City planning officer and business promoter at EXPO REAL in Munich

Bocholt will once again be present at this year's EXPO REAL in Munich. Not as a stand partner of the "Münster | Land" region as in previous years, but in the person of city planning officer Daniel Zöhler and business promoter Ludger Dieckhues, who, together with Rudolf Schmeing, Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Wirtschaftsförderung/Stadtmarketing Bocholt, held numerous discussions on the topics of city centre and commercial space development at the largest trade fair for commercial real estate in Europe, Expo Real in Munich (7 to 9 October 2024). In addition to Münsterland, almost all major German economic regions as well as many project developers, property companies, investors, consulting, investment and financing companies and numerous retail and construction companies will be exhibiting at EXPO REAL. This year, concrete discussions on the (further) development of sustainable commercial space, the secure supply of renewable energy sources, urban development projects and the vitality of city centres dominated. In view of the subdued construction sector, the property industry is entering the autumn with subdued expectations for the property market.

Business promoter Ludger Dieckhues and Bocholt's city planning officer Daniel Zöhler were present at EXPO REAL today, Monday, representing Bocholt. Together, they held talks with project developers, investors, expansion managers, consultants, urban planners and colleagues from other business development organisations and NRW.Global Business, the business development agency of the state of NRW. "Expo Real is the ideal place to draw the attention of expansion managers to Bocholt, even though the current high construction costs, the rather uncertain future and the weak economy are keeping the property sector very busy and caution is the order of the day when it comes to investments and rental commitments", says Ludger Dieckhues.

Rudolf Schmeing, Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Bocholt Economic Development Agency, who is also active at EXPO REAL in his capacity as an entrepreneur and project developer, was enthusiastic about the commitment of the Bocholt Economic Development Agency at the trade fair. "Expo Real is a must for all players in the property sector and the need to discuss the current challenges is high," says Rudolf Schmeing.

In conversation with Andreas Bothe, President of the Münster District Council, it became clear how important clear and forward-looking regulations are with regard to renewable energies in Münsterland. The expansion of photovoltaics and wind power in the Münsterland region must also go ahead. Investors need security, regulations for agriculture and, of course, local residents need to be made reliably and quickly. Wirtschaftsförderung Bocholt is also particularly concerned with the expansion of wind power in industrial estates.

In addition to project developers, business promoters and investors, the Bocholt Economic Development Agency is also in close dialogue with Münsterland e.V., whose new Managing Director Andreas Grotendorst is also in Munich. "We are focussing on business and commercial space as well as investment opportunities in Münsterland at EXPO REAL - Bocholt and Rheine are also important components of this as major business locations alongside Münster," explains Andreas Grotendorst.

In addition to discussions on traditional marketing topics relating to commercial properties and Bocholt's business parks, which were held by Wirtschaftsförderung Bocholt and the city of Bocholt at the trade fair, this year's focus was on current retail and local supply projects, the property situation in Bocholt's city centre and the ever-changing customer requirements (keywords: e-commerce / face-to-face retail). For city planning officer Daniel Zöhler, the main focus is on the topic of residential construction for Bocholt and how this can continue to be realised under the difficult conditions of consistently high construction costs and very high interest rates. "We in Bocholt are still lucky in the current nationwide situation of more and more building projects that cannot be realised. Construction is underway in Bocholt, as can be seen in the east of the city centre on the Bocholter Aa, for example," says city planning officer Daniel Zöhler.

Expo Real is the most important international trade fair for property and investment in Europe and has been held every October since 1998. This year, over 1,800 exhibitors and around 40,000 trade visitors from around 70 countries are once again expected to attend.

In the photo, from right to left:

Andreas Grotendorst, Board of Directors Münsterland e.V.;

Ludger Dieckhues, Managing Director of Economic Development/City Marketing Bocholt;

Daniel Zöhler, City Planning Officer Bocholt;

Andreas Bothe, District President Münster;

Rudolf Schmeing, Schmeing Bau GmbH, Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Wirtschaftsförderung/Stadtmarketing Bocholt