On July 17, the CCCH hosted its sold-out Sailing Balaton event aboard the iconic Nemere II cruiser. Departing from Balatonfüred’s LUA Resort, the three-hour tour provided members and guests with a unique blend of networking and leisure on Hungary’s most legendary sailing yacht. Built in 1944 and famed for its Blue Ribbon victories, the Nemere II delivered both elegance and speed. Perfect summer weather, light refreshments and excellent company made for an unforgettable experience on Lake Balaton.
The BCCH invites guests to return to a quintessentially British sport, the ancient pastime of golf, sponsored by loyal member FirstMed. The event will feature a full nine-hole game for experienced players, coaching for newcomers, and a reception with food and refreshments provided by our hosts, Botaniq Máriavölgyi Golf Klub. Transportation to and from the venue will be provided by BCCH partner Budapest Motors, departing from the Dorothea Hotel Budapest.
• Where: Botaniq Máriavölgyi Golf Klub (8087 Alcsútdoboz, Máriavölgy) • When: Thursday, Sep. 18. The nine-hole game starts at 10 a.m.; the non-golfers’ events at 11 a.m. There is a limited number of available spots for the transfer, which will set off a few minutes after 10 a.m. from the Dorothea. • Fees: Members HUF 20,000 + VAT; non-members HUF 30,000 + VAT
The CCIFH, in cooperation with the Hungarian Export Promotion Agency, is organizing its third Hungarian-French Business Forum at the end of September. The event will bring together procurement representatives from the Hungarian subsidiary of four major French companies (Alstom, Michelin, Sanofi and Valeo), offering an excellent opportunity for Hungarian suppliers to expand their commercial activities and establish new business partnerships with these large corporations. The Deputy State Secretary for Foreign Trade Development and the French Ambassador to Hungary will open the forum, followed by presentations from the aforementioned companies, during which they will outline their purchasing activities and needs. After lunch, B2B meetings will provide French and Hungarian companies with the opportunity to identify potential areas of cooperation.
• When: Sep. 30, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. • Where: Mercure Budapest Korona Hotel, Kecskeméti utca 14., 1053 Budapest • Fee: With confirmed B2B meeting, HUF 29,900 plus VAT/meeting; without B2B, HUF 14,900 plus VAT.
To celebrate the 249th birthday of the United States, AmCham members gathered for a vibrant, family-friendly afternoon at Öbölház, located at Kopaszi Dam. Guests enjoyed a festive menu featuring, among others, classic American hot dogs and U.S.-themed pop cakes. Two eye-catching Ford models, the Mustang Mach-E Rallye and the iconic 1967 V8 Mustang, were on display. Attendees could also join an interactive game to win a variety of prizes offered by Ford, with a weekend test drive as the grand prize. The program also included a chocolate tasting, refreshing summer cocktails courtesy of Diageo, and a dedicated selfie corner to capture fun memories. Children had a lively play area of their own, making the afternoon enjoyable for all generations.
On July 10, industry leaders, HR professionals, and institutional stakeholders gathered at the Ybl Palace in Budapest to take part in “Navigating Workforce Trends in Hungary’s Evolving Economy,” a high-level event dedicated to analyzing the shifting dynamics of the Hungarian labor market and its strategic importance for international investors, particularly Italian-owned enterprises. Organized with the support of Gi Group Holding, the morning event provided a comprehensive overview of emerging workforce trends, skill shortages, and regional disparities shaping Hungary’s employment landscape. The keynote address, grounded in Gi Group Holding’s most recent research, offered attendees data-driven insights into the challenges and opportunities facing foreign employers. A panel discussion brought together seasoned executives from major Italian companies operating in Hungary, including CIB, Bitron and Vizi & Partners. Panelists shared practical HR strategies, ranging from talent acquisition and employer branding to the complexities of greenfield investments. With more than three hours of in-depth dialogue and expert exchange, the event underscored Hungary’s growing role as a pivotal hub for international business and investment. It also highlighted the importance of building resilient, people-focused strategies in response to rapid economic transformation.
The DUIHK is organizing an exclusive trade mission to Germany from Nov. 17-20, which will provide insights into the cutting-edge aerospace and space industries. During the program, participants will visit leading industry players, including DLR, Airbus, Diehl Space, and MBDA. At the Space Tech Expo Europe trade fair in Bremen, participants can look forward to personal meetings and guided tours. The four-day trip offers an excellent opportunity for networking, business inspiration and gaining up-to-date technological knowledge. The program targets corporate decision-makers, engineers, and developers who are planning or are already actively involved in the aerospace industry or supply chain, or who are interested in new technologies. For more information and to register, check the German chamber website, www.ahkungarn.hu
Sustainability and competitiveness must reinforce each other rather than come at each other’s expense; this was the key message at the Swisscham event held during the third Blue Ribbon Business Summit in Balatonfüred, alongside the 57th Blue Ribbon sailing race. Environmental sustainability cannot exist independently of economic and social sustainability, and achieving this requires the involvement of government, the business sector, and non-profit organizations. For long-term development, it is increasingly necessary to examine the relationship between sustainability and competitiveness in a more complex and multifaceted way, said István Béres, president of Swisscham, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. At the professional event, organized with partners including the Swiss Embassy and Philip Morris Hungary, Swiss chargé d’affaires Thomas Widmer noted that, while strong winds may benefit sailors, in business, predictability and stability are essential, something that also serves the interests of Swiss companies investing in Hungary. State Secretary for Tax Affairs, Consumer Protection, and Trade Bence Gerlaki emphasized that Switzerland is Hungary’s seventh most important trading partner, with Swiss companies having invested 3.8 billion euros in the country. The nearly 900 Swiss companies present in Hungary employ more than 32,000 people nationwide, and are characterized by high technological advancement and skilled labor. The Hungarian government aims to strengthen its economic policy further based on tax reduction, investment incentives, and job creation. “To ensure Hungary remains an attractive investment environment, preserving national sovereignty in tax policy is a key issue,” Gerlaki stressed. State Secretary for Circular Economy and Climate Policy Csaba Gondola highlighted the government’s integration of waste management and climate policy into a competitiveness-focused structure. He believes that a successful green transition requires the development of well-functioning economic and operational models. In his view, everyone must accept that environmental sustainability cannot exist without economic and social sustainability. An excellent tool for this is strengthening the circular economy model, with the mandatory deposit return system cited as a good example. “We want to be part of the solution, not the problem,” declared Maria Dimopoulou, European head of sustainability collaboration at Philip Morris International. She emphasized that the key to sustainability lies in aligning economic growth with social and environmental responsibility. She highlighted the importance of both Switzerland and Hungary to the company, referencing the R&D center in Neuchâtel and the recycling plant in Gyál, which officially opened in 2021 with government participation and represents a USD 20 million investment. This unique facility in Europe receives used electronic devices from across the continent, supporting the circular economy. Barbara Wassen (Ministry of Energy), Péter Szlávik (Philip Morris Hungary), Péter Noszek (Nestlé Hungária), and Farkas Bársony (Sharity) discussed in a Swisscham roundtable how the attitudes of government, society, the business sector, and non-profits toward sustainability have evolved in recent years. It was reiterated that sustainability and competitiveness must go hand in hand. Climate adaptation and flexibility are crucial, and if all stakeholders work together, CO₂ emissions could be reduced by 40-70% within a foreseeable timeframe. However, currently only 16% of companies have an ESG strategy. There is no alternative path, as while it took 10,000 years for the average temperature to rise by 5°C in the past, the same increase has occurred in just the last 70 years.
This article was first published in the Budapest Business Journal print issue of July 25, 2025.
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