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The owners of shopping centres in Romania could lower their rents by as much as 50 per cent on the back of the first signs of declining customer traffic in smaller Romanian towns, recorded in November, according to Bucharest business daily Ziarul Financiar.

Shopping malls are booming in Central and Eastern Europe, where projects worth a combined three billion euro will open doors by the end of 2008 and a further sic billion euro next year, an analysis by market research firm PMR Research showed. Bulgaria is tipped for the second fastest growth in the region with its shopping mall market seen rising sevenfold to 760 million euro next year.

On September 614, the Greek city of Thessaloniki will host the 72nd international fair, which traditionally gathers exhibitors from all over the world as well as boasts 12 thematic events.This year, the fair will present participants from 26 countries among which are South Africa, Cyprus, Brazil, India, Turkey, Romania, France and Italy, as stated on the events official website.

Hungarian property developer SCD Holding unveiled plans to expand to Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia, Hungarian newspaper Napi Gazdasag reported on May 21, as quoted by bbj.hu.In Bulgaria, in particular, it would hone its attention to office and commercial property, the newspaper quoted SCD spokesperson Peter Elkan as saying. In Romania it will focus on residential property and in Croatia on tourism.

Over the past two years, Greece has staged a real onslaught onto the Bulgarian and other Balkan markets, Greek business newspaper Imerisia reported on May 7.Greek construction companies, mainly from the northern part of the country, have been building large residential, office and retail developments in Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania and, recently, Macedonia.

Use of unconventional energy resources in Romania in new buildings or in renovating new ones is still a pioneering activity, hence a correct design that can be replicated across other buildings is yet to be found, said architect Gabriela Tabacu, a professor at University of Architecture and Urbanism Ion Mincu, at Build Green CEE.

The Romanian government has only just started to involve itself in the green building concept but the new attitudes are gaining momentum. A host of Romanian public administration officials took the floor during the second and closing day of the Build Green CEE conference in Bucharest, Romania.

In June this year the world will witness the first zero emissions building ever, Gamze Celikyilmaz from the Regional Environmental Center REC, told participants of Building Green CEE conference.

Romanian capital Bucharest will host the Build Green CEE Energy Efficient and Ecological Design for the Region conference on April 2324.

Bulgarian company Doverie Brico, which holds the rights of the French Do It Yourself DIY retailer Mr. Bricolage for Bulgaria, Macedonia and Serbia, announced plans to expand open new shops Serbia and Montenegro in 2009, Namnews said on April 15.