Cityscape 2024 discusses "Future-Proofing Real Estate: Innovations، Technology، and Strategic Venture Investments"

The 13th edition of Cityscape featured a panel titled "Future-Proofing Real Estate: Innovations، Technology، and Strategic Venture Investments." The panel focused on the plans of leaders in the real estate sector to highlight innovative and strategic investments that will shape the future of real estate in Egypt and beyond.

The session was moderated by Eng. Mohamed Moneer El Ahwal، CEO of PMaestro، and included speakers such as Ahmed Kassem، Chief Investment Officer at Magnom Properties; Reem El Saady، Regional Manager for Small Business Support at European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD); Zeina Mandour، Venture Investment Manager at Dar Ventures; and Nirvein Magdy، Managing Director at Property Finder Egypt.

Discussions centered on the importance of integrating advanced technologies and sustainable practices to ensure the growth and sustainability of the real estate sector. The speakers emphasized the role of venture capital in driving growth and transformation in this vital sector. They also reviewed global trends affecting real estate، discussing the challenges and opportunities، giving the audience a clear understanding of how innovation and long-term investments can advance the sector.

The key role of smart systems

The panel particularly highlighted the key role of smart systems in modern construction processes. The speakers noted that these systems directly contribute to enhancing environmental and economic sustainability by reducing resource consumption، such as water and electricity، and cutting overall construction costs. They stressed the need to implement smart systems in all stages of real estate projects، from design to execution، to maximize efficiency and effectiveness.

The session also highlighted the active role of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in supporting entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the real estate sector. The financing initiatives provided by the bank، which cover up to 70% of project costs، were discussed، helping to drive innovation and growth in the sector، especially in light of current economic challenges.

The challenges faced by startups in the real estate sector were addressed، with speakers stressing the importance of investment funds in supporting these companies by providing necessary financing. Additionally، they pointed out the need for access to data and research to help these businesses grow and expand. The speakers emphasized that artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the key drivers that can help the real estate sector undergo digital transformation and improve project management processes، enhancing operational efficiency and saving both time and costs.

Several proposals were made to improve the business environment for SMEs، focusing on the need to enforce laws and regulations that the government provides to support these businesses. It was also stressed that creating an environment that fosters innovation and encourages the growth of these projects is essential.