The British Chamber of Commerce in Hungary serves to spur on the sustainable development of Hungary’s business sector and to promote competitiveness, transparency and social consciousness in Hungary’s business activities. While it represents the interests of British companies in Hungary, the British Chamber alsosupports the activities of Hungarian companies as well as business investments from other countries.
Chairman Gergely Mikola says, “We aim to serve as an organisation which can help companies do more and better business in Hungary, no matter what country the organisation is based in. We have an open door policy. That said, we are also dedicated to representing British businesses and British business values here in Hungary.” He adds that around half of the British Chamber’s members are non British companies.
Key networking events throughout the year
The British Chamber organises events every week throughout the year which provide invaluable networking opportunities for member companies. The Chamber also organises VIP events for CEOs and government officials to stimulate closer ties between the public and private sectors, and regularly partners with other organisations in hosting events of interest to the business sector, including the “Innovation 2012” conference held on February 28 in Budapest. Gergely Mikola is serving his second term as Vice Chairman of the Permanent Commission of the National and Bilateral Chambers of the EU Countries in Hungary.
The British Chamber of Commerce is an active promoter of Hungary’s attractions as a business base. One of Hungary’s competitive advantages is that it provides a level playing field for investors, Gergely Mikola points out. He also cites the country’s strategic location, skilled labour in key sectors and highly developed transport infrastructure, particularly the road network, as reasons investors should target Hungary. A modern telecom infrastructure and comparatively low labour costs in manufacturing sectors such as the automotive industry are other draws. He adds, “Hungary is majorly competitive! One area investors should think about is service centres, which can take advantage of Hungary’s multilingual, highly educated labour force.”
The British Chamber strongly promotes development beyond Budapest. Gergely Mikola says, “We support the government’s efforts to encourage business growth throughout the country, not just in and around the capital. My advice is that if you are a potential investor and are looking for a skilled, mobile, experienced workforce at competitive prices, along with highly developed infrastructure, come to Hungary. Hungary welcomes investments in businesses that add value.”
