This year’s conference focused on the challenges posed by the climate crisis, the energy transition and digital transformation. Discussions also addressed key issues such as resilient infrastructure, urban regeneration, urban planning and the housing crisis.

DIMAND CEO Dimitris Andriopoulos participated in a panel discussion entitled “Urban Environment, Real Estate and Housing”. The panel also featured Giorgos Stasinos, President of the Technical Chamber of Greece, Giorgos Mylonas, President of ALUMIL, Fotis Gioftsios, Vice President and CEO of TEN BRINKE HELLAS, Anastasia Toufeggopoulou, Chief Urban Planning & Permitting Officer at LAMDA Development – The Ellinikon Socrates Baltas, President of ReDePlan, Polychronis Akritidis, CEO of Athens Anaplasis, Georgios Tsakoumis, CEO of CONSORTIS and Panagiotis Kiskiras, Director of the Real Estate Utilization Service of the Hellenic Armed Forces. The discussion was moderated by journalist Machi Tratsa.

Dimitris Andriopoulos highlighted the need to establish a new institutional framework that would enable private investors to participate in the development of affordable housing. As he pointed out, high construction costs pose a significant challenge to the delivery of new homes at affordable rental rates. These should account for 25%-30% of employees’ net income, while ensuring the financial viability of the investments.

He also noted that discussions with the government are already underway to establish a framework offering targeted financial and tax incentives to private developers. Proposed measures include a reduction in construction VAT and temporary tax exemptions, such as relief from rental income tax, on the condition that the properties remain available for long-term rental over the agreed period.

As he clarified, affordable housing is distinct from social housing and should apply exclusively to properties developed by private investors and made available for rent, without any rental subsidies. The aim is to create the right incentives for investors to offer homes at affordable rental rates, while accepting lower returns compared to other types of real estate investments.

“Only through the large-scale delivery of new homes to the market can the housing crisis be addressed,” said the CEO of DIMAND, expressing hope that the new framework will be finalized in the following months.

Concluding his remarks, he also addressed the challenges facing the real estate development sector in Greece, noting that although other Mediterranean countries have stricter procedures in place, they manage to move forward with project implementation more quickly. He further stressed the need for a clear distinction between the public administration and the government of the day, in order to address long-standing structural shortcomings and create a more stable and efficient environment for investment.