Under the slogan “Economy in Transition: Shaping the Future Together,” the day-long conference was the largest German-Hungarian business event held outside Budapest. It featured high-level keynotes, expert sessions, and lively panel discussions spanning topics from the macroeconomic outlook to sustainable growth, cluster development, supporting SMEs and strengthening cooperation between local suppliers and multinationals.
For DUIHK president Róbert Keszte, the forum’s scale and ambition perfectly reflected the chamber’s mission.
“This event embodies what our chamber stands for: networking, the exchange of knowledge, and practical support for companies,” he said. “Sustainable success today depends on more than competitive products and services. It also requires an ecosystem built on collaboration between companies, local governments, and academia, supported by targeted state incentives,” he added.
Keszte emphasized that Debrecen offers a model of such an environment; a city that, in just a decade, has evolved into one of Hungary’s most dynamic economic hubs.
“Our goal is to continue nurturing this ecosystem so that it develops as dynamically in the next 10 years as it did in the last,” the president said.
In her opening address, DUIHK managing director Barbara Zollmann said the forum’s timing and location were symbolic. With BMW’s new plant and a fast-growing e-mobility cluster, Debrecen is now at the forefront of Hungary’s industrial transformation.
“In a volatile world, we all have the power to shape the future through entrepreneurial courage, innovation, and, above all, the strength of partnerships,” she said. “This forum marks the start of a new level of cooperation between German and Hungarian companies.”
Mayor of Debrecen László Papp underscored the significance of German investment in shaping the city’s rise. Over the past decade, 13 German companies have invested or expanded in Debrecen, creating more than 8,000 jobs and injecting more than EUR 3.5 billion into the local economy, according to the mayor.
“Debrecen has become Hungary’s most dynamic city after Budapest,” Papp said, crediting a “stable, partnership-based economic policy” and close cooperation between industry and education. “German companies are not just investors; they are partners and shapers of our shared future,” he added.
The German Ambassador to Hungary Julia Gross congratulated the city and the DUIHK on organizing what she called “a milestone event.” She noted that Debrecen’s rise reflects how essential all of Hungary, and not just the capital, has become for the German economy.
A highlight of the day was the so-called “Elephant Panel,” featuring the heads of the three major German automakers with production sites in Hungary: Audi (based in Győr), Mercedes-Benz (in Kecskemét), and BMW (in Debrecen). The discussion, moderated with a dose of humor and candor, delved into global market shifts, electrification, and the role of Hungarian plants in each company’s international strategy.
Audi Hungaria CEO Michael Breme praised the chamber and Debrecen for creating “an exceptional platform for open dialogue” and called on the industry to respond to challenges “with hard work, agility, and innovation.”
BMW’s Hans-Peter Kemser stressed that “innovation is the key to success,” highlighting his firm’s strong cooperation with the University of Debrecen as a model for integrating local talent.
Mercedes-Benz’s Zoltán Guth explained that the company’s success in Kecskemét was built on “Hungarian passion combined with German precision. This blend of energy and discipline is what allows us to innovate and remain competitive, not only within the Mercedes family, but in the global market as well.”
Beyond the automotive giants, the forum also showcased the broader German-Hungarian cooperation ecosystem, from large industrial suppliers such as Schaeffler and Siemens Energy to innovative SMEs and startups. Experts from Bayern Innovativ, the state of Bavaria’s innovation agency, the Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency, and Debrecen’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) presented best practices on cluster formation and funding tools that foster innovation and competitiveness
As the conference drew to a close, one message resonated across the hall: the partnership between Germany and Hungary, between German and Hungarian companies, is not only exceptionally strong and significant in terms of numbers, but also enduring and evolving. According to the DUIHK’s Keszte, the gathering underscored the key to success in today’s economic world: the spirit of partnerships, innovation, flexibility and agility.
“This first business forum in Debrecen will not be the last; it is a milestone on the way to a stronger, smarter, and more connected German-Hungarian business community,” he insisted.
This article was first published in the Budapest Business Journal print issue of November 14, 2025.
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