600,000sqm of new commercial space by 2010
18 September 2008
Ten trade centres covering a combined area of 235,000sqm opened doors in the city of Zagreb in the past 14 years. By the end of 2010 new investments worth EUR 1.5 billion are envisaged in 11 areas, after which Zagreb will have further 600,000sqm of commercial areas which will cover the entire city.
The Croatian wholesale sector is one of the most propulsive in the segment of large trade centre construction with a record growth of 200%. It is envisaged that in 2010 Zagreb could reach the average for the European capitals with a square metre of trade area per inhabitant.
A forthcoming expansion of the trade centres in other parts of Croatia is also planed. Tower Centre in Rijeka opened doors in November 2006, the Joker trade centre in Split was opened last year, while future openings have been announced in the cities of Osijek and Varazdin. Apart from the classic shopping centres, the imminent opening of two outlet centres near Zagreb, Roses Fashion Outlet, near the Zagreb- Macelj motorway, and St. Helena on the Zagreb- Varazdin motorway, are also planned. In this way Croatia is fully committed to the trend of expansion of the trade centres, which has strengthen its position in the rest of central and south-east Europe.