On April 3rd, the General Assembly of the Lithuanian Real Estate Development Association (LNTPA) was held in Kaunas, at the Science Island. The event brought together 57 members—47 attended in person and 10 joined remotely—meeting the quorum requirements and validating the decisions made. The gathering was an opportunity to reflect on the past year’s accomplishments, set new goals, and exchange insights on the state of the sector.
Strength in Unity and Engagement
“The association is only as strong as its members are active,” said Vytas Zabilius, LNTPA board member and CEO of Regroup, who was elected chair of the meeting. He emphasized that membership status alone doesn’t create value—members must share, unite, and take action together.
LNTPA President Mindaugas Statulevičius, in his opening remarks, highlighted Kaunas’ potential and called for stronger regional cooperation: “Kaunas is a growing city. It is undergoing quality processes in real estate development, architecture, and municipal governance. We must seize this opportunity.”
Annual Activity Report: A Growing Community and a Broad Scope of Work
Mr. Statulevičius presented the 2024 activity report, which reflected efforts in legislation and strategic positioning of the association.
“LNTPA now unites 95 members—including developers, architects, consultants, real estate service providers, and legal professionals. Our community is becoming increasingly diverse, strengthening our voice in governmental institutions,” said the president.
Over the year, LNTPA actively participated in national working groups, contributed to the drafting of the Construction Code, and submitted proposals on urban densification, green spaces, and infrastructure requirements.
“We’ve managed to move forward on issues related to excessive green space requirements and initiated discussions about revising shelter regulations. These aren’t just opinions—they’re concrete proposals that shape legislation,” Statulevičius emphasized.
Events, Communication, and International Engagement
In 2024, LNTPA organized around 40 events—from Lithuania’s largest real estate leaders’ conference “CORE” to specialized forums, educational sessions, and the Housing Fair. The association also continued its initiative of international study tours, visiting real estate projects in Japan, Singapore, and Australia last year.
“These are not sightseeing trips—they’re knowledge exchanges and sources of inspiration that we bring back to Lithuania,” said the head of the association.
In terms of communication, LNTPA published 96 articles in the press over the past year and remained an active voice in the media and on social networks on sectoral issues.
“If we don’t express our position, someone else will form it. That’s why communication is not an add-on—it’s one of our core functions,” stressed Statulevičius.
The media monitoring company Mediaskopas conducted a comprehensive analysis of LNTPA’s media coverage in 2024, revealing the association’s targeted and active public outreach and strong reach metrics.
Challenges: Bureaucracy, Uncertainty, and Staff Turnover
A significant portion of the assembly was dedicated to sector challenges. As noted by the LNTPA president, project delays due to bureaucratic barriers remain a serious issue.
“We often hear: everything is on hold due to uncertainty. This is not normal. Business cannot function under such vague conditions,” he stated. Staff turnover in government institutions was also highlighted: “We’ve had cases where three responsible employees changed in a single municipality over a year. Having to restart discussions with each new person is inefficient and frustrating.”
According to Statulevičius, the association will continue to actively engage in initiatives and projects that aim to reduce bureaucracy in the country and promote efficiency in the public sector.
New Directions and Member Expectations
In the near future, LNTPA plans to strengthen the operations of its regional branches, particularly in Kaunas. A new Infrastructure Working Group is also being formed to address issues related to utility connections, pricing, and transparency in municipalities.
The LNTPA Members and Partners Day in Kaunas began with a guided tour of the “Nemunaičiai” project by SBA Urban, led by the project’s author, architect Rolandas Palekas. After the tour, members and partners were invited to the Science Island—becoming a symbol of pride for Kaunas—where real estate professionals engaged in discussions on the city’s urban development, identity, and real estate market potential. Some of Lithuania’s most renowned architects participated, including R. Palekas, Gintautas Natkevičius, and Živilė Šimkutė.
In a separate discussion on the Kaunas real estate market potential, insights were shared by real estate professionals, municipal representatives, and business leaders: Andrius Rimdeika (REGO Group), Lina Maskoliūnė (PROFITUS), Evelina Zvinyte (Tesonet), and Gedeminas Barčauskas (Kaunas City Municipality).
The visit to Science Island concluded with a tour of the facility led by its author, architect G. Natkevičius.
Translated by AI
Photos gallery (author Irmantas Gelūnas)
