The Urban Land Institute (ULI) has launched a new initiative with both private and public sector bodies to expand the rate of investment in European cities through public-private partnerships. Announcing the formation of the Urban Investment Network (UIN), ULI, a non-profit education and research organisation dealing with land use, said increasing investment in Europe's cities was essential to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
The Urban Land Institute (ULI) has launched a new initiative with both private and public sector bodies to expand the rate of investment in European cities through public-private partnerships. Announcing the formation of the Urban Investment Network (UIN), ULI, a non-profit education and research organisation dealing with land use, said increasing investment in Europe's cities was essential to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
These challenges include being globally competitive in a knowledge-led economy, reducing carbon emissions and making more effective use of land. UIN will be steered by 12 founding partners drawn from leading cities, investors, banks, developers and advisors. ING Real Estate and German real estate lender Eurohypo, which is part of the Commerzbank Group, were the first organisations to join the UIN network.
UIN will be officially launched at Expo Real in Munich on 7 October and at Barcelona Meeting Point a month later. The network will have an annual programme of forums, workshops and publications to foster a dialogue to facilitate learning and relationship building across Europe between the public and private sectors, ULI said.
Menno Maas, CEO Development of ING Real Estate, commented: 'As a global financier of commercial real estate we take special responsibility for the future of our cities. More than most other subjects, the question of the future viability of cities has become the focus of social, political and economic discussions and decisions. Consequently, corporate and institutional investment in Europe's cities is not just a source of dynamic returns for investors but is also critical to long-term European competitiveness.'
Bill Kistler, ULI Europe President, added: 'In North America ULI regularly convenes networks of public and private leaders on city investment issues and there is great progress. I am delighted that we can now do this in Europe and we hope that all European cities and Investment Institutions will join this network. Europe can win the battle for the 21st Century if we put investment at the heart of our strategies and I congratulate Eurohypo, ING Real Estate and the cities of Barcelona and Frankfurt on supporting the launch of this network.'
