The total value of investments relating to of Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine will approach €38bn, with projects in Poland accounting for around 60% of the total.

As much as one third of total costs of preparations for Euro 2012 will be taken up by road building projects in Poland and they are expected to amount to twice as much as those planned in Ukraine.

The value of construction investments in sports, hotel and transport infrastructure, including roads, railways and airports, related to the organisation of Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine will near €38m, according to PMR, the market research company, in its report "Euro 2012 in Poland - Construction Investments" and "Euro 2012 in Ukraine - Construction Investments".

€12 billion roads

In Poland, the value of road construction projects related to the organisation of the European football championships may total as much as €12bn.

In addition to the construction of sections of the A2 motorway (eastern section) and the A4 motorway (western section), virtually the entire length of the A1 motorway and the expressway network remain to be constructed, with the S5 expressway linking Wroclaw, Poznan and Gdansk as the key project.

Ukrainian road projects may total more than €5bn; the Lviv-Krakovets and the Lviv-Brody sections, which stand the greatest chance of being completed, are estimated to cost €800m in total.

The largest railroad construction projects in Poland include the modernisation of the main railway lines linking the cities hosting Euro 2012 matches, the construction of the second line of the Warsaw underground as well as the construction and modernisation of several railway stations and railway links between the airports and the city centres.

Ukraine projects

Projects in Ukraine include the electrification of railway lines of several hundred kilometres in length, the construction of fast-train routes linking the main cities, extensions of the underground lines in Kiev, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk as well as the completion of the construction of the first line of the Donetsk underground.

Both Poland and Ukraine plan to expand their municipal tramway networks by 2012. What's interesting, contrary to the pattern to be followed by Poland, Ukrainian railroad construction projects are expected to be more valuable than those related to the construction of roads.

Key airport building projects for Euro 2012, will be carried out at eight airports in Poland (in addition to the six airports in the main cities, new airports will be built in Modlin and Gdynia) and eight airports in Ukraine. The value of expenditure on airport-related projects in Poland and Ukraine will near €2bn.

More than soccer

“For Poland and Ukraine, Euro 2012 is much more than just a prestigious football competition as the costs related to the construction and modernisation of stadiums will account for less than 10% of the total value of planned investments.

"Euro 2012 will be an opportunity for the two countries to take a major step forward and make up for decades of underinvestment in the transport infrastructure; a vast majority of investments (four fifths of the funds) will be allocated to projects of this type," the report says.

The affects of this massive spending - the jobs created - plus the prospect of many Poles returning to Poland see Boost on the way for Polish property market? can only be positive on the property market and speed the approach of a big second phase of growth in many key Polish cities.

The total value of investments relating to of Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine will approach €38bn, with projects in Poland accounting for around 60% of the total.

As much as one third of total costs of preparations for Euro 2012 will be taken up by road building projects in Poland and they are expected to amount to twice as much as those planned in Ukraine.

The value of construction investments in sports, hotel and transport infrastructure, including roads, railways and airports, related to the organisation of Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine will near €38m, according to PMR, the market research company, in its report "Euro 2012 in Poland - Construction Investments" and "Euro 2012 in Ukraine - Construction Investments".

€12 billion roads

In Poland, the value of road construction projects related to the organisation of the European football championships may total as much as €12bn.

In addition to the construction of sections of the A2 motorway (eastern section) and the A4 motorway (western section), virtually the entire length of the A1 motorway and the expressway network remain to be constructed, with the S5 expressway linking Wroclaw, Poznan and Gdansk as the key project.

Ukrainian road projects may total more than €5bn; the Lviv-Krakovets and the Lviv-Brody sections, which stand the greatest chance of being completed, are estimated to cost €800m in total.

The largest railroad construction projects in Poland include the modernisation of the main railway lines linking the cities hosting Euro 2012 matches, the construction of the second line of the Warsaw underground as well as the construction and modernisation of several railway stations and railway links between the airports and the city centres.

Ukraine projects

Projects in Ukraine include the electrification of railway lines of several hundred kilometres in length, the construction of fast-train routes linking the main cities, extensions of the underground lines in Kiev, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk as well as the completion of the construction of the first line of the Donetsk underground.

Both Poland and Ukraine plan to expand their municipal tramway networks by 2012. What's interesting, contrary to the pattern to be followed by Poland, Ukrainian railroad construction projects are expected to be more valuable than those related to the construction of roads.

Key airport building projects for Euro 2012, will be carried out at eight airports in Poland (in addition to the six airports in the main cities, new airports will be built in Modlin and Gdynia) and eight airports in Ukraine. The value of expenditure on airport-related projects in Poland and Ukraine will near €2bn.

More than soccer

“For Poland and Ukraine, Euro 2012 is much more than just a prestigious football competition as the costs related to the construction and modernisation of stadiums will account for less than 10% of the total value of planned investments.

"Euro 2012 will be an opportunity for the two countries to take a major step forward and make up for decades of underinvestment in the transport infrastructure; a vast majority of investments (four fifths of the funds) will be allocated to projects of this type," the report says.

The affects of this massive spending - the jobs created - plus the prospect of many Poles returning to Poland see Boost on the way for Polish property market? can only be positive on the property market and speed the approach of a big second phase of growth in many key Polish cities.

"Europe’s periphery has emerged as one of the most vibrant parts of the global economy – a fact little recognised by investors mesmerised by the emergence of China and India"

FT, 8th Jan http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4f1867d8-bd44-11dc-b7e6-0000779fd2ac.html

How true is this?

This is a quote from the chief market strategist at Bank of America on the FT's site yesterday - 8th Jan 2008.

Well, I kind of want to say 'told you so'! And aren't you glad you have invested in these markets before the rest of the FT reading public?

But what is really interesting is that it is now becoming public knowledge that China and India have mesmerised investors into missing the opportunities in central Eastern Europe.

Why is that?

From BRICS to 'BRICEES'

Well, one possible (but false) explanation for why investors might have missed central Eastern Europe is because the opportunity isn't as good - but I don't believe this and nor does the Chief Market Strategist of Bank of America based on his recent article.

I believe that investors missed central Eastern Europe because it is a complex and diverse region and isn't as easy to prononuce as India or China.

As I argued in my recent End of Term Performance Report - the term BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India and China) has missed out the other most exciting (but also most stable and secure) region of central and Eastern Europe.

Hence, I propose that we should now talk about Brickies (BRICEES) and not just BRICS! (This also seems the most appropriate name given that we are interesting in property in this region).

It is much easier, for instance, to talk India - than it is to talk about the 12 new countries that have joined the EU in the past 3 years - along with as many languages and nearly as many currencies (Cyprus, Malta and Slovenia have now all successfully adopted the Euro).

Yet, this diversity is exactly why the region offers such opportunity. Whilst the Baltics have done their bit on property price growth for now - the focus has shifted to Romania and Bulgaria.

However, just as Czech Republic began a second wave of property growth last year, so Slovakia is re-entering the property price growth curve and will be followed by a second wave in Poland - in about 12 months.

The good news - is that many investors still haven't figured out where central Eastern Europe is - nor have they managed to stick any money there yet.

Hence, whilst these markets certainly registered excellent growth and are experiencing increased interest from fund investors - the region remains relatively untouched by foreign investors!

This would suggest that there is plenty more growth to come! But that you do need to know your Bucharests from your Budapests! And that is the sustainable advantage that Property Secrets can offer.

Cheers
Neil

ps. One last quote from yesterday's article 'Europe’s got its own China next door'