warehousing, distribution and light production facilities. Next to the HOPI warehouse, Goodman is currently building three speculative warehouse units for multi-client use.

In 2006 Goodman also built a 23,610 m2 warehouse for Bertrans, one of Hungary's leading logistics service providers.

'We are convinced that our unique own-develop-manage business model provides us a key to success in this region. As long-term owners of our logistics assets, our customers enjoy the financial security of an off-balance deal. We take off the load, they do not need to deal with management of their property, which lets them focus on their core business,' added finally Zsombor Torok.

In Europe, Goodman has offices in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary.