While Düsseldorf’s real estate market is attracting investment and helping to drive urban renewal in the city, some observers fear the redevelopment of business premises into residential areas will push out manufacturing and office space. Wendy Atkins reports.

Recent years have seen a shake-up of Ukraine’s banking sector that has halved the number of institutions in the country  and culminated in the nationalisation of its largest lender, Privatbank. Yet challenges remain, with more casualties likely as small and Russian state-owned banks come under scrutiny. Stefanie Linhardt reports.

Ukraine greeted 2017 with cautious optimism, as its GDP ticked up and a banking sector shake-up proved successful. Now a blockade of the separatist east threatens to stall economic recovery, while political complications could slow the reforms crucial to attracting investment. Stefanie Linhardt reports.

A number of office developments have popped up around Birmingham and the West Midlands in recent years as companies become increasingly tempted by the area’s young, skilled workforce and lower costs. Now, with the launch of HS2 fixed firmly on the horizon, the region’s offering looks set to become even more enticing. Jacopo Dettoni reports.

The Midlands Engine is a partnership between government entities and local enterprises in the Midlands region of the UK, created in 2015 to drive economic growth across the region. Courtney Fingar visited the group’s pavilion at the Mipim property fair in March and spoke to chairman Sir John Peace. 

After a bumper FDI year, the city of Belfast was out in force at this year’s Mipim real estate conference in Cannes. Cathy Mullan went along to see what the Northern Irish capital was doing to put itself on the map.

Despite geopolitical challenges, Turkey is keeping its FDI levels respectable through new traction in the real estate sector, spurred by a large-scale urban renewal plan. Arda Ermut, president of the Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey, talked to Natasha Turak at the Mipim international property fair in Cannes.