Chamber of Commerce Corner, March 22, 2024

Swiss-Hungarian Chamber of Commerce (Swisscham)

On March 7, Swisscham organized an event with speakers from Progress Consult Ltd. on the actualities and opportunities of corporate digitalization, with several presentations about what tools can help company leaders consciously manage corporate digitalization while also developing employee competencies. Andrea Magdolna Nagy spoke about the challenges of digital space from the corporate and consumer aspects, the so-called dark patterns in online commerce, and the rules of online shopping. Tamás Barathi introduced the Blue Colibri platform, which allows companies to consciously build HR processes, internal communication, and digital systems.

Swisscham’s next event is “How to Start Working With AI.” • When: Thursday, April 4, 9 a.m-noon • Where: Ericsson House, Magyar Tudósok Körútja 11, 1117 Budapest • Fee: Members free; non-members: HUF 14,900 / person

British Chamber of Commerce in Hungary (BCCH)

The BCCH is organizing a morning seminar jointly with Raiffeisen Bank and featuring its head of research, Zoltán Török, at Raiffeisen Bank. “The Hungarian Economy: High Pressure, High Risk?” will cover a lot of ground. The energy crisis is over, and Hungary’s external account improved dramatically last year. The public budget deficit increased in 2023, and fiscal consolidation is becoming increasingly challenging for the government. EU funds have been partially released, but the remainder is still frozen. After the recession in 2023, the economy is set to recover, but the government’s plans are unlikely to come true. What are the factors limiting economic growth? What is the “high-pressure economy” the government talks about? What is the outlook for the interest rate and the HUF? • When: Thursday, April 18, 9:30-11:30 a.m. • Where: Raiffeisen Bank Offices, Agora irodaház, Tower 2, Váci út 116-118, 1133 Budapest. • Fee: Participation is free of charge but subject to prior registration.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce for Hungary (CCIU)

The CCIU is a member of Assocamerestero, a network that includes 86 Italian Chambers of Commerce Abroad (ICCAs), with about 20,000 members and an estimated 300,000 business contracts. One of the primary objectives of this network is promoting “Made in Italy” products, which is also the case in Hungary. On March 7 and 8, the Italian chamber participated in the Europe and Mediterranean Area Meeting, held in Rome at Palazzo Montecitorio. The meeting, entitled “Working Together on the Future: ICCA Close to Businesses around the World,” was attended by CCIU president Bernardino Pusceddu and vice president Francesco Alleva. The main focus of the meeting was how ICCA plays a vital role in internationalization. They are essential in economic diplomacy, which is critical to globalization. This involves utilizing new technologies like AI and promoting the green economy. In addition, demonstrating the strengthened collaboration between Italian entities in Hungary, Pusceddu was invited to the SIRHA event in Budapest on March 5. This is the leading international trade fair dedicated to hospitality, gastronomy, and retail in Central and Eastern Europe.

Hungarian-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIFH)

The CCIFH business breakfast and roundtable discussion “Electric Cars and Charging” will investigate how to maximize ROI for companies in 2024. What financial advantages will electric vehicle purchases provide for enterprises? Discover the first-hand calculations of opinion leaders from the sector about what constitutes a profitable move in 2024. The speaker is Deputy State Secretary for Energy Transition Viktor Horváth of the Ministry of Energy. The roundtable participants are Gábor Várkonyi, moderator and auto market expert; Attila Fésűs, executive director of Equans Hungary Kft.; László Károlyi, CEO of Legrand Zrt.; Gabriella Kelemen-Tüz, CEO of Mobilize; Balázs Vihari, PR manager for Renault; Louis-Jérôme Villa, executive director of Evergy Car Charging Kft.; and László Fata, founder of Cafeteria Trend Magazine. The event is open to the press, and the language will be Hungarian. • When: Wednesday, April 17, 9 a.m.-noon • Where: D50 Hotel és Rendezvényközpont, Damjanich utca 50, 1071 Budapest. • Fee: HUF 12,500 (+VAT).

German Hungarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DUIHK)

The DUIHK is organizing a workshop in English and Hungarian with simultaneous translation with renowned experts from Magyar Telekom, PwC, Audi and B.Braun on upskilling in finance. In today’s highly competitive talent market and rapidly changing business landscape, finance departments, financial services and FinTech firms must upskill their employees to stay relevant. Apart from existing employees, recruiting skilled university graduates is also increasingly important for these firms, so upskilling plays a crucial role in the Hungarian education system, particularly at top universities. New technologies, shifting market demands, and a constantly evolving regulatory environment are just a few factors driving change in financial services in different industries. The workshop provides answers to the following questions: What are the skills that will keep finance organizations relevant? Where are the specific skill gaps? What are company best practices? What role can companies and universities take in upskilling? After this kick-off workshop, the chamber plans follow-up events and working group assignments. • When: Monday, March 25, 1:30-6 p.m. • Where: House of German-Hungarian Economy, Lövőház u. 30, 1024 Budapest.www.ahkungarn.hu/Veranstaltungen

Belgian Business Club in Hungary (Belgabiz)

Belgabiz, in cooperation with Euroatlantic Consulting, will host a networking event called “Preparing for the Hungarian EU Presidency.” Belgium and Hungary hold the EU presidency consecutively, which means that Hungary will continue working on matters launched in the first half of 2024. The presentation will provide the participants with a general understanding of the policies that are on the table in 2024, tangible knowledge, and practical advice on the Hungarian EU Presidency and beyond, from EU business lobbying to funding opportunities. The official program will be followed by networking with refreshments. • When: Thursday, March 21, 6-9 p.m. • Where: Create26, Király u. 26, 1061 Budapest. • Fee: Members free; non-members HUF 18,000.

Hungarian-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce (HNCC)

Students of the Mihály Károlyi Vocational Secondary School of Economics, participating in an Erasmus exchange program with the Nydalen Videregående Skole, visited the Embassy of Norway, Budapest, before their journey to the Scandinavian country. They were provided valuable insight into Norway’s economic, social and cultural history by deputy head of the mission Herman Baskår. The event was part of the recently established collaboration between the HNCC and the secondary school.

Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hungary (CCCH)

At a recent business breakfast event co-hosted by CCCH and Telcotrend, the firm’s sales manager, Eszter Jacobs, and senior business consultant, Lóránt Tóth, led an enlightening discussion on the critical role of front-end applications. They emphasized how these are a vital link between customers and complex backend IT systems. Amidst the multitude of backend data, success hinges on presenting information seamlessly to customers and frontline employees, especially during backend system changes. Jacobs and Tóth explored strategies to ensure business continuity amidst backend transformations, focusing on enhancing user experience and resilience. Attendees discussed leveraging innovative technologies and agile frameworks to fortify front-end applications and optimize outcomes. This collaborative event showcased the power of knowledge exchange in driving business innovation. By prioritizing robust front-end applications, enterprises can enhance customer experiences and maintain a competitive edge in today’s dynamic marketplace.

This article was first published in the Budapest Business Journal print issue of March 22, 2024.