Yurdaer Kahraman: “We Must Design the Future of the Sector Together”
The 16th AYD Retail Economy Summit, organized by the Shopping Centers and Investors Association, was held in Istanbul under the main sponsorship of Fiba Commercial Properties. Delivering the opening speech at the summit on December 9, Fiba Commercial Properties CEO and Board Member Yurdaer Kahraman stated: “The future of the commercial real estate sector depends on a new ecosystem approach in which all stakeholders share data and jointly manage the field.”
The 16th AYD Retail Economy Summit, for which Fiba Commercial Properties (Fiba CP), one of Türkiye’s leading commercial real estate investors, served as the main sponsor, brought together industry representatives at Swissotel.
Taking the stage at the opening of the event, Yurdaer Kahraman, CEO and Board Member of Fiba Commercial Properties, also participated in the panel titled “Long-Term Value: Renovation and Transformation Strategies in Shopping Centers,” where he shared insights on sectoral transformation and renovation investments alongside William J. Sebring, Founder of URBnARQ.
In his opening remarks, Kahraman stated: “We are going through a period in which competitiveness in the sector is being redefined. Innovation is the most powerful driver of this transformation. Artificial intelligence, data analytics, and new business models have fundamentally reshaped retail and commercial real estate. Our global collaborations also demonstrate that the true value of innovation emerges only when we act together. In Türkiye, retailers and investors have largely operated within their own dynamics. However, sustainable growth going forward will only be possible through an ecosystem that engages, shares data, and manages the field collaboratively.”
Emphasizing that shopping centers have significant transformation potential through small interventions, Kahraman added: “With the right management and strategic renovations, shopping centers can evolve into more sustainable structures. This approach will strengthen the culture of collaboration in our sector, enabling us to develop joint solutions to today’s challenges while building the future together on a more solid foundation.”
