Diplomacy&Trade 2024-04

Sustainability

In the short and medium term, only adaptation is the right strategy to combat climate change, while in the long-term, mitigation, i.e. limiting the release of greenhouse gases that cause climate change, is the right strategy. These two actions can only be successful together. This is the theme sustainability experts discuss in detail in the leading article of the new edition of Sustainability Focus.

see articles on pages 10-19

Executive World

Since 2018, Thibaut Drege, a professional with an experience spanning across almost two decades in the luxury hospitality industry, has been with the company he had always dreamt to work for: the Four Seasons. After a spell as General Manager of the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest, he returned, now as General Manager, to the Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris. see article on pages 08-09

SWISS DAYS IN THE GREAT HUNGARIAN PLAIN

SEE REPORT ON page 20

THE EMBASSY OF SWITZERLAND IN BUDAPEST ORGANIZED SWISS DAYS IN THE CITY OF KECSKEMÉT AND THE NEARBY VILLAGE OF HELVÉCIA IN COOPERATION WITH ITS LOCAL PARTNERS AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OF THE TWO MUNICIPALITIES.

letter from the publisher

Kecskemét, a thriving city in Hungary’s Great Plain, recently hosted the Swiss Days event series organized by the Swiss Embassy. This September gathering showcased the strong Swiss presence in the area, with programs such as company visits and a business forum underscoring the ties between the two countries. The nearby village of Helvécia – founded by a Swiss settler – also joined the festivities, hosting a harvest festival that celebrated the cultural exchange between Hungary and Switzerland.

In our Executive World series, we spotlight Thibaut Drege, who recently served as General Manager of the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace in Budapest. Although his tenure was brief, Drege leaves behind a strategic vision to guide the hotel’s talented team, ensuring the iconic property remains on a successful path.

This edition’s main theme, sustainability, tackles the traditional environmental issues of climate change and biodiversity loss but also emphasizes the increasing urgency of addressing social inequalities and polarization. In the Focus section, we feature Hungarian companies committed to sustainable practices, showcasing their efforts to reduce their carbon footprint and make a positive impact.

On the diplomacy page, we visit Balatonfüred, where women ambassadors from 13 countries, along with artists and poets, gathered to celebrate peace through art, poetry, and music. This event marked the 25th anniversary of the UN General Assembly’s adoption of the Declaration and Program of Action on a Culture of Peace, fostering a spirit of international solidarity.

In our international analysis section, we examine recent elections in Europe, where citizens issued a symbolic "yellow card" to governing elites, particularly around immigration policy. These results reflect widespread discontent with current EU policies and may signal a call for reform.

As we embrace the fall season, a time of reflection and renewal, may these stories inspire us all to consider new beginnings, strengthened connections, and a commitment to positive change in our communities and beyond.

Peter Freed

PUBLISHER

PUBLISHER: Peter Freed PHOTO EDITOR: Dávid Harangozó

ADMINISTRATION: Blanka Szalontai

SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR: Tamás Varga

CONTRIBUTORS: Sándor Laczkó, Tamás Magyarics

PHOTO CONTRIBUTORS: Dávid Harangozó (cover), Dávid Ajkai (cover), depositphotos.com, Audi Hungaria, noburestaurants.com, bestdrive.ie, pwc.com, FK1954/ Wikimedia, Dávid Ajkai, SPAR, Getty Images, E.ON, Jaime Rojo, Pablo Ernesto Piovano, Alejandro Cegarra, Eddie Jim, Hungarian UN Society, Diego Rivera & Frida Kahlo Archives, Live Nation, Staatlichen Museen zu Berlin/Vorderasiatisches Museum; bpk/Vorderasiatisches Museum; SMB/Olaf M.Teßmer, Bratislava Tourist Board, JYSK

03 ON THE RECORD 04-05 COMPANY BRIEFS

06 ANALYSIS

Wilkommenskultur not welcome 08-09 EXECUTIVE WORLD Four Seasons hotel manager Thibaut Drege 10-19 SUSTAINABILITY FOCUS

Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary; SPAR Hungary; Smoke-free alternatives; Knauf Hungary; E.ON Hungaria Group; JYSK

20 BUSINESS

Swiss Days in the Great Hungarian Plain 22 DIPLOMACY

UN International Day of Peace celebrated in Hungary

24 CULTURE

World Press Photo Exhibition in Budapest

25 WHAT’S ON Concerts, festivals, events and exhibitions in and out of Budapest

26-27 TOURISM

There is more to Bratislava in the fall

ITALIAN FOCUS – COMING SOON

Diplomacy&Trade is to present a special focus on Italy, which is the second most important target of Hungarian exports after Germany. Bilateral trade was record high last year, exceeding EUR 8 billion. Italy is among the ten largest investors in Hungary. Cooperation has also been increasing lately in the defense industry with a growing number of joint investment projects. The development of energy cooperation could be widened with a possible natural gas supply corridor via Slovenia.

Those will be some of the topics discussed – in addition to various aspects of bilateral relations – in an extensive interview with the Italian ambassador to Hungary, Manuel Jacoangeli. We also present the activities of the Italian trade agency ICE and the Italian cultural institute here. Of course, the compilation will feature a number of companies of Italian origin present in Hungary.

The best and most important press and documentary photographs on display page 24

Event guide to the Hungarian capital page 25

UN International Day of Peace celebrated in Hungary page 22

MNBRELAUNCHES FINANCIALEDUCATION CAMPAIGN

The National Bank of Hungary (MNB) has re-launched its financial awareness campaign "Small things go a long way,” which encourages retail customers to achieve greater financial security by rethinking their everyday financial habits and training their savings.

According to a statement by MNB, "money-sucking" items can be hidden in people's everyday spending, which can eat up significant amounts of money in the long run. The "Small things go a long way" savings campaign aims to highlight these costs and give advice on how to reduce them.

The campaign suggests planning a year ahead, paying attention to fixed major expenses (e.g. school starts, holidays) and preparing for possible unexpected situations.

Developing conscious financial habits and making small, regular savings can also generate significant returns in the long term. Even by switching to a cheaper internet or mobile phone package from an unused expensive one, or by checking annually whether there are wallet-friendly bank account, home or compulsory/voluntary motor vehicle insurance offers on the market that provide the same service in place of the existing ones, families can build up financial reserves.

The need has also been stressed to be informed in advance when taking out a loan and the use of MNB's free loan and lease selection tool is suggested to help find the most suitable options. When making a choice, it is worth looking for qualified consumer-friendly products that offer favorable terms, as well as transparency, predictability and a customerfriendly approach, the statement added. It was also pointed out that when investing savings, it is important to avoid overly tempting offers.

on the record

(+36,8% over 22,387, the lowest since 2012), but also the 2022 print (+9.6% over 27,926).

92,261 dwellings were sold in the first nine months of the year, a 39% year-on-year growth and a figure proportionately sufficient to reach the middle of the 110,000 to 130,000 transactions Duna House expects for the year. With resources and buyer confidence in place, real estate experts expect significant buyer interest and a high number of closings for the rest of the year.

According to DH data, the summer lull has also ended in the mortgage market, with HUF 112 billion of mortgage loans contracted in September this year. Compared to the August estimate, the volume shows a 7% growth, and compared to central bank data for the same month of 2013, the segment performed 106% better.

INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXHIBITIONIN BUDAPEST

ENVIRONTEC powered by ÖKOINDUSTRIA, the first international environmental, waste water and sustainability exhibition, took place this September at the Hungexpo fair and exhibition site in Budapest, with almost 100 exhibitors from eight countries presenting their innovations and technological developments in the field.

The three-day event, which focused on the latest environmental innovations, provided an excellent opportunity for participants to share their domestic and international efforts towards sustainability," according to Anikó Raisz, State Secretary for Environment and Circular Economy at the Ministry of Energy (EM), who opened the exhibition.

She was of the view that Hungary's government is committed to achieving economic growth in a sustainable way while strengthening competitiveness, and has taken a number of concrete measures in recent years to this end.

Gábor Ganczer, CEO of Hungexpo Plc., said he hoped that the exhibition would be an important milestone not only for Hungary, but also for the future of the environmental industry in the whole Central and Eastern European region.

The exhibition was intended to be a forum for professional dialogue and shared concern, where participants can together find solutions to successfully adapt to environmental challenges and reduce the harmful effects of industrial activities.

The guest of honor at the expo was The Netherlands with exhibitors showcasing a range of solutions that combine sustainability with business considerations and can be applied anywhere in the world.

They stressed that this day is a day of special attention for the sector. The sector contributed EUR 925 million to the EUR 2.9 billion surplus in the balance of trade in services in the second quarter of this year, accounting for around a third of the positive balance.

As VisitHungary pointed out, the strong growth of the sector is also reflected in the fact that never before have so many people stayed in domestic accommodation during the high season as this year. According to the National Tourist Information Center (NTAK), the nearly seven million guests are almost 9% more than last summer, and the almost 18 million guest nights they spent were almost 3% more than last year.

The capital took a big share of the summer record, with around two million guests arriving in Budapest, a fifth more than in the summer of 2023. Lake Balaton was also particularly popular, with more than 1.7 million visitors in June-August, 6.2% more than a year earlier.

And the region's hotels recorded 5.5 million more nights than the capital by 20%.

TONYCURTISINTERNATIONAL FILMFESTIVALINMÁTÉSZALKA

The Hungarian real estate brokerage firm Duna House estimates that 9,754 residential properties changed hands, up 21% year on year, and that HUF 112 billion worth of housing mortgages were taken out in September 2024 in Hungary, more than double (+106%) of the base period's data. The number of transactions in the first nine months of the year shows a nearly 40% yr/yr increase.

The fall kicked off well on the Hungarian residential property market, with 9,754 transactions concluded in September, according to Duna House estimates. This marks a 4.6% increase in monthly terms but a 20.9% jump year on year. In theory, this means that on average a home is sold every five minutes or so in the country.

A total of 30,615 residential properties were sold in the third quarter of 2024, which exceeds not just last year's figure

HUNGARYREPORTS RECORDNUMBERSON WORLDTOURISMDAY

The tourism industry celebrates World Tourism Day on September 27 every year since 1980, at the initiative of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism). Recalling the social and economic importance of the sector, the Hungarian Tourism Agency’s website VisitHungary pointed out that tourism provides a livelihood for some 400,000 families and accounts for more than 12% of GDP. In the summer, Hungarian hotels welcomed nearly seven million guests, which is 8.6% more than last year's record year. Records were also broken in the first eight months of the year, with national tourism up by almost 11% year-on-year and Budapest's growth even doubling to more than 22%.

Fifty-five documentaries, shorts and feature films were screened free of charge at the Tony Curtis International Film Festival (TCIFF) in Mátészalka, Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg county, NE Hungary, this September. The first-ever three-day film festival dedicated to the memory of Tony Curtis, worldfamous Hollywood actor of Hungarian origin whose father was born in Mátészalka and whose parents emigrated to the United States.

The event, supported by the Hungarian Hollywood Council, the Mátészalka Municipality, Origo Film Studio and the National Film Institute, was hosted by Jill Curtis-Weber, the actor's widow, who personally attended the opening ceremony and the awards gala. The 55 films were screened over the three days from morning to evening at the local Zukor Adolf cinema.

The event also featured the national finals of the Hungarian Hollywood contest where student teams competed, the Adolph Zukor Award was presented and the Tony Curtis plaque was unveiled.

The Hungarian and international film personalities invited to the festival met with the public in audience meetings and panel discussions.

There were also light music concerts and an exhibition to commemorate the 125th birthday of Dave Gould, the Hungarian-born American choreographer, dance director, the dance director of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film company, who won two Academy Awards.

company briefs

FIRST CUPRA TERRAMAR ROLLS OFF THE PRODUCTION LINE IN GYŐR

Audi Hungaria has officially started series production of the CUPRA Terramar, designed in Barcelona, Spain and built in Győr, NW Hungary. In 2022, the Győr-based company announced the addition of another Group brand product to its vehicle production portfolio. In the future, 3,500 employees will work on the CUPRA Terramar in Győr alongside the Audi Q3 and Q3 Sportback models.

MASTER GOOD, MAJORITY STAKEHOLDER IN NOBU BUDAPEST

Hungarian-owned Master Good Group has acquired a strategic stake in NOBU, a chain of more than 50 restaurants and nearly 20 hotels worldwide.

The group comprised of Master Good Ltd., Baromfi Coop Ltd. and Sága Foods Plc., is one of the largest food industry players in the region it and has been a dominant player in the international market for many years with its high-quality poultry products. The investment in NOBU Budapest provides a unique opportunity for the two companies, according to a statement by the group.

"The presence of a restaurant may be alien to the Master Good Group's portfolio, but the acquisition of a majority stake in NOBU Budapest is definitely more than that for us," Managing Owner of Master Good, László Bárány explains. He adds that they have always been interested in gastronomy, especially in the area of high quality. “However, this alone would not have been enough for us to enter this market. We are businessmen, we knew that if we ever made such an investment in the life of Master Good, we would join an international chain, a great brand with a world-class performance. NOBU is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, has 55 restaurants around the world and has entered the hotel industry with its own hotels since 2013, with nearly 20 hotels on five continents. The restaurant in Budapest will be 15 years old next year and is considered one of the top 5 NOBU restaurants in the world. We are delighted that many members of the NOBU Budapest team, including Chef Gábor Schreiner, have worked tirelessly together since opening. For us, this is another guarantee that the restaurant in Budapest is run by a close-knit team that knows the brand well. We feel that the two brands have already proven themselves in their respective fields, and that the values that characterize NOBU are just as important to us. Commitment to their respective professions and quality, adherence to tradition, and reliable systems are the defining characteristics of both brands."

SHARE CAPITAL OF EXIMBANK PLC. INCREASED

The share capital of Magyar Export-Import Bank Plc. has been increased by HUF 15 billion by the Minister of National Economy, the holder of the company's ownership rights. The capital increase resulted in a share capital of HUF 355 billion. It was announced that the share capital increase involved the issue of 3,000 new dematerialized ordinary shares with a nominal value of HUF 5 million each, registered in the name of the Hungarian

‘Born in Barcelona, Made in Győr’: this is the slogan under which the first CUPRA Terramar rolled off the production lines of Audi Hungaria in Győr this September. Preparations for production started in 2021, and the training of staff has been taking place since September 2022 in the form of workshops and training courses.

"Audi Hungaria's highly skilled employees produce more than 170,000 cars from Győr for the world every year. In the 31 years of our company's history, only Audi models have rolled off our production lines, but today is an important day as we are the first Audi factory to produce a vehicle from a sister brand. Together with our more than 12,000 employees, we are ready for the future," according to the Chairman of the Board of Audi Hungaria, Michael Breme.

"We are delighted that our vehicle production has been expanded with the addition of another brand model. The flexibility and expertise of our staff is demonstrated by the fact that we have integrated the CUPRA Terramar into our existing production infrastructure, creating numerous synergies in our manufacturing processes. We are proud to open a new chapter in our company's history by working together with CUPRA," Member of the Board of Management of Audi Hungaria, responsible for Vehicle Production, Zoltán Les, noted.

A statement by Audi Hungaria pointed out that “our employees have integrated Audi and CUPRA models into the same production system, working closely with production planning and development. The supply chain teams have worked to ensure that the parts needed to manufacture the product are sourced from the closest possible location to the factory, taking into account cost efficiency. This reduces not only transport costs but also carbon emissions.”

The Master Good Group is 100% family-owned. The Bárány family has been in poultry farming for 116 years, going back four generations, making it the oldest poultry farming dynasty in Hungary. The first generation to start the tradition was the manorial poultry farmers of the Széchenyi Counts. Their commitment to the profession has been passed down from generation to generation, the statement points out.

state, non-transferable and granting the same rights as the issuer's ordinary shares.

EXIM is a combination of two legal entities, the state-backed Magyar Export-Import Bank Plc. (Eximbank Plc.) and Magyar Exporthitel Biztosító Plc. (MEHIB Plc.). EXIM Hungary's total assets amounted to HUF 3,644 billion at the end of 2023, its loan portfolio to HUF 2,439 billion, and 87.5% of its 3,344 corporate customers are in the SME segment. Its main partners are domestic commercial banks, and it finances its clients primarily through them in the form of refinancing facilities.

PWC ACQUIRES RESEARCH AND CONSULTING FIRM GKID

GKID has entered into an agreement with PwC under which PricewaterhouseCoopers Magyarország Ltd. acquires a 100% stake in GKID Research & Consulting Ltd. This acquisition will expand PwC’s consulting business with e-commerce, package logistics, media market as well as data service and market research expertise, PwC Hungary says in a statement. Under the terms of the agreement, GKID will become part of PwC Hungary, at the same time, six professionals, including its three owners – Norbert Madar, Szabolcs Timár and Ildikó CserjésKopándi –, will join the company. GKID is a leading research and consulting firm in the areas of e-commerce, retail and logistics with a broad customer base and unique expertise. The transaction also extends to the research and counseling firm Trendsight Kutató and Tanácsadó Ltd., which, in close cooperation with GKID, is also the publisher of the podcast, entitled Vedd fel a versenyt ('Take up the competition').

“With this new acquisition, PwC will bolster its competitiveness in the Hungarian and regional markets,” Antal Kerekes, Consulting and Technology Leader, PwC Hungary said. “It will enable us to gain a foothold in the continuously growing and rapidly changing areas of retail and e-commerce and will add data reporting capabilities to our team of more than 40 experts dealing with data assets,” he added.

"On the one hand, we are opening in the direction of a constantly growing and rapidly changing industry, retail and e-commerce, and on the other hand, we are strengthening our team of more than 40 people dealing with data assets and supplementing it with data provision capabilities," the specialist emphasized.

Over the past eleven years, GKID has become the leading market research and consulting firm in the Hungarian e-commerce market. GKID’s achievements include Hungary’s best known and most comprehensive e-commerce research series, the Digital Commerce Survey, and eTOPLISTA, a high prestige ranking of e-commerce companies. GKID has also created the first parcel volume-based model of the Hungarian e-commerce market, which goes back nearly a decade.

company briefs

COFIDIS ACQUIRES MAGYAR CETELEM BANK

The Cofidis Group has successfully completed the acquisition of Magyar Cetelem Bank Plc., the Hungarian subsidiary of BNP Paribas Personal Finance Group, Cofidis has announced. According to the statement, this

transaction helps Cofidis Group strengthen its position in the Hungarian market and the Central European region. Gilles Sauret, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cofidis Group, pointed out that this acquisition represents a significant growth potential for Cofidis in Hungary: the acquisition of a banking license and the further expansion of the network of commercial partners.

BESTDRIVE TIRE SERVICE NETWORK EXPANDS IN HUNGARY

BestDrive, the international tire service network of the Continental Group, is expanding in Hungary, having opened its first franchise in Budapest this September. BestDrive starts operations this year with five franchised brand service centers in Budapest and three in rural areas – Szeged, Debrecen and Székesfehérvár –and 25 additional network partners.

The Continental technology company founded in 2006 the BestDrive global tire service network, which currently operates in 19 countries on five continents and focuses on the sale and maintenance of tires for passenger cars and trucks.

The network has around 2,000 members, and the international expansion is backed by ambitious targets to add 200 partners by the end of 2025, with

Hungary playing a key role, the company said in a statement. The BestDrive network features modern workshops and state-of-the-art equipment to ensure that customers receive the best quality tires and tire service.

The communication underlined that BestDrive's international background and Continental's expertise ensure that all members of the network serve their customers with the latest technologies. At the same time, the local partners enjoy a high degree of autonomy in the range of services they offer, allowing the network to provide solutions tailored to local needs.

According to the information, partners wishing to join the network have two options: they can either become a franchise partner or a network partner.

Cofidis stressed that Cetelem's customers will not have to do anything after the change of ownership. The financial and contractual conditions for loans, bank deposits and credit cards will not change.

Under the leadership of Jean-François Remy, CEO of Cofidis Hungary, preparations for the integration of Cetelem employees and the development of the new product offering have already started, they added.

LEADERSHIP CHANGE AT PWC HUNGARY

As of October 1, 2024, László Radványi succeeds Tamás Lőcsei as the new Country Managing Partner of PwC Hungary. Tamás Lőcsei will transition to overseeing key projects in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and driving local business development in Hungary, according to

a press statement by PwC Hungary. László Radványi began his career at the firm in 2003 as a fresh graduate and became a partner in 2015 at the age of 35. Throughout his tenure, he has led numerous domestic and regional transformation projects within the auditing business, as well as major Hungarian and German client projects. In 2020, he was appointed Assurance Services

FOAM GLASS THERMAL INSULATION MATERIAL PRODUCED IN PÉCS

Hungaro Energy Natural Gas, Energy Trading and Service Provider Ltd. of Pécs, S Hungary, which is engaged in the sale of natural gas and electricity, related maintenance activities and energy consulting, is starting the production of foam glass for use as thermal insulation in the construction industry.

The Hungarian-owned company, which has been operating since 2008, has won HUF 1.5 billion in conditional non-reimbursable EU funding under the Economic Development and Innovation Operational Program Plus (Ginop+) to launch the new business and create the necessary technological background.

Under the project, the company acquired the necessary equipment for the production of foam glass, including a production line for processing glass waste, producing glass cullet and glass slurry, and producing foam glass, as well as a 40-kilowatt biomass boiler.

The company started producing foam glass, an insulating material for the construction industry, because it identified a niche market for the efficient recycling of used municipal and industrial glass waste, such as bottles, jars, windows and windscreens.

Leader for PwC Hungary, overseeing accounting consulting, risk management, cyber security, and PwC's Academy, the firm’s adult education center. Under his leadership, the Hungarian auditing business doubled in size, establishing itself as a significant player in the CEE region. He is deeply committed to fostering innovation, enhancing employees' digital skills, and promoting a diverse and inclusive corporate culture.

"PwC is one of Hungary's leading firms in auditing, tax advisory, and business consulting. My objective is to further strengthen our market-leading position in our core service areas while expanding into new markets. I believe that the foundation of a successful company lies in trust, collaboration, and responsible, engaging leadership," László Radványi stated.

He added that "as the head of PwC, my mission is to leverage our company's expertise to bolster economic and social trust, while delivering comprehensive, high-quality services to our clients. I firmly believe that we should not merely react to global trends but actively shape them."

In addition to his professional responsibilities, László Radványi is actively engaged in PwC's social responsibility and diversity initiatives and supports various causes out of personal conviction. As a father of two, he enjoys spending his free time with his family and pursuing sports activities.

It expects its new development to be marketable because of the explosion in

demand for foam glass in the region in the short term, driven by tightening building and environmental regulations and investors' desire for energy-efficient technologies. According to publicly available company data, Hungaro Energy Natural Gas, Energy Trading and Services Ltd. had net sales of HUF 41.852 billion in 2023, up from HUF 8.884 billion a year earlier, with more than a fifth of its revenues coming from exports. The company closed with a profit of HUF 141 million in 2023, compared to HUF 195 million after tax in 2022.

analysis

WILKOMMENSKULTUR NOT WELCOME

A YELLOW CARD FOR THE GOVERNING ELITES IN EUROPE

BY TAMÁS MAGYARICS

One national election and three local elections sent a warning to the leaders of the European Union that their policies in the past few years have been anything but very popular among quite large number of people. In Austria, the FPÖ won 28.8% of the votes, increasing its share from 16.8% in 2019. The biggest loser was the ÖVP, which has lost more than 12% of its support (from 28.3 to 26.3%). True, the SPÖ has kept its overall support at some 21%, but that is only relatively good news for the leftist parties in Austria. As for the provincial elections in Germany, the results might even be more worrying for the right of center and the left of center parties. The AfD actually won the elections in Thuringia with almost a third of the votes (32.8%), and though, it came second behind the CDU in Saxony, there, it also received almost the same share of the votes (30.6%), and so did in Brandenburg (with 31.5%). If we add the 6.3 and 6.4% support for the BSW and Die Linke respectively in Saxony, the conclusion is that almost half of the electorate is dissatisfied with the policies of the ruling coalition parties, that is, the SPD, the CDU and the Greens. And, if we throw in the creation of the Patriots for Europe, a collection of sovereigntist parties from Spain through Italy to the founders in Austria, Hungary and Chechia, which constitute the third largest faction in the European Parliament, there is no denying that, in terms of

Blaming the mistaken Wilkommenskultur

The German Landtag elections are outliers of sorts as the disappointment in the eastern provinces of Germany is originated to a large extent in the far from perfect integration of the former GDR into Germany. A large segment of the people resent the sometimes patronizing attitudes of some politicians, and the people at large in the west of the country. The living standards have not reached those in the western parts of Germany, either. One of their specific complaints is that Berlin is spending relatively huge amounts of money on the millions of migrants who have flooded the country since 2015 instead of trying to improve its own citizens’ lot. A lot of East Germans do believe that their current economic and social problems are rooted in the mistaken Wilkommenskultur, and, therefore, they support parties on the right and left, which promise to redress their grievances, especially with tougher immigration policies. It is also the immigration policies of the Austrian governing parties (the ÖVP and the Greens) that have contributed to the rise of the FPÖ in the first place. The changes in the profile of society and the deterioration of public safety, especially in Vienna, have rallied a lot of voters under the banner of the FPÖ, which is promising drastically reducing immigration into the country – though it might be a bit like closing the stable door after

the horse has bolted as, for instance, the majority of the school-age children in Vienna spoke some other language than German at home.

Not enough to govern

The victory of the FPÖ in Austria, or the successes of the AfD in three German provinces, however, do not mean that they would be able to form a government, or be a part of the government automatically. Austria was kind of ostracized in the early 2000s when the FPÖ under Jörg Haider was incorporated into a coalition government with the ÖVP. Times may have changed, and the present-day FPÖ is not the same as the far right one some two decades ago, and Herbert Kickl is no Jörg Haider either. However, there is almost no chance that the leader of the FPÖ would be Austria’s next chancellor; in fact, the leftist president, Alexander von der Bellen is reluctant to ask him to form a government despite the traditions that the leader of the largest party is entitled to attempt to set up a government first.

Some lessons learned

The reaction of the authorities at large was condemning the right-wing parties for promoting populism, xenophobia and hidden racism. There is no denying that the AfD has a number of followers who profess farright ideology; there is a push in Germany that the party should be declared illegal and unconstitutional. This measure, if put into

practice, would not address the core problems of why the AfD has acquired such a popularity in the east of the country – and it has followers in the west, too. The coalition government of the CDU, the SPD and the Liberals, at the same time, re-introduced border control to keep out unwanted immigrants, The German example was followed by such other countries as, for instance, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Poland – of course, officially only temporarily. The practice, if followed by still others, might kill one of the four basic freedoms of the European Union: the free movement of people across the borders, and in terms of institutions, the Schengen regime. This amounts to a hidden acknowledgement that the previous policies regarding the masses of migrants have failed to some extent. The original ideas concerning quick integration or assimilation have proved to be erroneous, and one of the unintended consequences is the rise of far-right parties and movement across Europe at a time when the European Union is struggling on many fronts from handling the Russo-Ukrainian war, the economic stagnation, the looming trade war with China (and possible with the U.S.), to mention only some of the most pressing outstanding issues. The community is facing its most serious challenges to date. The rather dire situation would require steady and firm and innovative leadership; alas, the present one is none of the above.

Tamás Magyarics is a foreign policy analyst

photo by

DÁVID HARANGOZÓ

soccer rules, the governing parties/elites have been shown a (dark) yellow card in Europe.

2015: MIGRANTS MARCHING TOWARDS GERMANY WITH THE PHOTO OF GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL

A MAN OF VISION IN HOSPITALITY

HOTELIER OF VAST EXPERIENCE LEAVES HIS MARK IN BUDAPEST AS WELL AS IN PARIS

Since 2018, Thibaut Drege, a professional with an experience spanning across almost two decades in the luxury hospitality industry, has been with the company he had always dreamt to work for: the Four Seasons. As of this September, after a spell of about one and a half years as General Manager of the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest, he returned, now as General Manager, to Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris, a place he joined as Hotel Manager six years ago. Diplomacy&Trade caught up with him in his last days in the Hungarian capital.

Born in Paris and graduate of the prestigious Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne, Thibaut Drege’s leadership philosophy is inspired by the passion of craftsmen and fine artisans, who put all their heart in their work and creations, and never stop striving for excellence. This passion translates for him to an admiration of great food and cooking, considering gastronomy a genuine way of caring for people. Carrying on the celebration of exceptional dining experiences, Four Seasons Hotel George V maintained its unique, prestigious position under his lead, being the only hotel in Europe housing a total of five Michelin stars within three restaurants, a world leader in culinary experiences. He considers sharing feedback, sharing knowledge and mentoring is crucial in bringing the best out of each individual and helping them to reach their own potential.

New concept at the Gresham Palace

During his short term here, Thibaut Drege implemented a completely new concept in the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest, which is 20 years old this year. “Indeed, I was not expecting to be here for such a short time. I think I have been very lucky to have the team embracing the vision that I brought here. It was really a vision for the long run, and a lot has been achieved in terms of setting the base of what this hotel should be about. But not only this hotel because I believe that potentially, I had also a little bit of impact in terms of the city as a destination as well. I think we just planted the seeds in many areas and many things have happened. Things are going to happen the moment I leave and there are also, I hope, a lot of things that are going to happen in the future will be the result of some kind of legacy that I have been here.”

The

hotel

is on the right track

As an example, he says that “it's not a dream but one of the things I have been working very hard on since my first day here was to set a vision for the hotel with also having our ownership group continuing investing, also in a renovation where we would renovate the spa, the rooms, have beautiful suites and so on. And this,

executive world

unfortunately, I won't see it. Now, the beautiful thing is the whole plan is set. We have selected designers and so on. So, this is all organized, and now we just need to run it. But this is going to take still a couple of years before we have an even enhanced hotel in the future with my concept being involved in that. So, in a way, I'm leaving here, knowing that the hotel is on the right track, knowing that the team also is going to support the vision that I had put together. And someone would take my seat as well and potentially would fine tune that vision, bringing in also his or her own ideas, and I think this will come up to be the best for the hotel and potentially also for the city as a destination.”

Budapest, an outstanding destination

The General Manager has stated several times that he is really very happy that the luxury hotel chains are opening more and more hotels in the Hungarian capital. “I'm extremely optimistic about Budapest, I think it is an outstanding destination. Since my first day here, I have had a feeling that there was so much potential here and that there is really a great momentum for the city. I believe that many actors are embracing this, including the hotel industry with indeed those luxury brands. Actually, I think it's going to help the Gresham Palace and Four Seasons, because this is all about setting the city in the mind of people as an elevated destination and I think the presence of luxury hotels help a lot in that. I truly believe – and I've been in touch with many and I know that they are showing interest – that luxury retail should be more present, and hopefully this will come, but I see really a momentum. So, I'm personally extremely optimistic in this regard as it is an amazing city.”

He also reiterates that he lived in Budapest as a self-made ‘ambassador’ to promote the destination “among all those luxury guests, all those luxury players who I'm going to be interacting with in Paris. And I'm talking about luxury retail, but also those top guests and so on, I'm going to tell them about Budapest, I'm going to tell them to come here. So, yes, as a company, we continue investing and what I just mentioned before, the fact that

I'm really pushing our ownership to continue investing is because I see an amazing pipeline in the future.”

Entering a new chapter in Paris

As of September 1, Thibaut Drege continues is career as the general manager of the Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris, the best-known hotel in the world’s number one luxury market destination. The hotel has six Michelin stars including Le Cinq restaurant with three stars. “I think when you work in this environment, the success of any hotels is to reinvent itself all the time. The Le Cinq has been holding its three Michelin stars for more than two decades now and the only reason that it remained at that level is that every day, it actually reinvents himself. Now, this is not to tell you that I'm going to go back to that hotel, and from my first day, I'm going to reinvent everything. It's a very different situation as I worked at that hotel for over four years, So, when you really think about it, I've been away for less than two years.”

He adds that there are many things in the Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris he implemented as part of the team there. “When I left the hotel, it had five Michelin stars. Now, I'm being back at six stars. Of course, it is the amazing result of that team during that time. On the other hand, regarding the chef Alan Taudon, who got two of those Michelin stars, I have been part of the team that actually selected him, drew the concept and gave him all the resources to get two stars. But you know, to get two stars, it takes time. But ultimately, the concept and all we have put together to have that result is something important we have created together. So, I won't be doing a revolution the moment I'm being there but I will work with one of the best and most talented teams on the planet to continue actually having that flagship evolving and entering a new chapter.”

The General Manager recalls that the French capital is his hometown and the post he has there is his dream job.

“I have been working my entire career to one day being able to be at the helm of this hotel and I'm embracing this role for a long time and a long journey. There are still many opportunities there. The hotel is still in the middle of a renovation that I had worked on for

four years. I left the hotel the moment they start hammering the walls. I know all those rooms, I know them exactly and that is the beauty of it. I know exactly why we chose that chair, why we chose that fabric, why we chose that library, and so on. So, I know all of it, and we still have a year of renovation.”

At the same time, he says that although he is not going to change everything at the Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris, he already has in his back head quite a number of projects that he wants to work on. “This is also a hotel, which has gone through a lot, so, I think I will be having a time of balancing it out, trying to put also a vision together with the team, which is also what I did in Budapest for the first three, four months after my arrival. The most important thing is to feel the city, to understand the team, to understand what are the opportunities provided by the hotel, the destination, and so on.“

Showing flexibility

As regards the present and future challenges awaiting the world hotel industry, especially of those possibly facing the luxury segment, Thibaut Drege is of the view that “the challenges today are that we always said: now, the world is faster than before, but I think it even keeps accelerating. I also see a world with so many disruptions regardless of whether it comes from domestic politics, geopolitics or other reasons, but also for what happened during the new coronavirus epidemic when you think about it. And I don't know how you perceive it, but the pandemic was such a disruptor and had such an impact also on the way we are looking at our industry. We always need to understand that we are involved in an industry where we work 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The COVID period was the first time in my entire career when we closed a hotel. And that was, I can tell you, quite a trauma for all of us in the industry and we had to reinvent ourselves. And it was also a trauma because it forced our teams to actually find their life balance. They want to reassess that, therefore, we offer an environment to our team members to have a better balance than what they had in the past. As a global

industry, we managed to continue having a growth while understanding that, from time to time, in different geography, our business is going to suffer for some time. Just look at what happened with Russia in Ukraine, look at what's happening in the Middle East. These are having big impact on our business.”

The General Manager believes that now, “it is really about showing the flexibility which I truly believe hospitality as an industry which is so good at. We are born to be flexible. We are flexible with our guest requests and we are flexible with seasonality. And this is why I think there is so much ability in this industry to recover for whatever is happening. So, I am personally extremely optimistic and we see also the wealth of many people on the planet is still growing. Now, the challenge is to make sure that it is a win-win situation for everyone, for guests, for ownership, for the communities and the destination, and of course for all people because it is the people who are at the heart of our industry – for us, this is very important.”

Back in Paris – with optimism Thibaut Drege is well aware that the market in the French capital is much more constrained than in Budapest when it comes to attracting and retaining talents who are able to deliver the level of expectation guests are actually used to when they come to those destinations. “So, yes, I think, in a way, I see many challenges, but on the other hand, I'm very optimistic about the way we will be able to embrace that. This year is still a record year, but, at the same time, we can see that the market growth is slowing down a little bit. We see also that there is starting now to have some kind of price resistance that did not happen in the past three years after COVID. And this is something I believe the market needs to reassess itself and here, I do not only mean the luxury accommodation industry but also luxury retail that I know that they are reassessing as well, reassessing the source markets. It also must happen with the way we position in terms of both pricing and understanding exactly who our customers are and who do we want our customers to be.”

sustainability focus

SUSTAINABILITY IS A RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL

A STUDY SAYS CLIMATE CHANGE COSTS THE WORLD USD 16 MILLION PER HOUR

In the short and medium term, only adaptation is the right strategy to combat climate change, while in the long-term, mitigation, i.e. limiting the release of greenhouse gases that cause climate change, is the right strategy. These two actions can only be successful together. If we only reduce our emissions, but do not adapt, the global warming that is already certain to occur will still cause enormous damage. If we adapt but do not reduce our emissions, climate change will be on a scale that we cannot prepare for. That is according to the President of the Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary (BCSDH), Attila Chikán, Jr. and the Managing Director of the organization, Irén Márta.

In an interview with Diplomacy&Trade, they point out that the ESG Act, which came into force in Hungary this year, requires companies to identify and manage the sustainability risks of their operations and to report on them as required. This transparency will help the organizations that interact with them, in particular financial and capital market operators. As for the possible present and future impacts of this legislation, the BCSDH

President reiterates that “we have reached a milestone, the EU legislation has brought sustainability reporting on a par with financial reporting, which will bring major changes to the way companies strategize and make decisions. Companies are increasingly recognizing that sustainability is not just the responsibility of one department, but of all.

This is leading to a complex understanding of sustainability, the guidelines for which were

laid down by the BCSDH in 2012. It should be noted, however, that these reports are not the ends but the means to initiate and implement systemic change.”

The Managing Director adds that it has taken six months to get the picture of the Hungarian ESG law straight. “On the one hand, the law transposed into the Hungarian legal environment the EU CSRD Directive on corporate sustainability reporting. It has also launched preparations for

compliance with the CSDDD (Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive). Both reports are based on a double materiality assessment, which helps to identify areas of key sustainability importance for the company. However, it is important to recognize that ESG is more than just the preparation of reports and accounts. At the same time, these documents provide a comprehensive picture of the organization’s sustainability activities, intervention points and opportunities, which will help the company to initiate systemic change. The focus should always be on action, on transforming our systems.”

Lifelong learning

There is a debate in several countries about the age and curriculum at which sustainability should be introduced as a subject in schools. As the BCSDH leaders emphasize, teaching sustainability cannot start early enough, parents and socialization play a very important role. It should be a part of everyday life. In the school system, it is important that all aspects of sustainability are addressed in an experiential and interesting way, appropriate to the age of the pupils. It is also often observed that they take the knowledge home and pass it on to their parents, encouraging them to change and make changes.

by

photo

DÁVID HARANGOZÓ

sustainability focus

THOUGHTS OF SUSTAINABILITY

ATTILA CHIKÁN, JR. “The average temperature in July this year was 1.64 degrees Celsius above its pre-Industrial Revolution level. Let's not kid ourselves, we're effectively at the 2 degrees Celsius average temperature rise after which uncontrollable climate change could kick in. BCSDH believes we need to focus on two things from now on. The short and medium-term challenge is to adapt to climate change, which currently seems unstoppable. We need to develop solutions to adapt to global warming in a sustainable way. The long-term challenge is to reduce emissions: we are still hopeful that this is possible and that we will then be able to stabilize the climate at some level. In the past years, we looked at climate change and biodiversity, now we are looking at society, and in 2025, we will focus on climate adaptation. Whether it is protecting biodiversity or reducing social inequalities, the aim is to create a stable world around us.”

Adaptation and the development of sustainable lifestyles adapted to changing circumstances is vital, and the way to achieve this is through young people. Everyone needs to understand the context and the need for change.

“Lifelong learning is particularly true in the field of sustainability, and awareness-raising among our member companies is also a priority, whether among consumers, employees or other stakeholders. The more information we have, the more informed decisions we can make, encouraging companies to operate in a sustainable way and improve their processes. Our 'Future Leaders' talent program is also built around equipping business leaders with the knowledge and skills to become change leaders, and to use a new mindset to make a meaningful impact at a strategic level in their area of operation, at the company level and in their own lives,” Irén Márta stresses.

Green financing

A significant part of sustainability activities is quite costly. As to what extent resources are currently available for this purpose in Hungary and from where (EU, public, banking, etc.), Attila Chikán, Jr. underlines that one of the most important sustainability targets of the European Union is to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. It also supports this objective by providing financial resources. Several instruments of green financing are already available in our country, such as green loans, green bonds. “This year’s Green Finance Report by the National Bank of Hungary (MNB) found that the domestic green capital market has strengthened despite international geopolitical and macroeconomic challenges. In addition, 2023 marked a significant step forward in boosting investor confidence, improving the disclosure regime and tackling greenwashing in general.”

Green at the systemic level

It is widely believed that electric vehicles are the future. It is true that they do not emit any harmful substances at the point of use, but, at least for the moment, the production of batteries is a polluting, water- and energy-intensive process (not to mention the waste they generate) and therefore not sustainable. Irén Márta is of the

view that electromobility has a huge role to play in promoting carbon neutrality, and “there are not many alternatives at the moment if we want to make a meaningful dent in carbon emissions. The important aim is not just to have a solution at the urban emissions level but to have a truly green one at the systemic level. For example, as long as we use fossil fuels instead of renewable energy, there is still plenty of room for improvement. This change will not be rapid, and neither will the uptake of electromobility, but the transition is ongoing. The Net Zero Advisory Board at BCSDH has a strong focus on the issue and more and more of its member companies are moving to electric or semi-electric solutions.”

For value over volume

Agriculture is traditionally a green sector, it is good to adapt and be prepared for the latest technologies to be ‘green’ also in terms of sustainability. As the BCSDH President notes, current agricultural systems are both contributing to climate change and suffering its negative effects. Agriculture is responsible for 23% of GHG emissions, including 81% of N₂O emissions and 44% of methane emissions. Food production is the primary driver of biodiversity loss, responsible for 72% of the impact on endangered species. Almost 55% of Hungary's land is agricultural land, 90% of which is arable land with low ecosystem services and biodiversity. The amount of land under cultivation continues to increase every year.

The current industrial food and agricultural production system is not sustainable and needs to be transformed both in terms of thinking and methods. It is no longer enough for the sector to produce sufficient amount of food, it must be of good quality, healthy, safe and sustainably produced. Only a sustainable and local food production and supply system can ensure the development of the sector, guarantee the protection of the environment and ensure a secure food supply for the population.

But the changes hold huge opportunities – USD 4.5 billion a year globally by 2030 – for companies that can turn today's hidden costs into tomorrow's new markets and target-driven strategies. But this requires new business models

IN

BCSDH FOR A SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE WORKING ENVIRONMENT

IRÉN MÁRTA: “The increasing environmental impacts of climate change, such as the extreme heat we have experienced this summer, have become more part of the public discourse than social issues. However, alongside climate emergency and the rapid decline of biodiversity, one of the most pressing challenges of our time is the dramatic increase in social inequalities and polarization. It is hard to comprehend, but the richest 1% of the world's population own 45.6% of global wealth, while the poorest half own less than 1%. In Hungary, we cannot be optimistic either, as the top 10% own 40% of all income and 90% of capital income. We have reached a critical point. According to the latest World Economic Forum survey, social and/or political polarization is the third most likely factor to trigger a global crisis in 2024. At the same time, we need to be aware that inequality is a consequence of our systems, which we can change.”

that emphasize value over volume-based management, which in turn requires a mindset that goes beyond business as usual and often requires a generational change in leadership. Regenerative agricultural practices have a key role to play in promoting climate protection and adaptation. Soil regenerative agriculture involves farming and grazing practices that, among other things, reverse the effects of climate change by rebuilding soil organic matter and restoring degraded soil biodiversity. The result is increased soil quality, biodiversity, water retention and carbon sequestration.

Food production through regenerative agriculture can be a systemic solution, with benefits for human health, animal welfare, the environment and the economy. Increased crop yields and disease and drought tolerance without synthetic pesticides and antibiotics also enhance community food security. It also ensures greater resilience of regional food systems to extreme weather events and disruptions in supply chains.

“Fortunately, more and more people are starting to engage with the issue, and the agricultural

BCSDH has formulated the following recommendation and five action plan proposals to help business take the necessary steps:

RECOMMENDATION

To create and maintain an inclusive, flexible and safe working environment that proactively supports development, while ensuring a decent living.

PROPOSED ACTION PLAN

1. paying a decent living wage

2. provide a safe working environment, benefits and services that support workers' physical and mental health

3. designing and implementing flexible and inclusive employment systems that are adapted to life situations

4. pro-actively supporting employees' lifelong development and meeting changing expectations

5. measuring and extending the implementation of the above actions in the value chain

sector is participating in the Net Zero Advisory Board alongside BCSDH member companies, to look for opportunities to drive meaningful and rapid change,” he points out.

Contributing to long-term sustainability

With over 140 members, BCSDH presents new initiatives and programs to serve and engage the member companies in order to further promote sustainable development.

As Irén Márta highlights, BCSDH is a value-creating community of responsible leaders, and “our primary goal is to make a meaningful difference and significant impact on sustainability through our member companies, which account for 40% of Hungary's GDP. All our activities are aimed at facilitating systemic change, whether it's business breakfasts and professional forums, working groups, exclusive executive events or one-to-one events tailored to companies. We provide guidance on priority areas of sustainability, including ESG, carbon neutrality, biodiversity, circular solutions. We encourage our member companies to share knowledge themselves to help other companies move forward, and we have 60 business solutions and a range of support tools available on our website to provide inspiration and concrete ideas. We see it as a great achievement when our events lead to concrete business partnerships, where actors help each other achieve their sustainability goals.”

In its ‘Time to Transform 2030’ framework, BCSDH reflected this year on the theme of human value together with more than 60 business leaders and invited experts. Currently, one of the most pressing sustainability challenges is the dramatic increase in social inequality and polarization, with economic impacts on companies. The solution to tackle inequality lies in systemic transformation. Companies have an important role to play in this, notably through their impact on their employees and their value chain.

The business case for reducing inequality is about mitigating risks while contributing to the long-term sustainability of the economy. Reducing inequality requires concerted action by all actors – government, companies, NGOs, workers. The key to driving change is to ensure that people are seen as an asset in these value-creating processes.

sustainability focus

SUSTAINABILITY, A STRATEGIC ISSUE FOR SPAR HUNGARY

HUNGARIAN SUPERMARKET CHAIN DEDICATED TO ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY MEASURES THROUGHOUT ITS NETWORK

Environmental awareness, social responsibility, the appreciation of staff members, as well as food safety are important parts of the corporate philosophy of SPAR Hungary.

In order to create a unified framework for sustainability efforts, SPAR Hungary organized its sustainability efforts in 2019 under the single umbrella brand "SPAR – for a sustainable future," linking its priority areas relevant to sustainable development. According to the SPAR corporate philosophy, striving for environmental awareness is emphasized throughout the entire corporate system, including the areas of energy efficiency, professional waste management or the conservation of natural resources. As part of its social responsibility efforts, the retail chain supports people in need, animal welfare organizations and specific social causes. The company has been launching future-proof programs under this approach every year, with the results presented in its latest sustainability report.

Energy savings at every level

Compared with the previous year, SPAR’s entire energy usage was reduced by more than 5.5%

in 2023. The company places high emphasis on improvement, so when it comes to the opening of new SPAR supermarkets or INTERSPAR hypermarkets and the renovation of existing ones, they prioritize energy efficient and

forward-looking solutions. Both the brand new and renovated units are equipped with LED lighting, heat pump climate systems, and many of them also use waste heat to generate hot water. All these factors have made it possible for the Hungarian supermarket chain to buy less natural gas, district heating and electricity from external providers. Currently, there are four supermarkets in SPAR’s network where the electricity is provided by solar power.

Professional waste management, conscious plastic reduction

The company’s waste production has decreased by more than 1,600 tons which equates to 5% compared to 2022. By the end of 2023, the company started using close to 36,000 rolling rack plastic blankets that are partially made of recycled materials to replace single use foil in their logistics department. This innovative solution saved 59 tons of foil last year. One of the biggest innovations of 2023 was introduced in packaging technology; the Regnum meat

plant in Bicske added an Ulma flow-pack packaging machine, which wraps the popular S-BUDGET pork mince using 70% less plastic than before.

This year, SPAR Hungary joined the Plastic Free July challenge, which called the attention of both customers and more than 14,000 employees to the importance of plastic waste reduction.

Their initiatives, which aim to reduce the paper usage of supermarkets and the logistics departments help them save more than 50 tons of paper every year. It also means that cleaning rotas, fridge log sheets, work sheets, maintenance logs and the SPAR online shop delivery notes are all digital. Reusable transport containers have also been introduced in the fruit and vegetable departments and that measure resulted in fewer single-use containers made of cardboard, plastic and wood in use. SPAR Hungary’s toGo Cafes offer plastic free packaging and compostable utensils.

SPAR is committed to its sustainability principles and will continue to reduce the use of plastic packaging in the future and reduce as well the carbon dioxide emissions throughout the whole network. Moreover, staff are working hard to further reduce waste production and deepen SPAR’s social partnerships.

For SPAR Hungary’s sustainability principles, please, scan this QR code

photo by SPAR

sustainability focus

STRIVING FOR SUSTAINABILITY, HARM REDUCTION

Sustainability is also a high priority for the tobacco industry, which is taking decisive steps toward its achievement. For one, Philip Morris International is spending significant sums on research and development. It is among the players within the sector that are striving to develop smoking alternatives that can reduce the risks for smokers and to the environment.

Greener operations

Sustainability initiatives in the tobacco industry are aimed at reducing environmental and personal harm. Societal expectations, regulatory incentives and the demands of the market are mandating lower greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption, reduced use

of chemicals and less waste from the sector. Through consumers’ choices and purchase decisions, they are nudging the tobacco industry in this direction.

Smoke-free alternatives

The strategic objective of the industry's leading companies is to provide alternative, smokefree technologies with lower environmental and individual risks to adult smokers who, for some reason, continue to smoke. Most of the negative health effects associated with smoking are caused by the combustion by-products resulting from burning tobacco. Without combustion and smoke, exposure to harmful substances is lower. Concurrently, tangible efforts are being made to prevent

those who have never tried cigarettes from taking up smoking. Those who already smoke cigarettes are being encouraged to quit as soon as possible, since all forms of smoking are harmful, and the only solution is to refrain from consuming tobacco and products containing nicotine.

Set up for circulation

Domestic tobacco market players are also making a meaningful contribution to the implementation of the circular economy through the transformation of their product range, development of smoke-free products that have been scientifically proven to be less harmful to the environment, increasing product lifecycle and repairability, and the orchestration of recycling. This is also helped by the fact that smoke-free electronic devices are also becoming more green, in accordance with voluntary commitments made by individual companies, aiming to provide the infrastructure available for the collection and recycling of used products to as many consumers as possible.

Hungary playing leading role

Philip Morris International and its representative organization in Hungary are playing a central role in the realization of these objectives. As efforts are made to mitigate the harmful social consequences of cigarette smoking with alternative technologies and the fight against the illegal trade of black products, CIRCLE is one initiative aimed at reducing environmental impact: a processing center in

Gyál, Pest County, recycles roughly 150,000 tobacco heating devices per month. CIRCLE is PMI's first European recycling plant, but it also represents the conglomerate’s global sustainability center, present in 180 countries. Inaugurated in 2021, the facility, together with a product testing engineering lab, plays a prominent role in innovation and product development in collaboration with domestic research groups and universities. It’s a source of pride: Hungary as one of the global centers for the recycling of smoke-free products, the only other such center located in Japan.

This special promotional feature was commissioned by Philip

Morris Magyarország Kft.

sustainability focus

WITH BLUE HEART AND GREEN INTENTIONS

FOR KNAUF, SUSTAINABILITY IS ONE OF THE DRIVERS OF STRATEGIC AMBITIONS

Knauf Hungary, which has a history of more than three decades, has been built on the backbone of the German parent company's sustainable and environmentally friendly philosophy. As the newly appointed Country Manager of Knauf Construction Ltd., Zoltán Nagy highlights to Diplomacy&Trade, it is of utmost importance for the company to operate in a sustainable and environmentally conscious manner, in line with the corporate philosophy of the parent company.

“One of the elements of this is the EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) certification, which provides a comprehensive description of the environmental impact of our products, including energy emissions, the use of chemicals and water consumption. Although EPD certification is not mandatory, our company provides these documents for the largest mass-produced products, such as plasterboard, gypsum fiber and aqua panel sheets and powder products, which are available to our partners on request,” he explains.

Although, the company does not have manufacturing capacity in Hungary, the global targets include reducing water and energy consumption, a goal set for Knauf's 100th anniversary in 2032. “One of our latest introductions is the new Fill & Finish buckets, distinguished with a grey neck, which are made from recycled plastic. These steps are all aimed at making our operations truly sustainable, environmentally friendly and in line with our global, long-term corporate objectives,” he adds.

Greener office operations

Knauf’s extensive operations in Hungary include product sales, logistics, customer service, marketing and technical support. They strive to do all this work in a sustainable way and pay particular attention to greening their office operations.

“Our office uses energy-saving LED lighting, avoids PET bottled water, minimizes printing and paper use, and digitalizes our paper-based administrative processes – for example, we have introduced digital signatures to reduce paper use. This digitalization has opened up more doors for us with the launch of the new knauf.com website, which we want to take to a professional level in the future, for example, by making our trader list available. In addition to these, we also use selective waste collection. These measures all contribute to our activities being in line with Knauf's sustainability principles and our long-term environmental goals,” the Country Manager stresses.

Ensuring continuous development

It was in September this year that Zoltán Nagy took up the position of Country Manager at Knauf Construction Ltd. Regarding his initial

plans, he notes that Knauf is still a familyowned company, but it has undergone tremendous growth in recent years. “At the same time, technological development is constantly with us and shaping our everyday lives. These two factors at Group level have meant that many tasks now have to be done differently and with different tools than before. This means a lot of changes in process optimization, automation and digitalization, and, of course, not only at the headquarters in Germany, but also in the life of Knauf in Hungary. Change is never easy at the beginning, so one of my important goals is to make sure that the reasons for these changes, the necessity of these changes, are understood and accepted by colleagues, that they see the benefits and that the new things can be adapted to the daily workflow with as little difficulty as possible.” Another important objective he mentions is to ensure the conditions for continuous development. Knauf has been present in Hungary since 1990.

A whole generation has grown up over that time, so the company's name is well known not only to specialist builders or building material dealers, but also to the general public.

However, over its 34 years of existence in Hungary, the market and user needs have changed a lot. The company is primarily known for its plasterboard partitioning, but its product portfolio is much broader: gypsum plasters and mortars, ready-mixed jointing compounds, profiles, adhesives, hollow floor systems.

“So, we need to achieve a similar level of awareness and market share in the other product categories alongside plasterboard. This requires not only the necessary human resources, but also continuous training for both our own staff and our partners, a commercial environment that is constantly adapted to market needs and conditions – equipment, physical environment, good working atmosphere, clear processes and responsibilities – where staff feel comfortable, committed and able to work effectively towards the goals we have set,” he points out.

Circular economy in focus

As for what he considers personally the most important of the sustainability goals and what he can do about it in his leadership position, the Country Manager underlines that “of our many sustainability efforts, I personally like the

shift from a linear to a circular economy the most. This goes beyond a single measure to increase efficiency or reduce energy usage, it is a complex approach to minimizing the environmental impact of our activities. Since the philosophy of the circular economy is to extend the life cycle of a product and then reuse it, it has a return not only in countries where Knauf factories are located, but also in Hungary, for example, where we do not yet have a factory. Separation, collection and recycling at the end of the useful life of products is an important area of sustainable thinking. When we move from manufacturing to our day-to-day business here at home, we also try to work in an environmentally responsible way. In addition to green measures in the office already mentioned, we currently own our office in a building that we have outgrown over time. It would need major refurbishment to meet our needs in the long term, so after careful consideration, we have decided to rent office space in a modern office building. We consider a number of criteria but only an office building that is LEED or BREEAM certified and has bike storage and showers for colleagues who choose this environmentally friendly form of transport can be an option.”

Knauf also places great emphasis on ensuring that its sustainability objectives are shared with its partners and employees. “We expect our suppliers to ensure that their products and supply processes meet the technical and environmental requirements set out in international standards. And when selecting suppliers, we apply a rigorous rating system

that takes into account a range of sustainability criteria. In the daily work of our employees, we want them to actively contribute to the company's sustainability principles, ensuring that Knauf's environmental approach is applied at all levels of our daily operations,” Zoltán Nagy adds.

Continuing to keep sustainability in mind

He fully agrees with the idea that sustainability and the pursuit of it should be seen as a market advantage rather than an operating loss. “We can choose to see our efforts in emissions reduction, the circular economy and green innovation as something that goes beyond our day-to-day business. Or we can approach it from the other side and see sustainability as something that drives our business. Knauf's philosophy is that sustainability is one of the most important issues of our generation and one of the drivers of our strategic ambitions.”

The Country Manager concludes by stating that in the coming years, they plan to implement several sustainability developments focusing on optimizing energy use and reducing environmental impact. “We aim to further improve the efficiency of our manufacturing processes and reduce energy demand by using renewable energy sources such as solar panels.

One of our mottos, ‘Knauf: With Blue Heart, Green Intentions’, is a perfect illustration of our long-term and short-term efforts to keep sustainability in mind and to do something for our future and our environment.”

photo by DÁVID HARANGOZÓ

WE ARE WORKING FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

SPAR takes on an active and pioneering role in matters affecting the future of our planet. In the autumn of 2019, we organized these activities into a unified system, connecting the branches of sustainable development that are important to us, such as environmental protection, support for a healthy lifestyle, food safety, employee support and social responsibility.

sustainability focus

MAKING NEW ENERGY WORK

E.ON HARNESSES ITS OWN BEST PRACTICES AS DRIVERS OF CHANGE

The E.ON Hungaria Group is in a privileged situation: as a key player in the Hungarian energy market, the success of the transition from fossil-based energy production and usage to reusable energy sources significantly depends on the company. While preparing its power grid to provide a stable basis for the energy transition through large-scale upgrades, it also helps its customers meet their climate goals with services that support energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources.

The way people think about energy usage has undergone significant change due to climate change and the energy crisis. However, the main goals remain unchanged: while the value of service security has increased significantly, sustainability is still a priority – these dual criteria must be met simultaneously.

Strategy for sustainability

Stemming from this responsibility, E.ON Group’s strategy is entirely built around sustainability in order to contribute decisively to the success of the energy transition by developing the grid of one of the leading energy companies in Hungary and within Europe and through integration of renewable energy sources. While continuously increasing service levels, the company continues to reduce its

environmental footprint, consistently fulfilling its climate objectives each year in a transparent manner and making progress on the road to reaching full climate neutrality by the year 2040. While benefiting the future, these advanced solutions also aid customers in the conscious and sustainable use of energy.

Drivers of change

E.ON harnesses its own best practices as drivers of change. By 2030, the group is set to lower greenhouse gas emissions by 50% compared to 2019 levels and has pledged to achieve full carbon neutrality by 2040. One of the company’s key strategic goals is to provide smart and convenient solutions in grid development and everyday energy usage that are economically and environmentally sustainable, simultaneously becoming

a market leader in green energy. To achieve this, the discrepancies between the former grid structure and today’s demands must be resolved. This means responding to the expansion of renewables that depend upon the weather and the constant increase of energy demand, while also preparing for future prognoses by creating flexibility services and platforms, for instance building energy storage facilities and smart substations. The company operating the energy grid of Budapest, and those of the regions of Transdanubia and Pest County, has earmarked record amounts of money for grid development: last year such investment reached HUF 125 billion, while this year the company spends HUF 163 billion for this purpose.

Developments all over the country

The grid of the future is green and digital. Today, two-thirds of households operating solar panels are connected to E.ON’s grid.

To its customers, the company avails technologies that facilitate more conscious, environmentally friendly energy usage – just take the over 500,000 smart meters currently in operation, solar panels, heat pump systems and charging solutions for homes and businesses, as examples. This is also true for industrial customers, of course: one of the most significant developments in this area is in Debrecen, where E.ON is building one of Hungary's largest solar power plants to provide green energy to power the new BMW factory that will produce electric cars. This is one of the biggest such projects of the whole E.ON Group, and is backed by a 30-year cooperation agreement including construction and operation. Actions like this make the future of energy sustainable: E.ON has the determination and expertise to lead the way and help the world make the transition to clean and green energy.

sustainability focus

INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS PUT THE ENVIRONMENT FIRST

JYSK TO REDUCE ITS CARBON FOOTPRINT BY MORE THAN HALF BY 2032

Danish home furnishing brand JYSK offers customers a choice of affordable and more sustainable products. The Scandinavian retail chain is making the biggest impact by reducing emissions from the manufacturing of its products in partnership with its suppliers. JYSK aims to reduce its absolute carbon dioxide emissions by 50.4% by 2032, compared to fiscal year 2022. The internationally recognized Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi) has also endorsed the company's greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.

93% of JYSK's total greenhouse gas emissions come from products and services purchased from its suppliers. As part of the approved targets, JYSK will encourage its suppliers to measure their own emissions and sustainability targets and have them certified with SBTi by the end of fiscal year 2028.

Long-term business practices

JYSK's new sustainability strategy and newly approved emissions reduction targets are based on the company's many years of responsible business practices. JYSK has been a member of the Danish Forest Stewardship Council for almost two decades and from January 1, 2025, all wood, cardboard and paper products and packaging purchased by JYSK will be FSC certified.

Traditional cotton production uses large amounts of pesticides, fertilizers and water, but there are more sustainable ways to grow cotton, and JYSK aims to obtain 100% of the cotton used in its textile products from more sustainable sources by the end of 2024. Some products are already made from 100% GOTS (Global Organic Textile) certified organic cotton. In order to make packaging more sustainable, JYSK is replacing solid cardboard boxes with simple product drawings with colorful boxes with photos. In addition, it is constantly striving to minimize the amount of plastic and

polystyrene inside the boxes, for example by replacing them with packaging materials made from recyclable cardboard.

JYSK also aims to reduce the amount of plastic used in its products and packaging. Their SMARTSTORE boxes are made from 100% recycled plastic. In addition, JYSK has removed plastic packaging from bed linen and sheets, curtains and the tops of pallets.

Better Cotton is the world's largest sustainable cotton initiative, and as a member of Better Cotton, JYSK has pledged to use cotton from more sustainable sources in all new textile products from 2025. The vast majority of JYSK's textile products, as well as the majority of its duvets and pillows, are also OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certified, which indicates that the products do not contain substances that are harmful to health and the environment.

JYSK is also certified with the Global Recycled Standard (GRS), which aims to minimize waste and increase the use of recycled materials in products. The company is also committed to respecting the fundamental rights of the workers in its supply chain, and in 2006, was one of the first companies in Denmark to join Amfori, a global business association that promotes sustainable trade and helps companies improve their social and environmental performance.

Grips and zippers redesigned

In order to reduce the amount of plastic it uses, JYSK replaced all plastic packaging on its bed linen with cardboard boxes two years ago, saving 27 million plastic bags a year and making unnecessary the production of 475 tons of fossil fuel-derived plastic. This spring, JYSK has gone one step further: all ergonomic pillows in its WELLPUR range have been introduced to stores and online marketplaces worldwide with improved packaging and manufacturing technology. Thanks to these improvements, three million plastic grips will become obsolete every year after JYSK converts cardboard boxes into grips and replaces one million zips with textile zips. Replacing the zips is a practical solution, as the closure can be achieved by folding the two parts of the pad over each other. And on the packaging, the plastic grips previously used are replaced by a grip made from a paper box.

JYSK's regional logistics center in Ecser (just southeast of Budapest), which opened in 2022 and serves 320 stores in six countries, will also contribute to JYSK's sustainability goals. With the launch of the Ecser facility, JYSK will save 4.5 million kilometers of road freight transport per year, which represents an annual saving of around 3,600 tons of carbon dioxide. At the center itself, solar panels have been installed on 6,000 square meters of the roof, hot water is supplied by solar panels and heating needs are reduced by a heat pump. The distribution center is equipped with only electric forklifts and the car park with electric car chargers for JYSK employees and visitors.

As the head of JYSK's Logistics Center in Ecser, Jaroslaw Sobczyk pointed out, "at JYSK, we strive at all levels to minimize our environmental impact and incorporate sustainable solutions into our operations for the long term. At our distribution center in Ecser, we also use renewable energy technologies that not only help us reduce our energy consumption, but also set an example of how sustainability can be part of everyday operations. At JYSK, sustainability is a core value and we are committed to supporting innovative solutions that put the environment first."

Reducing emissions at the Ecser distribution center

Even though JYSK's own operations account for less than 2% of the company's total emissions, the company is actively working to reduce its carbon footprint in this area too.

One way of doing this is by using renewable energy sources, such as the installation of solar panels at JYSK's distribution centers, and there are already solar panels at 23 JYSK stores. The initiative has already produced impressive results in several countries, with up to 30% of the energy used being provided by solar panels.

EDIDA Hungary 2024 supported by

JYSK

This year, ELLE Decoration Magazine has again organized the ELLE Decoration International Design Awards Hungary (EDIDA Hungary), where the most outstanding designers were recognized in seven categories. The Sustainable Initiative of the Year category was supported by JYSK. The shortlist was compiled by a jury of experts and the winners were selected from five nominees in each of the seven categories. In the one sponsored by JYSK, the nominees created long-life objects from various types of waste. The SymbioMat yoga mat by Emese Takács, Gergely Kiss and Róbert Pad, made from mushrooms and plant fibers, making it 100% natural (and biodegradable), was voted the winner.

For JYSK, sustainability efforts are of utmost importance, the home furnishing chain has a number of initiatives and commitments in this regard at the corporate level, thus, it was no question that the company wanted to support this category at EDIDA Hungary and it hopes that more and more designers will see the potential in recyclable and sustainable materials.

by JYSK

photo

business

SWISS DAYS IN THE GREAT HUNGARIAN PLAIN

ECONOMIC, EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL AND SOCIAL DIMENSIONS OF BILATERAL RELATIONS PRESENTED

The Embassy of Switzerland in Budapest organized Swiss Days in the city of Kecskemét, situated in the Great Hungarian Plain, southeast of Budapest, and the nearby village of Helvécia, in cooperation with its local partners and the local governments of the two municipalities.

On September 6 and 7, Switzerland was the guest of the Harvest Days in Helvécia, followed by a week-long program in Kecskemét.

Hungarian village founded by a Swiss teacher

Switzerland has thousands of links with the region, one of them being the village of Helvécia, which – as its name suggests – was founded by a Swiss person: teacher, viticulturist and economist Eduard Wéber. The municipality has been twinned with the Thurgau municipality of Sirnach in Switzerland for 25 years and the 2024 Swiss Days provided a great opportunity to celebrate this anniversary. Guests from the twin town attended the traditional Helvécia harvest festival, like they have been doing for years, where Alpine horn players and a Swiss flag-waver contributed to creating a truly Swiss atmosphere.

It was Eduard (or Ede as he was later known in Hungary) Wéber who laid the foundations of Helvécia. The professor, who was also an excellent farmer, advocated the exploitation of the sand of the lowlands of the Great Hungarian Plain, and together with his son, Aladár, he

established a 2,000-acre vineyard between Kecskemét and Kiskunfélegyháza in 1890. At his invitation in the spring of 1892, 88 Hungarian and 17 German-speaking families settled here, as they had been impoverished by the phylloxera that had ravaged the Balaton highlands. This idea from 1892 is still very much alive today, with several hectares of vineyards and wine production. At this year’s festival, the wine knights marched in Helvécia, giving a professional presentation and wine tasting for the hundreds of guests during the two-day event that also included a procession with 60-70 carriages and more than 100 riders on horseback.

Strong Swiss economic presence

In Kecskemét, the presence of Swiss companies was the primary link. Phoenix Mecano, Cabtech, Köppel, Goessler Kuverts and HILTI (which, although a Liechtenstein company, has been happy to join the Swiss initiative) all lined up for the Swiss Days event. Another special partner was Swiss-owned Fornetti, whose bags of pastries featured information about the Swiss Days program during the first weeks of September.

Highlighting the strong economic presence, the Swiss-Hungarian Chamber of Commerce (Swisscham), in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of local Bács-Kiskun County, organized a business forum at the Neumann János University on September 11. Students also had the opportunity to meet Switzerland at the opening ceremony of the academic year on September 9th when a pavilion in the university's lobby provided information on Swiss innovations and bilateral relations.

Ambassador Jean-François Paroz and Jasmina Opardija, scientific advisor to the Swiss State Department for Education, Research and Innovation, gave a presentation on "Switzerland's secrets" at the opening ceremony.

Company visits and business forum

Not only those attending university, but also secondary school and technical college students were able to hear the Ambassador's thoughts on Swiss-Hungarian relations through school visits and company visits for technical college students. Students from the Zoltán Kodály School of Music could learn about the Alpine horn in an interactive workshop. Throughout the week, alpine horn

players were touring the city on the squares and in parks, so one could attend a pop-up concert anywhere in Kecskemét. The local Otthon Cinema was screening two Swiss films in original language with Hungarian subtitles, free of charge. September 11 saw the Swiss-Hungarian Business Forum organized by the Swiss Embassy jointly with Swisscham Hungary at Neumann János University in Kecskemét! The event focused on vocational training, sustainability, and innovation, bringing together key players from both countries to strengthen partnerships for a sustainable future the speakers with insightful discussions and collaboration by the participants. The forum was also an opportunity to present the research, innovation and vocational training programs supported under the 2nd SwissContribution to Hungary.

Social aspects

In addition to the economic, educational and cultural dimension, the programs included a social aspect as well. The 52nd National First Aid Competition of the Hungarian Red Cross took place in Kecskemét on Saturday, September 14, with a speech by the Ambassador, highlighting the role of the Swiss Henry Dunant in the founding of the Red Cross movement and the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions. On that Saturday, the festivities concluded with a Swiss Picnic. Swiss companies and the Embassy were presenting delicious specialties like raclette cheese and fried sausages at the Faculty of Economics of the János Neumann University, with a children's program and a quiz also taking place there. The event, the venue of which was changed from the originally planned Phoenix Mecano car park due to unfavorable weather conditions, was accompanied by the Sonnenberg Alpine horn band and their flag-waver, providing a traditional Swiss atmosphere.

photo by

diplomacy

UN INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE CELEBRATED IN HUNGARY

“A CULTURE OF PEACE ACTUALLY REQUIRES THE PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN”

It was 25 years ago that the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration and Program of Action on a Culture of Peace. To mark the anniversary, the President of the Hungarian UN Society, Katalin Bogyay, invited women ambassadors accredited to Hungary this September to engage in dialogue for peace through art, poetry and music in the presence of diplomatic bodies and representatives of Hungarian cultural life by Lake Balaton in Western Hungary.

Hosted by the town of Balatonfüred, the women ambassadors and featured artists and poets from 13 countries, representing Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Ecuador, Finland, France, Georgia, Lebanon, Hungary, Morocco, Mexico, Turkey and the United States, assembled in the Esterházy Mansion and the Géza Szőcs Literary Salon in Villa Vaszary.

Culture as a tool for diplomacy

Katalin Bogyay highlighted at the event that "in our fragmented world, we need to find back to what

makes us human. I believe that the power of art can help us understand each other better and that culture is a powerful tool for preventive diplomacy. Nothing should deter us from using all possible means to prevent conflicts from arising. In my experience, the role of women is crucial in this."

Katalin Bogyay, who is also the Founder of Women4Diplomacy International, once served as Hungary's Permanent Representative to the UN and UNESCO in New York and Paris, and was also President of the 36th session of the UNESCO General Assembly. At the Balatonfüred meeting, she also referred to the thesis of the UN

General Assembly Declaration on Peace by saying that peace is not only the absence of conflict, but requires a positive, dynamic participatory process in which dialogue is encouraged and conflicts are resolved in a spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation.

Guests of honor

UNESCO's constitution begins with the idea that wars begin in the minds of men, and therefore it is in the minds of men that the defense of peace must be built. This was reflected by the guest of honor at the event celebrating the UN International Day of Peace, sculptor Hedva Ser, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Cultural Diplomacy. The French artist, who brought her 1956-inspired sculpture to the event, said that the power of cultural diplomacy lies in its ability to reach out not only to governments but also to people, and therefore to achieve results that go beyond the means of conventional diplomacy.

Another guest of honor was Dr. Judy Kuriansky, author, clinical psychologist and professor at

Columbia University, who spoke about best practices in soft diplomacy at the UN and the special talents of women in this field.

Equal rights to dialogue and understanding

Speaking to Diplomacy&Trade on what is (or could be) the role of women in the implementation of the Declaration and Program of Action on a Culture of Peace adopted by the UN General Assembly 25 years ago, Katalin Bogyay explained that with the horrifying spread of and relapse into conflict in so many countries, the principles of the Declaration and Program of Action, including tolerance, justice, equal rights for women and men, and the right to dialogue and understanding, are as relevant now as they were 25 years ago. “Women and their empowerment are crucial to advancing the culture of peace in all its vectors – education, sustainable economic and social development, human rights and equality, democratic participation, advocacy based on true knowledge but also wisdom, tolerance and understanding at all levels – in the family, community, country, region and globally. A culture of peace actually requires the participation of women.”

A unique and unusual event

As for the feedback she received from the ambassadors who attended the meeting in Balatonfüred, she pointed out that “interestingly enough, nearly everyone told me that it was the most unique and unusual event. They had not experienced a gathering so well composed and structured yet open for improvisation. It was a special combination of art, poetry and honest approach for building trust and sharing best diplomatic practices. For me, the most important message of the day was that despite of all our differences, the poets and artists we recited and exhibited spoke about very similar challenges, hidden fears and joyful moments, hopes and life journeys. It was just the most natural way to find the common ground to engage in bold dialogue.”

culture

WORLD PRESS PHOTO EXHIBITION IN BUDAPEST

THE BEST AND MOST IMPORTANT PRESS AND DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHS ON DISPLAY

The World Press Photo exhibition opened in September in the Hungarian capital’s Biodome, showcasing the images of 31 photographers from 24 countries.

At the opening ceremony, the Executive Director of the World Press Photo Foundation, Joumana El Zein Khoury, noted at the event that the Hungarian capital has hosted the exhibition for 48 years. The Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Hungary, Désirée Bonis, pointed out that every year, the World Press Photo exhibition is a major cultural event in Budapest, attracting thousands of visitors. “This year, for the first time, the Hungarian capital is hosting an exhibition of the world's best and most important press and documentary photographs in a municipal venue, rather than a state one,” she added. Ms. Bonis recalled that World Press Photo was launched in 1955, and since then, its mission has

expanded considerably, becoming a worldwide platform. The ambassador underlined that it is important to see the truth, to hear it and to face it, so that we can form an opinion and take action. Budapest mayor Gergely Karácsony emphasized that the photographs depicted an undeniable reality that encouraged people to "get to grips with future challenges" while introducing future generations to such challenges so they "can be in control of them."

Tamás Révész, who has been the Hungarian exhibition's chief curator for over three decades, said the accompanying exhibition presented pictures and videos taken by Eszter Cseke and András S Takács, the creators of the 15-year-old Hungarian documentary series ‘On the Spot’, which tells of their travels in various parts of the world.

Thinking critically about important issues

The World Press Photo exhibition showcases the world's best and most important press and documentary photographs, selected by an independent jury. World Press Photo encourages viewers to step outside the news cycle and think critically about important issues in our world. “We believe that accurate, diverse, high quality visual stories promote mutual understanding in the world,” the organizers say.

3,851 photographers from 130 countries submitted a total of 61,062 photos and free-format entries. In the end, the 31 winning photographers represent 24 countries, namely Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Brazil,

Canada, China, China, Democratic Republic of Congo, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Myanmar, Palestine, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United States, Venezuela, Spain and United Kingdom.

Connect the world to the stories that matter

The World Press Photo Foundation says it believes in the power of showing and the importance of seeing high-quality visual stories. It all began in 1955 when a group of Dutch photographers organized an international contest (‘World Press Photo’) to expose their work to a global audience.

For six decades, the World Press Photo Foundation has been working from its home in Amsterdam as an independent, nonprofit organization. Since that time, the world has changed continuously, and new developments in the media and technology have transformed journalism and storytelling. “Our mission has expanded, and we draw on our experience to guide visual journalists, storytellers and audiences around the world through this challenging and exciting landscape,” the Foundation highlights.

Saving the Monarchs JAIME ROJO (for National Geographic)

Butterflies in the protected indigenous fir forests in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Michoacán, Mexico.

Fighting, Not Sinking

EDDIE JIM

(The Age/Sydney Morning Herald) Community elder stands with his grandson at the point where he remembers the shoreline used to be when he was a boy at Salia Bay, Kioa Island, Fiji

The Two Walls

ALEJANDRO CEGARRA (for The New York Times/Bloomberg) A migrant walks atop a freight train known as “The Beast” in Piedras Negras, Mexico

The Return of the Ancient Voices

PABLO ERNESTO PIOVANO (Greenpeace Award, GEO, National Geographic Society) Women sacrifice a lamb as thanksgiving in Maihue, Los Ríos, Chile

FRIDA KAHLO'S PHOTOGRAPHIC COLLECTION

OCTOBER 18, 2024 – JANUARY 12, 2025, MAI MANÓ HOUSE, BUDAPEST

Frida Kahlo's Photographic Collection, on display in the Hungarian capital for the first time, offers a glimpse into the hidden moments of the Mexican artist's life with a new perspective on the passionate and tormented life of one of the most emblematic figures of Latin American art.

After her death, Frida's personal collection was moved to a locked bathroom in her Mexican city home, known as the Blue House. The Blue House has become one of the most visited exhibition spaces in the world as a museum dedicated to Frida, but some of her personal items, including a collection of more than 6,000 photographs, have remained hidden from public view for almost 50 years.

Since its debut in Mexico City in 2009, the exhibition has travelled the world, with nearly one million visitors in twenty cities. In Budapest, it will be on show for the first time at the Mai Manó House from October 18, 2024 to January 12, 2025. maimano.hu

PANTERA

FEBRUARY 03, 2025

LÁSZLÓ PAPP BUDAPEST SPORTS ARENA

Heavy metal icons PANTERA announced in early 2025 a European tour, which will kick off on January 21 in Helsinki with shows in Stockholm, Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, Budapest and more. The group has become one of the most successful and influential bands in the history of heavy metal. PANTERA has sold 20 million records worldwide, received four Grammy nominations and played sold-out arena tours around the world. Featuring original members, vocalist Philip H. Anselmo and bassist Rex Brown, alongside guitarist Zakk Wylde and drummer Charlie Benante, the latest stretch of live dates continues the celebration of the lives of late founding members, drummer Vinnie Paul and guitarist Dimebag Darrell. livenation.hu

ALAN WALKER

MARCH 12, 2025, LÁSZLÓ PAPP BUDAPEST SPORTS ARENA

Following on from the successful release of ‘Barcelona’ alongside fellow Norwegian Ina Wroldsen, worldwide superstar and electronic music artist Alan Walker announces a behemoth of a European tour, set to kick off in March 2025.

The South East Asia/China leg of the tour has already seen over 60,000 people attend the amazing show and the Indian leg of the tour, which is set to stop in ten cities across the world’s most populous country, making it the largest tour in the country by an international artist. Now, finally, Alan is set to bring his immersive Walkerworld themepark concept to European continent.

The tour will span 11 countries in 14 nights and includes some of the most iconic venues in the world. The audience can also expect some very special guests along the way. livenation.hu

KINGDOM OF GODS AND DEMONS TILL FEBRUARY 02, 2025 MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, BUDAPEST

The exhibition in the Ionic Hall of the Museum of Fine Arts is the first in Hungary dedicated to ancient Mesopotamia. One of the outstanding strengths of the exhibition is that it brings together more than 150 objects loaned by seven prominent European collections, offering unparalleled insight into the world of this longlost culture.

The Budapest exhibition concentrates on the Mesopotamian world in the first half of the first millennium BC, where the earliest empires in history emerged: the Neo-Assyrian and the Neo-Babylonian Empires. The core exhibits were unearthed during the Mesopotamian excavations carried out in the 19th and early 20th centuries in the cities of Assur, Babylon, Dur-Sharrukin and Kalhu (Nimrud): the aesthetically delightful, crowd-pleasing reliefs from Assyrian palaces, and the well-known, brilliant azure-colored glazed-brick panels depicting the snake-dragon and lion that adorned the Ishtar Gate and Processional Way in Babylon. The presentation also includes amulets and small bronze, stone and terracotta statues depicting figures from the demonic world and works portraying Assyrian and Babylonian kings. mfab.hu

tourism

The Slovak capital offers visitors a wide variety of cultural activities. Museums and galleries attract people not only by offering historic and contemporary exhibitions but the architecture of the buildings housing these – and the view from them – also make these places attractive. Culture in Bratislava also includes that of beer and coffee with brews of classic Czechoslovakian flavors and a wide range of coffees in different styles on the offer. People touring the city can come across many of these establishments but those fond of outdoor activities may get to know the city and its environs not only on foot but also on bike and even from the air.

PLACES OF CULTURE

The 2024/2025 season at the Slovak National Theater is already the 105th, and in the fall, one can expect wonderful performances such as the opera Don Giovanni, Madame Butterfly or Hubička. On the ballet stage, the audience can enjoy Carmina Burana, Manon and Ballet x SĽUK, a fusion of ballet and Slovak folklore. The Slovak National Theater is located on the Danube promenade, so one can combine a visit there with a stroll and dinner. Those taking a 10-minute walk from the city center should not miss the Blue Church on the way.

The newly renovated Slovak National Gallery offers a pleasant public space and an everexpanding new exhibition of contemporary art. The exhibitions also offer a wonderful view of the Danube.

Ceramicist and sculptor Jozef Sušienka (born in 1937) returns to the national gallery after more than 25 years. The exhibition ‘Lessons from the

Country‘ is thus not just a retrospective of the intense and focused career of a major figure who played a significant role in (not only) Slovak ceramic sculpture and design in the second half of the 20th century.

It is also a documentation of the artist's current work, in which he continues to create zen-like, meditative organic compositions rooted in natural processes and forces. According to Sušienka, ceramics can naturally be used both indoors and outdoors, in parks or homes, and can serve many purposes, whether as sculpture, dishes, fountains, lamps or tombstones. His compositions, such as the Idols, Mushrooms, Martians, Owls and Ikebana compositions are constantly living, growing, gathering and multiplying.

Originally a royal seat, the Slovak National Museum today it is the symbol of Bratislava and the seat of the Museum of History. Its terraces offer a unique view of the city. It is currently the seat of the Slovak National

THERE IS MORE TO BRATISLAVA IN THE FALL

A VARIETY OF CULTURAL ACTIVITIES, TRADITIONAL BEER AND COFFEE AS WELL AS OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Council and the Slovak National Museum –Museum of History, which hosts temporary exhibitions.

On the first floor of the Bratislava Castle, in the ‘lobby’ of the chapel, the Museum presents an exhibition of the Baroque reredos of the main altar of St. Elizabeth's Church in Dravec. The Chapel of Our Lady of the Seven Sufferings has been completed and decorated with the ceiling painting ‘Symphony‘ by Ester ŠimerováMartinčeková from 1968.

The exhibition by Giovanni Segantini, the most famous Italian painter of the second half of the 19th century, differs from the classical canons of academic painting of the time, which are characterized by refinement, perfection of craftsmanship, chiaroscuro and references to antiquity and the Renaissance. In contrast,

Segantini's paintings are close to the everyday life of peasants, shepherds and the rural environment.

Giovanni Segantini is a representative of Divisionism, a style of painting from the post-impressionist period. This style is based on the division of colors into basic shades, which are applied to the canvas in small strokes or dots. It is a synthesis of science and art. Its aim was to achieve more vivid colors by combining them directly on the retina of the viewer's eye, rather than on the painter's palette.

The Danubiana museum is housed in a stunning building that resembles a Roman gallery perched on a sandbank by a river. It is located on a peninsula behind the city. Here, one can see exhibitions by renowned international artists,

which alternate in a large hall on the first floor. On the ground floor is a contemporary art museum, and the building is surrounded by an 8,000-square-meter park with a number of sculptural works.

Fall exhibitions in the Danubiana: Ferenc Lantos, Works of Nature. Lantos was one of the most important Hungarian artists of the 20th century, and is one of the most prominent geometric abstract artists in the Central European region today.

Hermann Nitch, Respect in Color: "The development of a young artist learning art can be compared to an embryo developing in the womb. I have lived through all the stages of artistic development, from doodling to mastering the painting techniques of the old masters to the Impressionist liberation. I was very influenced by expressionism and expressionism. Photography liberated painting from the constraints of dusty likeness and opened the way to abstraction. I ended up with informal and concrete, with concrete color (colored paste, colored liquid)."

Also known as the Slovak Guggenheim for its interior architecture, the Nedbalka gallery is home to a collection of modern Slovak art. It hosts permanent exhibitions on Slovak modernism, and in the fall, it hosts an exhibition of visual punk by renowned contemporary Slovak artist Erik Binder, followed by the Painting of the Year exhibition till November 10, free of charge.

Bratislava City Gallery is housed in the Primate's Palace, one of Bratislava's most beautiful neoclassical buildings, built in 1778 by Archbishop Joseph Batthyány to the design of Cardinal Melchior Hefele. The palace and the famous Hall of Mirrors were the site of many important historical events: in 1805, the so-called Peace of Bratislava was signed here between the

Austrian and French armies, and the Parliament was opened here, meeting in the building that is now the University Library. It is also home to valuable English tapestries.

The graphic cabinets form the interior decoration of two rooms on the first floor of the Mirbach Palace, probably commissioned by one of the original owners of the building. They are special not only for their Rococo stucco ceilings, but also for the wooden paneling, which contains 290 plates, engravings, etchings and mezzotints from the 17th and second half of the 18th centuries, subsequently colored by unknown authors.

The Pálffy Palace also houses Matej Krén's Passage, a surprising installation in which infinity is found. Milota Havránková, Blue Roof: Her work is characterized by a diversity of technological, formal and conceptual approaches and a broad spectrum of artistic disciplines, from design and fashion to book illustration, monumental architectural photography, scenic and fine art photography as well as experimental film.

COFFEE & BEER

For those wishing to relax after a visit to sights, museums, galleries and other interesting cultural and historical sites, Bratislava's cafés offer a wide range of coffees in different styles. Indeed, Bratislava has a long history of cafés. Coffee and cafés were first introduced to the city during Europe's war against the Turks in the 17th century.

In the 18th century, the cafés in Bratislava at that time were under Viennese influence. Today, there is a choice of more traditional cafés in the city center and beyond, as well as third-wave cafés offering specialties from local and foreign roasters.

This unique café Kormuth Confectionery uses the best ingredients for its delicious pastries: high quality, high fruit content jams, quality farm eggs, real butter, the best French chocolate, homegrown walnuts, almonds, Piedmont hazelnuts

tourism

and real marzipan – baked with love, following tradition, using original old recipes dating back to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. All these are served in rare, historic porcelain, enhancing the experience in this unique setting. The current design of the premises has been worked on for over ten years. The entire interior is decorated with original antiques of 16th and 19th century artistic quality. The rooms are decorated with Renaissance paintings and frescoes and focus on the history of the city of Bratislava. Visitors to the confectionery are charged for a basic tasting menu.

The Franz Xavner Messerschmidt – Bratislava Café bears the name of a famous baroque sculptor. His name and his works are world famous. Few people know, however, that his most famous work, the Charakterové hlavy [Character heads], was created and completed directly in Bratislava – and not far from the café. The café offers not only good coffee and excellent coffee specialties but also delicious and original Belgian chocolate, which is enhanced by the history and presentation of F. X. Messerschmidt's creations.

The Danube pub is the place where the soul is refreshed by a wave of the finest flavor, where bitter brewing alchemy and the sophisticated appetites of Slovak and Czech gastronomy come together. Here, the senses are satiated with a unique concert experience, while the beautiful panorama of the Danube capital is revealed to the audience. The idea of adding the body and soul of a traditional restaurant to the gentle dynamics of a fixed boat on the shores of Petržalka has met with a positive response.

The home to traditional cuisine and excellent tank beer is the xSpilka Beer & Restaurant. It is located on the listed yeast site of the former Stein brewery, built in 1871, and the third largest brewery in what was then Czechoslovakia. Here, one can find tank beer, large spaces between the pillars of the yeast house, a traditional kitchen with a bold twist and modern signage, and a bakery. In the words of the owners: "typical brewhouse fare, true to classic Czechoslovakian flavors, just served in a new guise."

Where good beer is brewed, there must be good cuisine. Following the tradition of the famous ‘Die Bürgerliche Brauerei’, the brewery uses modern technology to brew beer while serving food according to a traditional Bratislava recipe. The Town Brewery presents classic, conservative, honest and hearty home cooking that goes well with the beer and tries to keep in touch with the original Bratislava recipes. Even sweets like šufrle dumplings come from Bratislava. Other caloriedense dishes of a different caliber have been tried

and tested for decades, such as roast beef with cream, dill sauce with homemade dumplings, roast shanks or the deliciously served beer house delicacy or 'Tatar beefsteak' with toast.

ON FOOT, ON BIKE AND IN THE AIR

The downtown route shows visitors what Bratislava and its identity is like; how the modern age has transformed the former Bratislava; how communist totalitarianism erased all that stood in its way to a brighter future; how the Danube continues to flow in the still beautiful historic city. One should be ready to explore all the layers of the city's history and spaces: monarchy; First Republic; socialism; modernity; river; parks; spaces; fountains; shopping malls; streets.

On the Danube embankment promenade route, one can discover the turbulent history of the coastal districts, their transformations, bridges, beaches, parks and iconic views. The Danube embankment leads from the center along forests, meadows and banks to the inspiring Danubiana Museum of Contemporary Art, surrounded by the waters of the river. Visitors can take the ferry across the river and return to the city on the other bank.

For those drawn to look down on Bratislava from high above and who don't shy away from the hills, the route is definitely that of the city's hills and panoramas where they can explore the wildly scenic Hill Park, the monumental Slavín Monument and Bratislava Castle.

The area offers training opportunities not only for performance-oriented water slalom paddlers and rafters, but also for amateur wild water athletes. Those interested in trying this adrenaline sport can book in advance and complete the route with an experienced instructor. Accommodation and meals are provided on site in the hotel restaurant.

The UFO Skywalk offers a 360-degree panoramic walk in the UFO observation tower, 85 meters above the ground. Participants in the attraction are accompanied by a trained instructor and equipped with two safety harnesses. The UFO is located above the SNP bridge and features an excellent restaurant.

The Kamzík chair lift is located in the Bratislava Forest Park, which is in the hills above the city and is a great place for walking, cycling and picnicking, which is a favorite with the locals. From the Zelezná studienka, with its forests, lakes and buffets, one can easily get to Kamzík all year round, even by bike. At the top, the Kamzík TV tower offers a café and restaurant with views of the surrounding forests and Bratislava.

(This article is published with support from Slovakia Travel)

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