NOVEMBER 2018 HUF 1710
The way humanity is using natural resources in this fast changing world is unsustainable. Corporate entities should keep in mind that their foremost objective should be to stay alive – otherwise, they will not be able to satisfy the needs of their shareholders.
THAT IS PRIMARILY
THE PURPOSE OF BUSINESS SEE ARTICLE on page 20
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18007 The main goals for his tenure are comprehensive action in the promotion of Polish culture and economy, and the creation and consolidation 980700 of a good image of Poland and Poles in Hungary, Polish Ambassador Jerzy Snopek tells Diplomacy&Trade. In an extensive interview, 18008of his country regaining its on the centenary independence, he also talks about the traditional Polish-Hungarian friendship as well as the 980700 literary and cultural heritage of Central Europe.
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The Power of Clothes
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“Basically, what interested me in clothes and fashion from an early age was the childish fun of dressing up and disguising oneself. This is something that 18010 most grown-ups enjoy, too, even if some do not realize it. It is the power of clothes,” says German fashion author Bernhard Roetzel who was in Budapest 980700 for presenting his new book on men’s fashion, the ‘Gentleman Lookbook’. see article on page 26
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Libya: the playground of foreign powers
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The power of clothes Anilogue Festival Budapest
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The purpose of business; BCSDH business lunch
Concerts, festivals, events and exhibitions in and out of Budapest
New Wine and Cheese Festival 2018; A Taste of Hollywood Renewing Bolyki labels
ESSCA Budapest expands
JAPANESE FOCUS - COMING SOON
Diplomacy & Trade is preparing a special Focus section on Japan, whose diplomatic relations with Hungary date back almost 150 years. Japan is an important investor in Hungary with its corporate investments exceeding EUR 2 billion, to date. There are about 160 Japanese companies present here, providing jobs for more than 30,000 people. The Focus will feature an interview with the Japanese Ambassador to Hungary, Kuni Sato covering issues of economic relations (including trade and investment) as well as political, social and cultural ties. There will also be articles on JETRO (Japanese External Trade Organization), Shokokai (the organization comprised of Japanese investors in this country), the Hungarian-Japanese Friendship Society as well as a number of the Japanese companies present in Hungary.
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Anilogue Festival of Animated Films 2018
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Cocktails inspired by Hollywood blockbusters
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“We are using resources at a pace that is unsustainable: whether it is food, energy, water, etc. The situation is reaching the point where it just cannot be sustained,” an international sustainability expert has told a forum in Budapest recently. What should corporate entities do to avoid that? As you can read in our interview with Doreswamy Nandkishore, he suggests an old solution… The country in Focus in this November issue is Poland, in recognition of 2018 being the country’s jubilee year, marking the 100th anniversary of the country regaining its independence. Economic relations between Hungary and Poland are flourishing, with higher amounts of direct investments by Polish firms on the Hungarian market and special attention being given to air travel. LOT Polish Airlines has a determining role in Hungarian air transport with its hub in Budapest. There are also significant new opportunities opening up in business and culture, in addition to those built on the old slogan of ‘Poles and Hungarians are two good friends’, as the Polish Ambassador to Hungary, Jerzy Snopek explains in an extensive interview. In our international analysis, we turn our attention to Libya, which is a playground of foreign powers with different interests after the overthrow of the dictator Moamer Gaddafi. The education page this month features the ESSCA School of Management that has recently celebrated its 25th anniversary by inaugurating its new premises in downtown Budapest. On the cultural front, we have a preview to the 16th edition of the Anilogue international festival of animated films coming up in the Hungarian capital. The WittyLeaks column is authored by the Albanian Ambassador, Arian Spasse who recalls his memories of Budapest from 30 years ago – and those of his grandfather from six decades ago! In Style, we have an interview with a German author who has presented his new book in Budapest that is meant to inspire men to wear tailored items. On the menu of our gastronomy and wine pages are a wine and cheese festival, atmosphere in a Budapest sky bar and renewed labels at a winery in the Eger region, and, of course, we have included program guides and Society compilations.
ESSCA Budapest inaugurates its new premises in page 24 Budapest's District 9.
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President of the National Alliance of Hungarian Vehicle Parts Manufacturers (MAJOSZ) József Nyírő also stated that in his opinion the proliferation of vehicles with alternative drives would help reduce pollutant emissions. He drew attention to the fact that the development and digitalization of the small and medium-sized enterprise sector, which represents a significant ratio of automotive industry suppliers, must be assisted.
UPCOMING NATIONAL DAYS November
EIT AWARDS CEREMONY IN BUDAPEST
HIGH HUNGARIAN CONFIDENCE IN THE EU
The European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) rewarded Europe’s top entrepreneurs – Simone Accornero (Italy), Ioannis Tarnanas (Greece), Bieke Van Gorp (Belgium), Isabel Hoffmann (Canada) and Laura Soucek (Italy) – for innovations in the fields of energy, health and food / raw materials. The awards were presented at the EIT Awards ceremony in the Hungarian capital this October, celebrating Europe’s most talented entrepreneurs and innovators during INNOVEIT, EIT’s annual innovation forum. A report by EIT points out that the organization had cause for double-celebration: this year marks its 10th anniversary and its evolution into Europe’s one-stop shop for innovation.
The Eurobarometer, a survey of public opinion throughout the EU, has revealed a marked increase in public support for EU membership based on a survey conducted this fall. According to the European Parliament's office, it has not been seen in the past 25 years that so many people (62%) thought that their EU membership is a good thing. In Hungary, 60% of the respondents said that the EU membership was good. Last year, this figure was 50% while four years ago, only 30% of the respondents said EU membership was positive. To the question of whether EU membership is useful for their respective country, 68% of those surveyed believed their country had benefited from membership in the EU, the highest rate for this response since 1983. In Hungary, more than the EU average (75%) thought that EU membership is beneficial for the country. This also shows an increase compared to a year earlier; then, 72% of the respondents thought EU membership for Hungary was beneficial. In the event of a UK-style referendum, 66% of respondents across the EU – a majority in every member state – said they would vote for their country to remain in the EU. According to Eurobarometer statistics, approval for the EU on the part of citizens has experienced an overall steady rise since the British referendum in May 2016, as negotiations stagnate and the potential negative outcomes of Brexit become more apparent to EU residents. The proportion of Europeans who said they were satisfied with the democratic functioning of the EU rose by three points since the Eurobarometer in April 2018, to 49%. 48% felt their voice was heard in the EU, although, this represented a minor decline since April in some countries. Antonio Tajani, President of the European Parliament, said that “as details of the UK’s withdrawal agreement are being finalized, these figures highlight growing appreciation of the benefits of EU membership across the continent. Nevertheless, there is much work to be done. Continued cooperation and solidarity at the EU level [are] essential in delivering answers to the concerns of ordinary European citizens.”
Speaking at the EIT Awards ceremony, Tibor Navracsics, the Hungarian EU Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (also responsible for EIT), pointed out that ‘through the EIT, the EU has invested in entrepreneurs all over Europe, building a unique network, helping to create an entrepreneurial culture and providing critical support as ventures expand globally. The EIT Awards are a celebration of this, and the nominees and winners ambassadors of Europe’s innovative talent – my congratulations to them all!” The Chairman of the EIT Governing Board, Dirk Jan van den Berg added that “the EIT Awards celebrate excellence in innovation. Promoting the outstanding achievements of our entrepreneurs here in Budapest shines a bright light on the talent powered by the EIT Community. In just ten years, the EIT has grown from a start-up organization to become Europe’s strongest innovation network. This years’ winners are not just proof that the EIT is on the right course, but that it is a mature organization ready to advance further. Europe needs more ambition for its innovative economy; it has the skills, the EIT has the thriving network to make innovation happen.”
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DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM, TIBOR ILLYÉS/MTI, EIT, SKYWALKERPL/WIKIPEDIA
POSITIVE REAL ESTATE OUTLOOK IN HUNGARY Fierce competition for warehouse space and very limited availability will continue to weigh heavily on economic activity over the remainder of 2018, and most likely well into 2019. The macroeconomic picture shows there are a number of uncertainties ahead that weigh heavily on the outlook for industrial and logistics real estate in Europe, according to a new report by Colliers International. “Generally speaking, occupiers looking for industrial accommodation in key geographies like Germany, the Benelux region and Scandinavia must prepare for further rental uplifts, but the market is stabilizing in places. In cities including Stuttgart, Munich, Barcelona and Budapest, healthy demand will be clashing with reduced supply, but in cities like Lodz in Poland, active pipelines could be holding back uplifts in rental rates,” according to the Head of EMEA Research at Colliers International, Damian Harrington. As Csaba Dobos, Senior Associate of Industrial Agency at Colliers International Hungary pointed out, “in Hungary, although, there is still a limited number of well-prepared speculative projects, new developments are expected. Due to the market absorption during 2018, the vacancy rate dropped to 3.5% by mid-year, which is a record low in the Hungarian industrial market. Even if some vacancy is expected in existing buildings during the coming one year, many developers are working actively on the planning / permitting / constructing of new speculative buildings. At least 123,000 sqm of speculative space will increase the stock by the end of 2019, where 36,000 sqm is already secured by prelease agreements.”
AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY AND SUPPLIER EXPO Minister of Innovation and Technology László Palkovics initiated cooperation between members of the automotive industry this October at the ‘Automotive’ international automotive industry and supplier expo in Budapest, to form a coalition to review the effects of new European pollutant emission regulations on the Hungarian automotive industry and draw up a proposal with relation to the feasibility of target figures. At a press conference on the topic, the Minister told reporters that at the session of the Environmental Council in early October, a decision was made to reduce the pollutant emissions of vehicles 35% by 2030, compared to the 2021 level, with exemption afforded to smallvolume, niche manufacturers, which in Hungary includes Suzuki. A decision was also made to review targets in 2023. At the press conference, Executive Secretary of the Hungarian Automobile Industry Association (MAGE) Csaba Kilián said cooperation between those involved was necessary, adding that the development of new transport technologies to enable the reduction of pollutant emissions in research and development, and the infrastructure required for alternative drives, including the construction of charging stations and the necessary legal regulations, were absolutely essential. w w w . d t e u r o p e . c o m
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SPACE PROBE WITH HUNGARIAN CONTRIBUTION The space probe BepiColombo blasted into space from the European space port at Kourou, French Guiana, at dawn, Central European Time on October 20, carrying – among other things – the results of the intellectual work of Hungarian researchers and engineers, on its way to explore Mercury, the planet closest to the Sun. BepiColombo is a joint endeavor between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). It is the first European mission to Mercury, the smallest and least explored planet in the inner Solar System, and the first to send two spacecraft to make complementary measurements of the planet’s dynamic environment at the same time. It will build on the discoveries and questions raised by NASA’s Messenger mission, which orbited the planet between 2011 and 2015, to provide the best understanding of the Solar System’s innermost planet to date. BepiColombo will provide information about solar system evolution in general – not just about our own, but regarding how planets orbiting close to their stars in exoplanet systems form and evolve, too. Researchers at the Wigner Research Center for Physics of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences took part, on the one hand, in the Planetary Ion Camera (PICAM) ion mass spectrometer project, which works as a camera for charged particles in order to study the chain of surface ionization processes. The low voltage power supply unit has been developed by engineers of the Hungarian research center – as has been BepiColombo’s simulation environment in close co-operation with SGF Ltd. On the other hand, Hungarian scientists also participated in the PWI plasma wave experiment, for which the on-board software of the Intelligent Signal Detection Module (ISDM) has been developed by the Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) Space Research Group and BL Electronics Ltd.
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company briefs
GOVERNMENT AND MUNICIPALITY CONTRACTS WITH BMW
and flexibility. Moreover, with its innovative solutions, high-tech auxiliary equipment and flexible logistics network in the field of automated vehicle production
PENNY MARKET RECIEVES SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFICATION Penny Market Hungary Ltd. has been given the ISO 50001 certification as a recognition of its efforts in sustainability and energy savings. According to a press release by the company, from now on, it will use the international standard in all of its shops, warehouses, and offices in Hungary. Having invested a significant amount of money in sustainability measures, Penny Market now has 216 shops and three logistics warehouses with ISO 50001 certification. As Florian Naegele, the newly appointed CEO of Penny Market Hungary highlighted, "sustainability,
environmental protection and modern production conditions are all of key importance for our company group, and receiving the certificate proves we are on the right track." He added that "the steps we have made in energy management are the result of a long-term process, which required significant commitment and effort from all of our staff. However, our plans do not stop at this point; we will continue to pursue developments in energy efficiency." The company devised a medium-term investment plan for 2018, which includes, among other things, the installation of LED lighting in stores and logistics
centers, the modernization of heating systems, and the deployment of solar panels and energy monitoring systems. Penny Market says it will complete these steps by 2022. As part of ISO 50001, Penny Market Hungary has undertaken several tasks. Its General Manager for Logistics and Finances, Silke Janz pointed out that "our aim is to decrease specific electricity consumption in the retail areas by 10% in the next four years, and cut the specific fuel consumption of our company car fleet by 5%. We are also undertaking to increase the use of renewable energy to 2% of the total."
NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION PLC. COMPRESSOR STATION COMPLETED
permits, the establishment of the new compressor station via the relocation of two 4.5 MW compressor units is already in the implementation phase at Csanádpalota. The project will allow the transmission of 1.75 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year from Romania to Hungary from the end of 2019. The cross-border pipeline in the direction of Romania is already able to transmit this quantity. The State Secretary stressed that the projects associated with the Hungarian-Romanian natural gas pipeline are also highly important for Hungary with relation to the security of supply, the development of the regional energy market and the dynamism of the bilateral energy relations. He pointed out that the development of the transmission corridor linking the two countries is fully consistent with efforts to establish the bi-directional flow of gas through crossborder points of the European Union. The project enhances the security of supply in Hungary and the countries in the region by diversifying energy sources and expanding transmission routes.
Hungary’s commitment to developing the Romanian-Hungarian gas corridor is unbroken”, State Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Policy Péter Kaderják said this October at the on-site tour held at the Csanádpalota (SE Hungary) compressor station of the BRUA gas pipeline project, which was also attended by Ambassador of Romania to Hungary Marius Gabriel Lazurca and Ambassadorat-Large for Energy Security Pál Ságvári, a statement by the Ministry of Innovation and Technology said. According to Péter Kaderják, the construction of the proposed Romanian-Hungarian gas pipeline development project in Hungary is progressing according to schedule. In accordance with preliminary plans and in possession of the required licenses and
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The world's largest asset manager, BlackRock of the United States, settled in its new Budapest office this October with a perspective to further expand its innovation and technology center. The Budapest office has grown into the third largest among twenty BlackRock offices in the EMEA region (Europe, Middle-East and Africa) within less than two years. It is now the firm's largest office in Continental Europe. BlackRock was founded under the umbrella of The Blackstone Group in 1988, with a staff of just eight persons. In the 30 years since, BlackRock has become the leading asset manager worldwide. It was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1999. Applying innovative technological solutions, the firm, which employs 14,000 people globally, provides both institutional and individual clients with asset and risk management services. Assets managed by them approximated USD 6,300 billion at the end of June 2018. The company announced in January 2017 that it was going to establish its innovation and technology center in Budapest. According to the Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency (HIPA), BlackRock's decision was based on the quality of talent, living standards and the developed infrastructure offered by Budapest, as well as the commitments of the Government and HIPA towards the project. The current staff of the Budapest office consists of 450 employees from 20 countries, of which 50 are Hungarians who relocated back to their home country from abroad. The office hosts teams across all major businesses and functions at BlackRock, from operations, client businesses, coders developing the company's core applications, to various investment teams. The center, established in the building of the GTC White House Office Center, reflects the innovative character of the company and meets all the important criteria, including location, infrastructure of the building, services available in the neighborhood and the possibility of expansion.
should instantly rise as a technological ground-breaker. Due to its flexible production system, the new plant will be able to produce models assembled with traditional combustion engines, as well as premium cars with electronic motors on the same production line. "We have found a remarkably competitive region in the area of Debrecen with committed cooperation of the authorities, good infrastructure, a grounded supplier base and suitable lands enabling the operation of a fullyfledged vehicle manufacturing facility. The Debrecen plant of the BMW Group will be a perfect imprint of all the car manufacturing expertise we own," Oliver Zipse said. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade said "the decision of BMW to invest in Debrecen is a historical success, thanks to which the German automotive industry has irrevocably united with the Hungarian expertise.”
photos by
BLACKROCK TO SETTLE IN THE HUNGARIAN CAPITAL
Oliver Zipse, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Production has signed land purchasing and incentives contracts with the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Péter Szijjártó and the Mayor of the city of Debrecen, Dr. László Papp. The agreements pertain to the recently announced investment of the new European plant of the Bavarian automotive company. Preparation work on the plant will commence in early 2019 and construction is anticipated to start at the end of 2019. The plant, worth EUR 1 billion, will have the capacity to manufacture some 150,000 new cars on a yearly basis. More than 1,000 new jobs will be created. As the latest unit of the BMW Group's European plant network, the factory, which will be constructed on the periphery of Debrecen, will create a new automotive benchmark regarding digitalization, sustainability
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company briefs LEGO INNOVATION STUDIO IN NYÍREGYHÁZA The first LEGO Education Innovation Studio in East Central Europe has opened at the University of Nyíregyháza, NE Hungary. The university has teamed up with LEGO Education International to establish an innovation studio. The aim of the project – in which the new classroom and methodology center focuses on the principle of play-based learning – is to acquaint current and future educators with LEGO’s educational and skills development applications. Additionally, the innovation studio also serves as a community center to bring together schools, teachers, pupils and parents. In her greetings at the opening, the rector of the university, Dr. Erika Figula Vass stressed that this project fits into the innovative developments at Nyíregyháza University. It is an important goal of the institution is to present the most modern, most efficient, innovative teaching methods to future teachers. The new LEGO Education Innovation Studio, building on the methods of logic and game, will help develop knowledge and logical skills, the acquisition of text comprehension, mathematics and robotics, as well as the children’s experience of game pedagogical methods and of working together. This experience will be taught to teachers and children with the help of the Studio. Our long-term cooperation with the LEGO Factory in Nyíregyháza and the LEGO Education network shows that innovation in this region is successful, and professionals working there are receptive to new techniques and new methods." LEGO Education Innovation Studio in Nyiregyháza is part of an international network in which many Western European universities providing teacher training are already participants. The methodology center focuses on the learning based on experience principle, which actively engages students in the learning process.
Thermo Fisher has opened its new Global Business Services Center in the Hungarian capital. The US-based company, which produces high added value medical and healthcare products, serves its clients in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region from its brand new Budapest office, as regards its financial and customer care activities. The current headcount of 100 staff will grow significantly by 2020. Due to the extended size and diverse nature of the area, the company does not only need qualified and skilled workforce but experts with a command of special languages as well, which, as their choice suggests, could best be ensured in Hungary, according to the Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency (HIPA). As Andy Thomson, Thermo Fisher's Senior Vice President and President, EMEA, put it, “adding this new global business services capability in the region will ensure that we can support our growth throughout the EMEA region while maintaining the high levels of customer service we are known to provide.” The US company, with a history that embraces sixty years of success through a line of predecessors, became Thermo Fisher Scientific in 2006 via the merger of Thermo Electron Corporation and Fisher Scientific International. The group's wide portfolio covers every segment of medicine, offering analytical tools, software and other devices for pharmaceutical experiments, medical and biological research, vaccine production and diagnostics. The company, which gives work to some 70,000 professionals worldwide, each year spends a significant amount on research and development. In 2017, its related investments totaled USD 900 million.
Hungarian oil and gas company MOL Group MOL Group laid the foundation for its new MOL Campus headquarters in early October. The future workspace for up to 2,500 employees will be located on the banks of the Danube in the southern part of Budapest, close to the current HQ building. A press release by the Group says the modern design mirrors MOL Group’s bold vision of its 2030 strategy to drive change across the CEE region over the few next decades, and will also play an essential role in redesigning the employee experience. "We are building the most modern office building in the region, the MOL Campus. This unprecedented building represents the culmination of the development of MOL's market position and culture over the past twenty years, but is also the basis for our future. It underlines that MOL lives in symbiosis with its environment, invests in the future and provides an inspiring work environment for the employees who will provide the lion’s share of the implementation of the MOL 2030 strategy," Chairman-CEO of MOL Group, Zsolt Hernádi said. Meeting the ambitious targets of the new long-term strategy, MOL 2030, requires smart investments in both physical infrastructure and human capital. Currently, MOL headquarters is scattered throughout five districts in Budapest, in buildings mostly constructed during the 1970s. The new campus will not only generate substantial operational synergies through the relocation of all Budapest staff, but will also play an essential role in redesigning the employee experience, enhancing collaboration and helping to create a superior physical, technological and cultural environment. This will be crucial for attracting and retaining a high quality, mobile and tech savvy workforce in the future. In line with MOL’s vision for 2030, the new campus will feature the highest standards of energy efficiency and sustainability and aims to obtain both LEED and BREEAM qualifications, according to the press release. MOL Campus is designed by one of the most renowned architectural studios in the world, the UK-based Foster + Partners, who will be also responsible for certain interior community areas in coordination with KINZO. Foster + Partners Hungarian partner is FintaStudio.
VOLUNTEER DAY EDUCATION AT MAGYAR TELEKOM Close to a thousand Magyar Telekom Group employees took part in renovating public places, institutions, putting in more than 5,000 hours at 25 locations countrywide in the middle of October. This was the first year that, as part of the Volunteer Day program, employees also held digital training for close to 2,000 students of 13 schools. This was one of the largest scale events in the history of Magyar Telekom Group both in terms of number of participating colleagues and geographical reach. Thanks to the volunteer day program organized by Magyar Telekom and T-Systems Hungary, the environment of 25 locations, including kindergartens, schools, social facilities and boarding homes gained a fresh look. According to a press statement, Magyar Telekom being a market leader and a responsible company, finds it important to draw on its specific capabilities to help different layers of society gain equal access to the digital world, and does that not only by involving them in the digital NOW, but also by providing them guidance on how to navigate the opportunities and threats this world
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HIPA, ATTILA BALÁZS/MTI, MOL, MAGYAR TELEKOM GROUP
THERMO FISHER GLOBAL BSC IN BUDAPEST
MOL CAMPUS HEADQUARTERS
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presents. Therefore, in addition to traditional volunteer work, the volunteers drew on the company’s collective intellectual capital, as well as their personal expertise and experience to hold interactive presentations to more than 2,000 pupils aged 10-14 in 13 schools addressing four topics: social media and personal brand, internet security, IT career opportunities and future jobs. The digital education program is part of the series held in the framework of the European Cybersecurity Month, aimed to increase awareness about secure use of features offered by the online world.
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analysis French leader demanded nationwide elections by the end of the year. Another Mediterranean power, Italy, which has a long history of colonizing Libya and nurturing relatively strong relations even with the Gaddafi-regime, believes that this demand is not viable given the security situation of the country. The Italians have a point there. Khalifa Haftar’s strongest supporters include Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, which supply arms and other resources to the de facto government in the east; the south is for all intents and purposes a no-man’s land with various tribes and warlords controlling the area – and supporting themselves mainly from such activities as smuggling and trafficking in refugees from places such as Senegal, the Ivory Coast, Niger, Nigeria, and Gambia (known as the ’central route’, the other two routes of migration being the ’western’ and ’eastern’ ones). The push factors of migration in the sub-Saharan countries are more or less the same: abject poverty, oppressive governments, tribal warfare, and the like. To make matters even more complicated, Chadian and Sudanese armed groups are also known to be operating in this region. The security situation in the capital is not much better either. By the time Fayez al-Serraj and his people arrived in Tripoli, four armed groups already controlled much of the city, and the situation has not really changed since then: now, four armed brigades dominate Tripoli, and while infighting and pushing back rival armed groups are frequent, basic services are sporadic at best. Libya’s neighborhood is as unstable as can be, too; five out of its six neighbors are ravaged by civil wars or violent unrests.
THE POTTERY BARN RULE
There is no question that present-day Libya is a failed state, and one can even venture that the Libyans are their own worst enemies in many respects. The point is, however, that some of them, and naturally the foreign armed groups operating on their territory, are only proxies in the hands of outside actors. Part of the problem is that none of the powerful outside forces (or even the local ones) have taken any meaningful steps to build a (unitary) state. The French, the Italians, and the Arab countries accept the militias as legitimate actors in Libya. As for the international community at large, Libya is not a priority anymore; the Middle East – especially Syria – has snatched the limelight from the North African country. So long as oil is flowing (including some 300,000 barrels/ day to Italy alone), the quasi civil wars in Libya do not seem to bother too many people. The arguably only concern for the Europeans is the cooperation of the Libyans in stemming the tide of mass migration. Here, Tripoli rejected the EU proposal to set up ‘reception centers’ while the European states consider the migrants’ asylum applications. As the passage across the Mediterranean has gotten more difficult than before, even this issue has lost some of its urgency for the EU. The pottery is broken, and it is no one’s vital interest to glue it together.
LIBYA IS A PLAYGROUND OF FOREIGN POWERS AFTER THE OVERTHROW OF GADDAFI BY TAMÁS MAGYARICS
Colonel Muammar Gaddafi was one of the most repulsive dictators in the world for decades, though, competition was stiff with contemporaries such as, for example, Saddam Hussein or Idi Amin. However, even they were right occasionally. The Libyan dictator warned NATO in 2011 during the Atlantic Community’s military actions against him: “You’re bombing a wall. … The wall [is] Libya. You’re breaking it.” The ’wall’ referred to by Colonel Gaddafi was Libya itself, which was standing in the way of African migration to Europe. The deal was Machiavellian (as most international treaties are): the European Union, especially countries threatened with massive immigration from Africa, first and foremost Italy and France, paid hundreds of millions of euros annually, and billions of euros over years (some USD 5 billion in 20 years) to Tripoli to act as a gatekeeper – and turned a blind eye to human rights and civil rights abuses by the Gaddafi regime. When this tacit cooperation became too scandalous, and Libya’s ability to resist had been diminished when it gave up its nuclear program,
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NATO swung into action, and tipped the balance in the quasi civil war between Colonel Gaddafi’s supporters and opponents, the latter especially strong in the east of the country. And that was the point when the ‘pottery barn rule’ (’you break it, you own it’) should have been applied in the North African country. Nevertheless, the ‘West’ did not seem to learn from the lessons in Afghanistan and Iraq: the removal of unsavory dictators was one thing, but running the countries in place of them was another. The aftermath of the military actions has invariably been chaos, a continuous fight between various armed groups and militias, the disappearance of central authority, and the concomitant repercussions affecting countries in the neighborhood and farther away – in sum, local and regional destabilization for which those who urged the removal of some of these dictators do not seem to have an answer. In general, a power vacuum was born in the wake of foreign interventions, which has been filled in by a great variety of groups sharing one characteristic: each one of them relies mostly on violence and abuse in order to keep whatever authority they have been able to carve out for themselves.
Playground of foreign powers Libya currently has two major power centers and a number of other authorities restricted to smaller parts of the country, predominantly in the west and the south. The ’official’ Government of National Accord (GNA) under Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj is located in Tripoli, while the Tobruk-based House of Representatives rules, in all practicality, the eastern part of Libya. The real power here is concentrated in the hands of Khalifa Haftar and his Libyan National Army. However, neither could survive without substantial outside assistance; it’s not really stretching the truth to state that present-day Libya is a playground of a number of European and Arab countries, with the U.S. taking a ’back seat’. Libya’s oil reserves and its geopolitical position matter too much for others to ignore the country. The UN backs the GNA, and its mission to Libya, the UNSMIL calls for economic reforms and a unification of the national institutions. Another outside actor, President Emmanuel Macron also tried his hand in bringing al-Serraj and Haftar together in a meeting in Paris this past May, in which the N O V E M B E R
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Tamás Magyarics is a foreign policy analyst
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In the hands of outside actors
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GROUNDS FOR OPTIMISM
2018 is a jubilee year in Poland, marking the 100th anniversary of the country regaining independence. When we ask what this anniversary means for the Polish people, Ambassador Snopek says that he has come across anti-traditional attitudes in his life many times. “Of course, these were mostly associated with the specific political climate of the recent past. I agree that one should not have a fetish about anniversaries. However, they cannot be ignored, they are a function of memory – collective and individual. They mobilize reflection on the past from the perspective of the present. The centenary of regaining independence after
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123 years of captivity is a great event for the Poles. It enlivens the memory of the then long road to freedom, of the repeated rebellions, the great sacrifice of blood. And, on the other hand, of the constant effort of our elites, to maintain the sense of national identity, to save the language, to survive through the culture. After the first partition, J.J. Rousseau advised the Poles: if the powerful and voracious neighbors manage to swallow you, do not allow them to digest you! We did not let ourselves be digested. But this advice is more universal. We must remember it constantly.”
Grounds for optimism Ambassador Jerzy Snopek himself has witnessed the changes in Poland in the past few decades,
not just as a private individual but also as a historian. As he explains, “the period 1939-1989 was extremely difficult for my country, in the first phase, during the war, even dramatic. Material losses incurred during the war were unimaginably large and have never been properly compensated. Being part of the model of ‘distribution according to commands’ economy, practiced in the Soviet camp, held back economic development for decades, and eventually led to a deep crisis, characteristic of the ‘shortage economy’, as the renowned Hungarian economist János Kornai called it. Just think about it: half a century! During this 50 years, there was a period of modest but stable ‘small stabilization’ in the sixties and a few relatively optimistic years, which turned out to be based on fragile foundations and apparent N O V E M B E R
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prosperity, but the crisis was inevitable. The political breakthrough that occurred in 1989 found the Polish economy in a tragic state. Opening up to the West and deep reforms – obtained at the price of too much social cost – were effective. Despite the hesitation, the development was permanent, and Poland's accession to the European Union in 2004 provided the Polish economy with an additional, strong impulse. For several years, as in the economies of other V4 countries, Poland has experienced the fastest development in Europe. Many things cannot be predicted, but there are grounds for optimism.”
Economic relations Ambassador Snopek is of the view that generally speaking, the growth tendencies that have been
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BY SÁNDOR LACZKÓ
COURTESY OF THE EMBASSY OF POLAND
INTERVIEW WITH JERZY SNOPEK, POLISH AMBASSADOR TO HUNGARY
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polish focus “POLAK, WĘGIER DWA BRATANKI”
(Pole and Hungarian, two good friends) As Ambassador Snopek explains, “around this famous proverb, commonly known in both countries, there were many hypotheses concerning its origin, circumstances and time of creation. There are those who claim that it was created during the Bar Confederation, that was around 1770. My old friend, who passed away more than 20 years ago, prof. István Csapláros, devoted a separate article to this issue. He first saw the proverb in the mid-nineteenth century. I found it myself in one of the archives while looking at a manuscript of a long poem from 1809. The first two lines of this poem contain this proverb. It has become a slogan over the decades, but its general sense still finds new confirmation in the relations of our nations. It happens also today.” As regards Polish-Hungarian relations historically, the Ambassador says that the political situation of Poland and Hungary, their entanglement in international relations complicated the situation in many ways. “Even before the First World War, the interests of Poland and Hungary were not always convergent – despite sympathy and solidarity. That war brought very bitter fruits for Hungary, even though, it regained an autonomous state existence, and very sweet fruits – for Poland. On the mutual relations in the interwar period, the Hungarian trauma, the so-called Trianon trauma, exercised a significant, though indirect, influence. Hungarian policy was very much concerned with regaining what Hungary lost in 1920. In these efforts, they sought an ally in Poland, but this time, they did not meet with enthusiasm. Poland was focused primarily on its own problems. Later, as everyone knows, we found ourselves in opposite political camps during World War II, but nevertheless, the Poles experienced, from the Hungarian people, evidence of traditional friendship. I am thinking, of course, about the adoption by Hungary of over 100,000 refugees from Poland, but also about the role played by Hungarians in the Warsaw Uprising. We have reciprocated a large-scale assistance to the Hungarian insurgents who, in 1956, were armed against the Soviet oppression. Again, we were united in this period – as many times in the past – by a community of historical fate, this time boiling down to a forced presence in the Soviet camp. After 1989, this community took on a different shape. As de facto sovereign states, we joined NATO and the European Union at the same time, strengthened – and still strengthening – our ties in the Visegrád Group as well as other local political formats. We share many common ideals, we similarly define our fears, similarly see the future of the European Union and Europe. I would like discrepancies in some specific issues not to affect the further harmonious development of our bilateral relations and our cooperation with our neighbors. For the good of the region and the entire European Union.”
COURTESY OF THE EMBASSY OF POLAND
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maintained for years in trade between Poland and Hungary are satisfactory. According to Hungarian data, they amounted to over EUR 9 billion last year. “On the occasion of President Erdogan's recent visit to Hungary, we have all learned that the trade turnover between powerful Turkey and Hungary currently oscillates around EUR 2.5 billion. Let us add that in the last two years, we were the third largest exporter on the Hungarian market and we have a positive balance of almost EUR 2 billion. And yet, I have a feeling of insufficiency and the awareness that we can achieve much more in this area. After all, we have more commercial turnover with, for example, the Czech Republic.” Last year, most of the Polish exports to Hungary were made up of the electromechanical (40%), metallurgy (16%) and chemical (14%) articles, followed by agricultural and food products (13%). “The general progress in the economic exchange between Poland and Hungary can also be seen in Polish investments in this country. Companies such as Maspex, Fakro, CCC, Rafako, Telmex, Aluprof and Bella Hungaria have been in a strong position here for years. In recent months, we have been observing the expansion of Polish building companies taking
Two years in Hungary
advantage of the increasing demand for housing. There is still much to be done. We attach great importance to economic diplomacy. We will continue to work closely with our Trade Office to facilitate the path of Polish entrepreneurs and products to the Hungarian market,” he adds. Regarding LOT’s expansion in Hungary the Ambassador stresses that the Embassy helped LOT negotiate with Hungarian partners. “Personally, I participated in a solemn initiation of regular LOT flights on the Budapest-New York and Budapest-Chicago routes. Budapest has not had such direct connections since 2011. Economic calculations show that they will be profitable. Already, you can count on over 150,000 passengers a year. That is why LOT, which has very ambitious development plans, intends to intensify cooperation with Budapest. The Budapest-Krakow route has already been opened, and from February next year, LOT's aircraft will fly twice a day from Budapest to London City airport. We look at it with approval and hope for further successful development of this mutually beneficial cooperation.”
Cultural ties As the Ambassador points out, ‘our cultural relations were, in the history of our thousandyear friendship, generally the ‘Achilles heel’. I have dealt with this issue, especially in its w w w . d t e u r o p e . c o m
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literary dimension, quite thoroughly, and given it several dissertations. Especially in the old times, despite some spectacular exceptions and despite the fact that for some time Latin was the common language of our literature, PolishHungarian literary relations were very poor. The main barrier was language. The fundamental breakthrough came only in the 20th century. But even when translating a larger and larger amount of works of literature, we did not value each other much. Both Hungarians and Poles were mostly looking at the West. The Polish reception of Sándor Márai's works became an exception in recent years. He became a ‘world writer’ for Poles. To some extent, it is also possible to say the same about Imre Kertész, who has a similar reputation as Polish authors Miłosz, Herbert and Gombrowicz in Hungary. Many writers and poets and their works – classics and contemporaries – have to be discovered both by the Hungarians and the Poles. I deeply hope that our presence in the EU and our insistent work on the presentation of the literary and cultural heritage of our Central European region will bring desirable fruit. Similar systematic work awaits us in the field of promoting Polish (Central European) art and music, although, the situation seems to be better in this area.”
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Ambassador Snopek says his main goal in his position is comprehensive action for Poland, promotion of Polish culture and economy, and the creation and consolidation of a good image of Poland and Poles in Hungary. “Promotional activity of the Embassy in the field of ‘Politics of historical memory’, presentation and promotion of literature, art, and Polish music is often conducted in cooperation with the Polish Institute and I am glad that this cooperation works well for us. My experience in two-years of diplomatic work in Hungary proves that I work in a friendly country, in a friendly society. I cooperate with the Hungarian authorities, which cooperate intensively with the Polish authorities and present the same views and the same basic attitude in the vast majority of fundamental issues. There are practically no problems in Hungary with the so-called ‘false codes’ of memory falsifying the history of Poland, which in the West still happens. I think that twin institutions will play a big role in FACTS COMPARED AREA country comparison to the world POPULATION country comparison to the world POPULATION GROWTH RATE country comparison to the world BIRTH RATE country comparison to the world LIFE EXPECTANCY AT BIRTH country comparison to the world NET MIGRATION RATE country comparison to the world GDP - PER CAPITA (PPP) country comparison to the world UNEMPLOYMENT RATE country comparison to the world TELEPHONES - MOBILE/CELLULAR country comparison to the world AIRPORTS country comparison to the world
working on the goals that guide me personally: the Wacław Felczak Institute in Poland and the Wacław Felczak Foundation in Hungary. I am glad that they were created and that I was involved from the beginning; and in March of the current year, I was able to sign a memorandum together with Minister Zoltán Balog on their cooperation. I am also glad that the work on the Great Hungarian-Polish and Polish-Hungarian Dictionary has finally started. We organized two working conferences, which allowed us to solve a lot of methodological and organizational problems and to speed up this work. Among other major and more durable achievements, I would like to mention – without disregarding others – bringing a monument of Marshal Piłsudski, the ‘father of Polish independence’ regained 100 years ago, to Budapest and naming one of the parks in Budapest after our great poet Adam Mickiewicz.” He adds that a lot of time at the Embassy was devoted to contacts with the Polish minority and local authorities of the Hungarian cities. “All this happened during the period of particularly intense Polish-Hungarian political contacts, during the successive Polish and Hungarian presidencies in the Visegrád Group. During one and a half years we have had over 160 visits by official guests from Poland. We were able to host them thanks to the excellent work of a great, though relatively small, team of the Embassy. I also extend my warm thanks to my wife who supports me in all my activities.” HUNGARY
POLAND
93,028 sq km 111 9,850,845 (July 2017 est.) 92 -0.25% (2017 est.) 214 9 births/1,000 population 205 76.1 years 91 1.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population 54 $28,900 (2017 est.) 69 4.4% (2017 est.) 59 11,779,908 78 41 (2013) 104
312,685 sq km 71 38,476,269 (July 2017 est.) 36 -0.13% (2017 est.) 206 9.5 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) 202 77.8 years 67 -0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) 118 USD 29,500 (2017 est.) 69 4.8% (2017 est.) 69 49,828,596 30 126 (2013) 47
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polish focus Warsaw headquarters of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency. They are experts who enjoy working with people and easily establish relationships. They gained their knowledge at foreign universities and their business experience in countries where they work for Polish companies today as PAIH experts, he adds.
“The Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) has built a support network for Polish business around the world. It is a considerable challenge, but we are very proud that we are finalizing the key stage of this undertaking in the year of the 100th jubilee of Poland regaining its independence,” Tomasz Pisula, the President of the Agency tells Diplomacy&Trade.
Clients Since 2017, about 8,000 Polish companies looking for new challenges abroad have benefited from the PAIH services. The Agency has organized over 140 trade events around the world, 260 business missions, and B2B sessions. PAIH has also responded to over 1,500 inquiries from foreign investors, acquiring projects with a total value of PLN 17.9 billion, resulting in the creation of 45,000 new jobs within the country. “Among Polish clients, we have bold and innovative companies from the small and medium enterprises segment and from very different industries. These include Polish furniture manufacturers, developers of software for quantum computers, companies developing artificial intelligence, but also producers of organic food who win awards at international fairs. Our partners also include Polish investors from the automotive sector, construction, suppliers of solutions for medicine, e-learning services and the fin-tech segment, supported by PAIH for distant markets,” Tomasz Pisula points out. In the case of foreign investments, in recent months PAIH has helped bring prestigious projects of global financial market leaders such as JP Morgan and Standard Chartered to Poland. The Agency also participated in the birth of a new trend in the global automotive industry – thanks to the multi-billion investment of the Korean company LG Chem, Poland has become the European center for the development of electric cars and is attracting more companies, mainly Asian ones, which want to work with Polish engineers on new solutions in this industry.
THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT FOR TRADE AND INVESTMENT 100 YEARS OF POLISH ECONOMY PAST AND THE FUTURE... The list of Polish enterprises ready to compete with their products, services, and technologies on the global market is growing. “Those who have taken up the challenge are quite successful, as record numbers of Polish exports show. However, the geographical horizon of Polish companies still limits their profits or even puts them at risk, depending on the economic situation inside the European Union. We can see a clear rise in protectionist tendencies within the largest world economies, which in turn disturbs the current global economic order. In the face of this, the Polish government decided to radically change its policy of economic promotion of our country, adapting it to functioning on the global stage. The Strategy for Responsible Development of Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has become the foundation of change,” the President points out. He adds that the process of reforming the Polish economy began at the end of 2016 when the Polish Development Fund institution was established – bringing together public prodevelopment entities. As a member of this group, the Polish Investment and Trade Agency became the first point of contact for exporters and
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investors, and became responsible for increasing both Polish exports and investments abroad and the inflow of foreign investments to Poland.
Foreign network of Polish trade offices worldwide “In only a little over a year, we have created an international business support network from scratch, which currently has more than 50 representative offices around the world. We create Polish bridgeheads in places with the greatest potential for the sale of Polish products and the commercialization of Polish technological thought, as well as places where companies interested in investing in Poland can find relevant information. Our foreign trade offices are located in business centers of both Americas, Africa, Europe, and Asia,” Tomasz Pisula explains. He continues to say that “we built a support base on the experiences of pro-development institutions from around the world. We want to provide Polish companies with an international start at a level analogous to that of their foreign competitors. Following the world's leading trend, we prioritize the best business opportunities for our clients and assist in
every project implementation process. We advise on optimal solutions, we recommend locations for investments, we select and help identify the credibility of potential business partners. We provide information that makes it possible to minimize risk and effectively enter the local market – especially the ones that are geographically and culturally remote.” The situation in each market is dynamic, and the flexible structure of Polish foreign trade offices enables adaptation to changing conditions. As the President highlights, “some geographical directions are of greater interest to entrepreneurs and others less so. Naturally, there are countries on our map that currently require ‘weighing’. There, we will probably increase the number of employees and offices. This will be the case in the USA, where a total of six agency offices will operate by the end of this year. We are also planning a larger number of offices in China, where we are currently opening a branch in Chengdu.” At present, nearly two hundred well-educated and experienced professionals who are fluent in foreign languages are at the disposal of businesses in Foreign Trade Offices and the N O V E M B E R
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The President stresses that “in October this year, we organized PAIH EXPO, the first Polish business forum abroad. Six thousand companies interested in the perspectives offered by foreign markets came to the event from all over the country. We also hosted international companies that chose Poland as their investment destination. We invited all the participants to workshops and discussion panels, conducted by over fifty managers of PAIH trade offices from around the world, as well as outside experts whom we invited. During the workshops and discussion panels, participants were advised on how to be an exporter or investor.” PAIH is also working on long-term promotional projects that will benefit the Polish economy in the coming years. “Among other things, as part of the six-year Polskie Mosty Technologiczne program, we have launched a recruitment process for Polish companies with innovative solutions, wishing to build a strategy of international expansion into non-European markets. The next edition of the World Exposition EXPO 2020 in Dubai is also fast approaching, which will probably attract nearly 20 million visitors. PAIH is responsible for organizing Poland's presence at this exhibition, and I have the honor of being the General Commissioner of the Polish Section of the Expo 2020 that takes place in October 2020,” Tomasz Pisula concludes.
POLISH INVESTMENT AND TRADE AGENCY
PAIH EXPO and EXPO Dubai
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polish focus BUILDING WITH ALUMINUM POLISH GIANT TO SET DIRECTIONS FOR THE FUTURE
ALUMINUM IS A VERY SPECIFIC MATERIAL. LIGHTWEIGHT AND
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ADAM ROTTER/WWW.ADAMROTTER.PL, ALUPROF-HUNGARY
HIGHLY DURABLE, WITH GOOD ELECTRICAL AND THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY, HIGH CORROSION RESISTANCE TO WATER AND CHEMICALS, AND GOOD RECYCLABILITY. THAT IS WHY THIS LIGHTWEIGHT METAL IS OFTEN USED AS A MODERN CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL. Grupa Kęty S.A. is Poland’s most modern and fastest growing aluminum conglomerate in Europe. It is the parent company of a capital group, consisting of 15 companies, the Group, operating not only in Poland but also abroad, processing almost 83,000 tons of aluminum raw materials annually. With its products, the Group covers nearly 80% of all possible aluminum applications mainly in the areas of construction, communications and packaging industries. Since 2015, Grupa Kęty has been focused on the implementation of its Strategy 2020, aimed at continual growth and increase in profit margin. By 2020, Grupa Kęty plans to increase its sales by 54% and generate a total sales revenue of more than EUR 655 million. In order to achieve this, the Group implements a four-stage development strategy, which, in addition to systematic growth and sustainable development, automatically leads to greater margins, and involves a stable dividend policy, a solid foundation for future growth, and a high standard of company management. Grupa Kęty is not only a well-functioning conglomerate, but is also aware of its corporate responsibility, namely, high moral requirements for organizational culture, innovative solutions and social responsibility for its employees and the environment. w w w . d t e u r o p e . c o m
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Aluprof The aluminum giant Aluprof, the world’s leading manufacturer of aluminum systems for the construction industry is part of the segment that generates the highest sales revenue in the Group. Aluprof processes aluminum for use in window, door, curtain wall and roller shutter systems, which, in addition to high functionality and aesthetics, meet high safety requirements and have fire protection properties. Aluprof's portfolio includes bespoke solutions for passive houses. The company, which employs over 2,000 people, sells its products to almost all European countries. This leading aluminum systems designer has seen nearly 17% growth through large industrial projects such as the Brooklyn Navy Yard industrial park and Sky View Parc luxury condominiums in New York and Queens University in Belfast. However, the list doesn't end there: the wellknown Jazz Loft building with luxury suites in Budapest, sports stadiums in Warsaw, Wroclaw and Gdansk – all use the systems manufactured by this ambitious aluminum specialist. With the efficient management of the company, Aluprof will be able to achieve 37% of increase in revenue by 2020 which is a revenue of nearly EUR 225 million euros.
Hungarian market, where communication with architects, decisionmakers and business partners in the construction industry has been intensified and expanded since 2006. According to Tomasz Grela, the CEO of Aluprof, the market leader focuses on specific skills. "We pride ourselves on independent and flexible production, bespoke solutions, and on our vast experience in the manufacture of aluminum systems. Aluprof is an important member of Grupa Kęty and our goal is to further grow global exports to the benefit of the entire capital group. Our Strategy 2020, implemented throughout Grupa Kęty, is a great incentive and a challenge for us. Particularly in Hungary, we continue to see enormous potential for our company – a potential that we can increasingly use with our local employees and partners."
Targeting the Hungarian market The efforts of Aluprof which, apart from its Polish HQ, has seven branches in Europe and overseas, will be geared specifically to the
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Aluprof - Hungary Kft TEL.: +36 27 542 600 E-MAIL: aluprof@aluprof.hu
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polish focus
Teaching the language As mentioned earlier, the Polish Institute plays an important role in teaching the Polish language in Hungary. “In the afternoons from Monday to Thursday, we hold Polish courses at the Institute from beginner to advanced level. It is a great pleasure for us to have about 150 people learning here. There are Polish philological departments, but, I believe, we are actually filling a gap as our students are mostly adults who are studying Polish for professional or family reasons. However, many people want to learn our language purely for having a comradery for the Poles. Our excellent teachers provide the highest level of education and friendly, loving atmosphere during the lessons. We work closely with Polonists teaching at Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter Catholic University and University of Debrecen, supporting them in their work of popularizing Polish language, literature and – in a broader sense – Polish culture,” the Director highlights.
Regional cooperation One of the current exhibitions at the Polish Institute is ‘New Visegrad Photography’. Speaking of cooperation with the fellow organizations of the V4 countries, the director is of the view that “our relationship with Hungary’s Balassi Institute, the Slovak Institute and the Czech Center is excellent. From the perspective of the Polish Institute in Budapest, I see that our cooperation is based on mutual sympathy and respect. I am very pleased that the solidarity that has always characterized the Hungarian-Polish relationship is currently present in the entire Visegrád Group. We have a number of joint projects that allow us to contribute not only to the development of our own countries but also to the spiritual growth of the entire Central European region. This year, we actively participated in the programs organized under the Hungarian Presidency of the V4, for which we would like to congratulate our Hungarian friends on programs that were extremely colorful and fascinating. We were very pleased with all inquiries and we are still open to the vigorous cooperation with the Visegrád Group, of course we are also launching joint projects.”
DRAWING ON A RICH TRADITION POLISH INSTITUTE PRESENTS A RICH, COLORFUL AND VERSATILE PICTURE OF TODAY'S POLAND
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Presenting a rich picture The Director points out that “we try to combine meritorious, fascinating content with an attractive, imaginative form. In order to achieve this, we organize many multidisciplinary events that combine elements of literature, film, music and fine art. Next year, our Platán gallery will be 20 year old, and for that occasion, we will prepare several large-scale exhibitions. Our Polish film festival also has a nice jubilee. In 2019, the Polish Film Spring will be held for the 25th time, presenting the masterpieces of Polish filmmakers to Hungarian audiences. Polish music is popular in Hungary, especially jazz, therefore, we have many concerts. Polish design is of great interest, too, so Polish designers are often present in our programs. In addition, we initiate international science conferences that provide an important forum for exchanging views and experiences on vital issues affecting our nations. In summary, the Polish Institute is dedicated to presenting a rich, colorful and versatile picture of
today's Poland, with special regard to the most outstanding achievements of Polish intellectual, cultural, scientific and social life.”
Polish-Hungarian friendship The Institute’s website states that "the history, destiny and operation of the Polish Institute in Budapest is tangible proof of the much-mentioned Polish-Hungarian friendship that has been able to stand the test of time." In reaction to that, Joanna Urbańska highlights that “at this special time, when we celebrate the centenary of regaining our independence and statehood, we cannot mention it enough times that Hungarians have always supported us in our freedom struggles. Our thousand-year-old friendship is based on our common fate and values, and it is well reflected in our activity. We strive to include a Hungarian aspect in basically all of our projects, an element that helps us to understand each other and to get to know each other. As a result, the phrase ‘Pole and Hungarian, two good friends’ does not become empty, but replenishes the current content for successive generations. Our goal is to attract young people to get interested in Poland, therefore, we use modern, creative, unorthodox tools and new technologies to popularize our country. We are drawing on a rich tradition because our past is very inspirational, but we use modern methods in our diverse activities so that Hungarian-Polish relations are getting closer and more intense today and in the future.”
Locations and partners The building of the Polish Institute itself is not the only venue for the dissemination of culture. According to Joanna Urbańska, “it would be difficult to list all the locations where we propagate the Polish culture, because we have countless Hungarian partners. We work closely with Budapest and rural universities, museums, galleries, cinemas, concert halls, theaters, various cultural, scientific and research institutes and civil organizations. We are delighted with every guest who visits us, but we are also stepping out from our headquarters to reach the audience. For this purpose, we are organizing outdoor events. For example, in August this year, we set up a live-action battle reconstruction in a Budapest street on the occasion of the 74th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising.” She stresses that staff at the Institute are very pleased to receive positive feedback from the audience. “This motivates us even more to enrich our guests with beautiful, constructive, inspirational experiences through our programs. The audience's satisfaction reaffirms that we perform our tasks well, contributing to the wellbeing of Poland's reputation.” N O V E M B E R
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As she notes, the staff of the Polish Institute are “very grateful that countless well-known Hungarian institutions wish to remember with us the regaining of Poland's independence 100 years ago, providing facilities and other support to celebrate this great jubilee.”
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The Polish Institute in Budapest will be 80 years old in half a year’s time. As the Director, Joanna Urbańska tells Diplomacy&Trade, “the Polish Institute in Budapest opened its doors on May 24, 1939 and has since played a very important role in popularizing Polish culture, history and language. For eight decades, it had different aspects to its mission, depending on the political circumstances. Among the merits of the Institute, undoubtedly the most prominent, was the assistance to Polish refugees during the Second World War, as it was the only functioning Polish institution in Europe (what is more, it operated in the territory of a country allied with Germany). Despite protests from Nazi Germany, the Hungarian authorities supported its versatile activities, enabling it to operate until the start of the German occupation of Hungary (March 19, 1944). As far as the institute’s activities during the Communist regime are concerned, the popularity of Polish language courses could be regarded as a great success. Actually, we still have great results in language teaching, and our cultural events are also of great interest. However, we are most happy to see that our Institute successfully cultivates and strengthens Hungarian-Polish friendship.”
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INSPIRED BY NATURE SPECIAL VODKA FROM POLAND
Bison Grass is the most unique ingredient of this vodka, which is only obtained in the Bialowieza Forest (National Park), in Poland. This gives the spirit a special herbal aroma to achieve it’s signature taste, smell and light green colour. Each bottle contains a single blade of Bison Grass added by hand to make each individual bottle of Zubrówka special.
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polish focus WORKPLACE OF THE FUTURE
POLISH FURNITURE GROUP OFFERS COMFORT, EFFICIENCY AND SAFETY
By now, it has become clear that interaction and communication between employees is a
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Flexible Applying the principle of flexibility in offices helps using space efficiently, making the most out of available resources. A great example of this is the system of desk sharing, where employees do not have their own, dedicated workstations, instead, they can sit down and work at any of the commonly shared desks around the office, whenever they need to. This system takes advantage of the fact that most workers only spend roughly half of their working time sitting at their desks, and results in having fewer workstations, consequently using less space. It is also important to create separate areas for different types of tasks. While most of the individual work can be done at one of the shared desks, there is a need for highly isolated focus rooms, as well as zones for meetings and other social activities. Nowy Styl Group also offers solutions that can be rearranged overnight, serving a completely different purpose than the day before, without requiring additional space.
Smart
Manufacturing technologies
A smart office utilizes modern technology that streamlines the organization of space and supports workers in carrying out their duties comfortably. Nowy Styl Group can provide systems that monitor the occupation and activity in different areas, making it possible to fine-tune their arrangements for maximum efficiency of space. The earlier mentioned desk sharing can be made simpler with a digital booking system, which allows workers to freely pick and book a workstation, using a special kiosk or a smartphone. The furniture in the office can also be smart. Thanks to advanced design, the company offers chairs with modern and ergonomic self-weighing mechanisms, and desks with electric height adjustment. These solutions help employees intuitively maintain the right body posture while working, greatly benefiting their health and work efficiency.
Nowy Styl Group’s manufacturing is based on state-of-the-art production and IT technologies that ensure a high standard of quality. With a large production area totaling 230,000 m2 divided among 16 production facilities in six different countries, the company is autonomous and effective. Nowy Styl Group has its own Research and Development Center and a modern, largely digitally controlled machine park for wood, metal and synthetic material processing. This is how nearly all the components necessary for the production of furniture come into being in partner companies belonging to the organization. The company values the individual needs of customers, so while working on quality they are also optimizing costs. They achieve that goal thanks to their experience, innovative solutions and continuous development.
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Quiet and social
significant part of everyday work. The best and most innovative ideas come to life when people are working together. Therefore, it is important that the office is designed in a way that encourages employees to do so. For this purpose, Nowy Styl Group offers a variety of soft seating products, which can be used for creating social, informal meeting areas in offices. However, focused individual work is just as important as working together with others, and the noise generated by social activities can be quite disturbing while trying to concentrate. The company’s solutions for this issue are proper office zoning, and making use of products with acoustic features that can isolate different areas from each other.
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Nowy Styl Group – operating since 1992 – is one of the largest and fastest developing furniture groups in the world. The company says it aims at facing its clients’ various needs all over the globe. To meet these various tastes and needs of clients all over the world, their portfolio consists of seven product brands: Nowy Styl, BN Office Solution, Grammer Office, Rohde & Grahl, Sitag, Forum Seating and Stylis. This allows them to offer a wide range of products for offices, cultural, stadium and hotel facilities – adjusted to the needs and expectations of clients. The range of office solutions it offers is presented in 28 showrooms located in Warsaw, London, Paris, Düsseldorf, Munich, Prague, Moscow, Szentendre (north of Budapest) and other locations. It is planning to open a new showroom in Budapest soon. The Hungarian member of the Nowy Styl Group, Telmex - Nowy Styl CC. is proficient in the design and supply of office furniture for all sorts of needs. The main focus is on providing complete customer service that includes consultation, planning and design needs, delivery, installation and after-sales service, with consideration for the organization of the office, ergonomics, space optimization and costs. The complex solutions offered create unlimited arrangement possibilities, taking into consideration the specificity of the space, and also the clients’ expectations. When creating office spaces, the company is very innovative, taking global trends into consideration and implementing them in the office design. Nowy Styl Group believes that a modern office should possess the following characteristics: quiet, social, flexible and smart.
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polish focus
POLISHING GASTRONOMY TRENDS A WELL-RECEIVED EIGHT COURSE POLISH MEAL COMPLETE WITH HUNGARIAN WINES
Polish-Hungarian cooperation at the annual Gourmet Festival in Budapest proves that Central-Eastern Europe has what it takes to be a food tourism destination. Evolution and revolution
“How Poles catch on the Zeitgeist of the culinary industry, is truly remarkable,” notes chef and culinary expert Tamás Pellérdi, Commercial Director of Eastore Ltd., a company that distributes excellent Hungarian food and ingredients such as mangalitza and goose liver abroad. An enthusiastic fan of both Polish and Hungarian cuisine, Pellérdi – or ‘Mr Foie Gras’ as he is referred to in Warsaw where he resides – often acts as a propeller to encourage gastronomy-related cooperation and activities, so his presence was more than natural at Budapest’s Gourmet Festival, which this year chose to focus, for one night, on Polish cuisine. “Organizers invited the chefs of all Warsaw-based restaurants that possess Bib Gourmand-recommendations, to cook together and co-host a dinner party where an eight-course menu was served, accompanied by a selection of Hungarian wines,” Pellérdi explains, adding that introducing modern Polish cuisine to the Hungarian public is not a novelty in the Gourmet fest’s programs. “Two years ago, Mateusz Wichrowski, the chef of Brasserie Warszawska, was a special guest of the Gourmet Festival, arriving on the invitation of the Polish Institute Budapest and the Polish Embassy Budapest. I suggested that he should present a cooking show with a Hungarian chef, namely Bocuse d'Or Hungary winner Ádám Pohner. Their ‘Dwa bratanki’ (Two Good Friends) show was very popular. In 2017, chef Wojciech Amaro was invited to the fest, representing his restaurant Atelier Amaro, which was the first restaurant in Poland to win a Michelin Star. This year, organizers wanted to present Bib Gourmand places and contacted Polish restaurateur Daniel Pawełek, who, via his Ferment Group, owns five restaurants and wine bars in Warsaw, of which three have received the Bib Gourmand recognition: Brasserie Warszawska, Butchery & Wine, and Kieliszki na Próznej. Pawełek asked to make it four, to feature all Bib Gourmand restaurants from Warsaw, and so Alewino was invited, too.”
According to Pellérdi, the Polish restaurant scene is relatively young, but it has the dynamics to develop and it is likely to become recognized worldwide. “The country undoubtedly has the foundation to be regarded as a serious performer internationally with everything from street food and gourmet markets to fine dining restaurants,” he says. “The Poles' connection with nature is undeniable. They often go to the woods to pick mushrooms and collect herbs and berries, the tradition of pickling (fermenting) vegetables also has a long tradition in the country. Chefs today tend to recreate long-forgotten recipes and mingle modern cooking techniques with traditional elements,” Pellérdi continues, highlighting how blessed Poland is when it comes to finding the best ingredients: unlike restaurants in Budapest, an F&B manager in Warsaw can easily order and receive fresh fish every morning from the sea and fresh cheese from the mountains. “Another difference, as I see it, is that Polish restaurants are less dependent on tourists, and are mainly full of with residents in Warsaw. On the other hand, Budapest has more Michelin stars. I try to grasp every opportunity to popularize Hungarian gastronomy in Poland and vice versa, and I believe that there’s a lot to learn from each other. I wish for as many collaborations as possible, similar to these recent festivals and expos,” Pellérdi says, concluding, “It is unusual that, in a world of global tensions and conflict, two countries that do not even share a border would maintain such good relations and that their historical friendship would remain intact even during extreme political conditions, since the Middle Ages. I say we should make the most of this friendship, gastronomy-wise. The world should know that there is a culinary revolution going on in Central Europe.”
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The European Academy of Gastronomy (an organization established in 1983 which is based in France and cooperates, among others, with the UN and the EU) has recently awarded Krakow with the prestigious title ‘European Capital of Gastronomy Culture.’ Krakow’s restaurants are the only restaurants outside Warsaw that hold Michelin guide’s distinctions – there are 26 such places at this time. Twice as many Krakow’s places were honored by Gaullt et Millau, while 8 were recommended by Slow Food Poland. The city has prepared its own schedule of culinary events for 2019, including a Gastronomy Congress for specialists and lovers of fine cuisine, and a meeting for Krakow-based chefs and celebrity chefs from around the world. Via the innovative 'Virtual cooking', people will be able to follow multiple chefs cooking online, in their restaurants, live. New projects will also be developed related to the cuisine of the royal court, the bourgeoisie and the academia of Krakow. Krakow’s culinary heritage has included street food – ever since the Middle Ages, when simple food was offered to townsmen, merchants and students from portable stalls.
HARANGOZÓ, DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM
EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF GASTRONOMY CULTURE
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business
THE PURPOSE OF BUSINESS
RESPONSIBILITY TO SHAREHOLDERS AND CUSTOMERS ALIKE Invited by the Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary (BCSDH) to deliver a lecture at the organization’s annual business lunch this October, Doreswamy Nandkishore (‘Nandu’), former Executive Vice President for Nestlé SA and current Executive Fellow of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at the London Business School, pointed out that there is a need for innovation and new business models, but sustainable value creation should still be the focus. thing to understand is that if people want a company to perform the tasks required by the shareholders, that company needs to stay alive. There are many economists who share the view that overall, we are using resources at a pace that is unsustainable: whether it is food, energy, water, etc. The situation is reaching the point where it just cannot be sustained.”
New set of expectations He highlighted that “it is also an interesting trend that, in fact, it is consumers all over the world, not restricted to the United States, who are forcing companies and retailers to change – by making choices. If you take food, for instance, people tend to favor local produce, they tend to favor organic, authentic, artisan products – their choices will eventually start to create an economic rationale. In this way, a move from the consumer side can fundamentally force the market to change by creating a completely new set of expectations. So, the first responsibility is to make sure that the company stays alive, while the second is to make sure your consumers value you in order to make sure that the environment stays sustainable for business.”
in a sustainable way. This whole culture of using resources without caring for the end of life of the products themselves is something relatively recent, 30-40 years old. So, the notion of the circular economy is in a way going back to the principles of what was practiced many, many decades ago, a practice that used to be followed by farmers in Hungary because at that time it was the economic rationale.”
A journey of sustainability
FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
An introduction to the two-point recommendation for the business sector showing the way to promote sustainable lifestyles was presented at the business lunch of the Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary. The organization, which embraces 82 member companies that contribute approximately 30% of Hungary’s GDP, presented the ‘For a Sustainable Future Prize’ for the second time in three categories. The winners are as follows: CHANGE LEADER: Ferenc Molnár (Ilcsi Szépítő Füvek) LEADING WOMEN: Zdravka Demeter Bubalo (MOL), Anita Urbán (Grundfos) and Barbara Verő (Nestlé) BUSINESS SOLUTIONS: Biofilter (‘Circular approach in digital switchover’ digital office program), Heineken (‘Plastic-free movement in May’ compostable cup program) and MOL (‘MOL Limo, the future of driving’ carsharing program). “According to a report by the United Nations, we only have 12 years left to stop climate change and step onto a path of sustainability. For this to happen, it is essential that sustainable lifestyles become more general. In promoting their commitment, companies have a clear role and responsibility. Fortunately, the commitment of companies to this goal is increasing both globally and on the domestic level, too," BCSDH President Attila Chikán Jr. said in a speech that also introduced the two-point recommendation, which was put together by BCSDH and the leaders of its member companies to help the business sector take the steps necessary for promoting the commitment to sustainable lifestyles. BCSDH’s recommendations to the business sector for promoting sustainable lifestyles are: (1) change business models to make sustainable products and services competitive and (2) shift consumer demand towards sustainability through brands. Over 80 senior executives, civil and scientific experts took part in the preparation and wording of the recommendation. As a result, solutions for both the business sector and its stakeholders have been identified that can positively impact the sustainable lifestyles.
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“During my lecture, I invite the audience to go on a journey with me – a journey to explore sustainability from the principal agent model (rational choice) and move on to a sustainability model. I also talk about what the pros and cons of each of these models are and why you need to move from one to the other. There is a popular perception – and even expectation – from journalists as well as from the majority of consumers that corporations should act like social enterprises or charity enterprises. In this lecture, I try to get people to understand how you can bridge the two models. Starting from the first responsibility, which is staying alive, and then creating profit for your shareholder, and then expanding the second responsibility to the consumer.
Ancient model When asked about the circular economy as a model of corporate sustainability, Doreswamy Nandkishore pointed out that the idea of circular economy is not new – nature has been using this model for millions of years. “If you go back in the history of your own society in Hungary, even just 30-40 years, you can find people using this model. A hundred years ago, people were producing things N O V E M B E R
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Sustainability in CSR Companies often include their contribution to sustainability in their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs. More and more of them realize that the best way is to coordinate these efforts in order to achieve results on a bigger scale. As the sustainability expert pointed out, “stuff like this is already happening. We have The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) coordinating several such efforts, the World Economic Forum coordinating several projects some of which I have chaired myself. There is the Grow Africa Investment Forum or the Grow Asia Forum, for instance, that promote agriculture and productivity and there is also a program for the sustainability of farming in the Middle East. When it comes to companies, as I pointed out before, they are not charities. We need to understand that companies are businesses and their contributions to society – and responsibilities to society – have to be built on their business, they cannot be directly opposed to the direction of their particular activity. Therefore, if a company specializes in education, that company will make contributions in that area because that is where it has expertise. If a company is heavily integrated into agriculture, then its CSR contribution best be on area of agricultural practice. Companies need to extend their footprint based on their competence. However, the understanding should always be there of the two responsibilities and neither one can survive without the other.”
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Doreswamy Nandkishore has long been actively involved in sustainability, using the expertise and experience he gathered in the corporate world to help guide companies through today’s fast changing world. Talking to Diplomacy&Trade about the place of sustainability in this ‘fast changing world’, he reiterated that “the expected life of Fortune 500 companies has declined from 90 years in 1920 to only 15 today. So, there is a dramatic impact of technological change and innovation as well as a new business model affecting the life of companies. Therefore, the first
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society
Olympic Anniversary The Mexican Ambassador to Hungary, David Nájera welcomed a delegation of former Hungarian Olympic athletes to his residence in the Buda Hills for a reception to celebrate with them the 50th Anniversary of the 19th Summer Olympic Games held in Mexico City in 1968.
Mahatma Gandhi 150 The Embassy of India in Budapest celebrated the 150th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi in October in Hungarian Parliament. Ambassador Rahul Chhabra reiterated the relevance of Mahatma Gandhi’s principles of truth and non-violence in the present world. As part of the celebration, the front of the Royal Palace was lit in the colors of the Indian national flag: deep saffron, white and green.
Book on Style
Four new ambassadors accredited to Hungary presented their credentials to Hungarian President János Áder at the Sándor Palace in the Buda Castle this October (pictured from left to right): Abdallah Saleh Possi from the United Republic of Tanzania; Tomislav Leko from Bosnia and Herzegovina; Anthony Mukwita the Republic of Zambia and Kristi Karelsohn from the Republic of Estonia.
Korea National Day The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Hungary, Choe Kyoo-Sik held a reception for fellow diplomats, Korean nationals in Hungary and honored guests in the Ballroom of the Budapest Marriott Hotel in celebration of the National Day and that of the Armed Forces Day of his country.
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New Ambassadors
EMBASSY OF INDIA, DÁVID HARANGOZÓ, TIBOR ILLYÉS/MTI
Simon Skottowe Bespoke Tailors Ltd. hosted the presentation in Hungary of the publication ‘Gentleman Lookbook’ by one of the world’s leading style writers, German author Bernhard Roetzel.
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society
Día de la Hispanidad The Ambassador of Colombia in Hungary, Ana Piedad Jaramillo entertained guests at her country’s embassy in Budapest to celebrate October 12, 1492, “an event that represents the first meeting between European explorers and Native Americans; a dialogue, confrontation and syncretism between the civilizations of Europe, of pre-Hispanic America and of black Africa,” she said.
Ambassadorial Book Presentation The new Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to Hungary, Anunciada Fernández de Córdova, in her capacity as an award-winning author, presented and signed two of her books in the Bestsellers Bookshop in downtown Budapest: a collection of poems entitled ‘Revelaciones’ (Revelations) and ‘El vuelo de los días’, described as “a book of journeys and of memories.”
The Day of German Unity The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Volkmar Wenzel held a reception this October in the event center ‘Pest Vigadó’ in downtown Budapest on the occasion of the Day of German Unity. The motto of the event was ‘28 years with the Berlin Wall and 28 years without it’.
Spanish National Day On the 526th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's first arrival in the Americas, her country’s national day, the new Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to Hungary, Anunciada Fernández de Córdova held a reception in the National Gallery in the Buda Castle where guests had the opportunity to taste special dishes of Spain.
HARANGOZÓ, GERMAN EMBASSY BUDAPEST, COURTESY PICTURES
Nigeria Independence Day The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Eniola Olaitan Ajayi hosted a reception in the Bellevue room of the Sofitel Hotel in Budapest on the 58th Independence Anniversary of her country with the theme of ‘Nigeria, a Land of Opportunities’.
photos by DÁVID
Austria National Day The Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to Hungary, Elizabeth Ellison-Kramer held a reception for fellow diplomats and other guests at her residence in Budapest to celebrate her country’s National Day. It was on October 26, 1955 that the Austrian Parliament passed the constitutional law on permanent neutrality.
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education
René of Anjou was born on January 16, 1409 in the castle of Angers. His lands and titles were extensive and, at one point, included ‘King of Hungary’.
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FUTURE MAKERS ESSCA BUDAPEST CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY AT ITS BRAND NEW PREMISES
DID YOU KNOW? Key to Success
The logo of ESSCA is inspired by the coat of arms of the city of Angers: a vertical silver key referring to the position of the city close to the Breton border, in the 13th century when Angers became the ‘Key to the Kingdom’. On one side of the key, there is the wing of Hermes (God of Commerce).
and Shanghai. It has a prestigious place on the Financial Times’s list ranking the best management schools in the world,” the attaché noted, emphasizing the scholarships programs France offers to young Hungarian talents. The Hungarian State was represented at the event by Dr. Renáta Vanó, Head of the Higher Education Division of the Educational Authority, who warmly greeted guests and congratulated the leaders of ESSCA for its recent developments. Ágnes Ducrot, Director of the Hungarian-French Chamber of Commerce spoke highly
about the school’s alumni network of some 8,500 active individuals, who often gather and support each other. “With more than 2 million inhabitants and 10,000 international companies, the capital of Hungary’s influence spreads all over Central Europe, an area of sustained international growth. France is the third-largest investor in the country, and the best-performing French companies have offices in Hungary. It’s not uncommon to find ESSCA alumni among the employees of these firms, which are members of the chamber, like ESSCA Budapest itself,” she said. “Rapid changes N O V E M B E R
in the economic and business environment urge companies to look for employees who can develop and implement original strategies for sustainable performance. ESSCA meets this expectation: it educates managers and leaders, real ‘future makers’, who can perform in an international environment, and never forget about the human and social dimensions of our globalized world.” Following the speeches, a ribboncutting ceremony took place in the hallway. It was followed by a mini gala event where fine French delicacies and beverages awaited guests. 2 0 1 8
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Established in 1909 by the Catholic University of the West, ESSCA School of Management is a ‘grande école’, specializing in business, offering a wide portfolio of programs and degrees in management. In 2017, the school that is already armed with AACSB, EPAS and EQUIS accreditations obtained the prestigious AMBA (Association of MBAs) quality label, which is one of the bestestablished accreditations in higher management education. Selecting the best students from France, the rest of Europe and beyond, ESSCA welcomes up to 4,000 students each year. Speaking on the selection process, Dr. Leblanc reveals that out of over 5,000 candidates who take the competitive entrance examination for the MA in Management program, no more than 850 are admitted into the 1st year. On the other hand, once a student has managed to get in, the school does everything to bring out and foster his or her entrepreneurial talents. This is achieved via a strong student mentoring system and respect for the traditional humanist values on which the school was founded. On all campuses, a rich and dynamic community life exists with at least 70 associations in the most different genres. Creative MOOC boxes, interactive classes and classrooms are in use on the campuses, such as the high-tech PECT room, function in the service of innovation, creating a stimulating learning environment. As education is focused on the corporate world from the very first year, (with practical and academic studies kept in balance, lectures held by visiting CEOs and learning expeditions to places such as the Silicon Valley), the alumni integrates into the workforce very quickly. According to Dr. Leblanc, 90% of the students find their first position in less than three months following graduation, or even before, with 93 % joining the company of their choice. At ESSCA Hungary, a real international environment is created by the students who come either from the French sites of ESSCA or from any of the school’s 279 partner universities in 55 countries. All student mobility with partner universities is on an exchange basis and that incoming international students have the choice of studying in French or in English. Thanks to a mandatory international semester – study or internship – during the 2nd year and the possibility of further study at the Master’s level, all ESSCA students are given the opportunity to develop their language and intercultural skills, while gaining credits for transfer to their ESSCA degree.
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JEAN-YVES BARDIN, DÁVID HARANGOZÓ, NICOLAS FROMENT
The French Connection
About ESSCA
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“An important representative of both French-Hungarian economic relations and French business education worldwide, ESSCA School of Management opened its Budapest campus in 1993. At that time, we had 41 students and only two classrooms,” recalls Dr. Zsuzsa Deli-Gray (pictured right), Director of ESSCA in Budapest, in her speech at the official opening of the new site, held on October 5 in front of nearly a hundred enthusiastic guests. “As the number of our students started to grow, we needed more and more space, of course, and so we moved, several times, finally landing at Czuczor Street 6. Even within this building, we continued to expand, and to our four-classroom ‘starter kit’ on the second floor, we soon added a few more rooms on the first floor, covering 888 square meters in total. Which again, felt too small by the end of 2017. Lucky, we did not have to move to another building this time, only to the fifth floor. Construction on the 1,367 square meter new premises began in May and was completed on August 13,” she revealed. “This inauguration is another milestone in the life of the Budapest campus, which this year celebrates its 25th anniversary,” noted Catherine Leblanc (pictured left), General Director and Dean of ESSCA School of Management, adding that moving to the fifth floor which boasts a wonderful panorama of Budapest has a symbolic meaning, for its upper level position that provides new perspectives. The dean highlighted the longstanding and effective collaboration ESSCA Budapest nurtures with the French Institute and the French Embassy in Budapest, calling upon Hugues Denisot, Attaché of Educational and Linguistic Cooperation to speak. “With its six campuses in Angers, Paris, Aix-enProvence, Bordeaux, Cholet and Lyon, ESSCA is considered a leading university in France, but also abroad, with its presence in Budapest
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witty leaks
WITTY
IN THIS SERIES, DIPLOMATS SHARE PERSONAL ACCOUNTS OF THEIR EXPERIENCES ON “EXCURSIONS” into Hungarian culture, art, gastronomy & scenery.
LE A K S
I WISH I HAD A TIME MACHINE!
BUDAPEST RECOLLECTIONS AFTER THREE (AND SIX) DECADES BY ARIAN SPASSE, THE AMBASSADOR OF ALBANIA
July 1988
The small battery-operated radio couldn’t receive anything other than the Hungarian stations. He had relied on it so much to ease his loneliness. At Üllői Street, he turned right again and immediately noticed the Museum of Applied Arts with its green tile roof. The old man stopped for a while, trying to enjoy the architecture. But couldn’t. He felt like he was an alien to this city and he was. And penniless. The departure from Tirana had been very hasty. No time, at all, to fill out forms and exchange some ’Lek’ at the Central Bank. At the airport they drove him by ambulance directly to the hospital. For the first time in ten days, he decided to get out, and now he was walking, looking around, peering into shop windows, rubbing the few ‘Lek’ in his pockets, and walking further. That part of the city was nice – clean streets, lots of green, different architectural styles like baroque, art nouveau and, of course, socialist classicism. People were quiet, dressed simply and there was peace on the streets, at the time disturbed only by the trams passing by. His pace slowed down. His breathing grew heavier and he decided to go back to the hospital.
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COURTESY OF THE EMBASSY OF ALBANIA
It was late afternoon. An old man, with long, curly, grey hair, in a long sleeve shirt and dark brown pants, diffidently crossed the gates of the Urology Hospital in Budapest (today’s Semmelweis University Hospital). After looking to his left and to his right, he entered Mária Street, heading towards Baross Street. He, unfortunately, didn’t notice the famous Paul Street and its Boys Ground. On Baross Street, he turned right and then again right at József Avenue. He was walking slowly, quietly, as if baring the weight of his years and illness on his shoulders. Thanks to a bilateral agreement between Albania and Hungary, he was being treated in Budapest for several days. Never had he felt so lonely, so alien. A beloved writer in his own country, he was greeted on the streets by people known and unknown to him. His knowledge of several languages didn’t help him, at all, to cross the language barrier in Budapest with other patients and nurses. Gestures, also, couldn’t help. All his adult life was bound to speech, written and spoken. Days were long and nights even longer.
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That was the end of his Budapest tour in 1988. Back home, his family and friends used to ask him “what did Budapest look like?” and the old man had described to them the Budapest of 1958, when he had the chance to visit the city properly and…when he was much younger.
October 2018 This old man was my grandfather, Sterjo Spasse. I was 17 at the time and many of his stories, including those related to the Budapest of 1988 (or 1958), were stored somewhere in my brain cells. Who would have thought that almost 30 years later, (or 60 years referring to his visit in 1958) his grandson would be the Ambassador of Albania to Hungary?! As a man of speech, he used to write down everything, though he didn’t have a PC at the time. Before arriving to Budapest, my father looked for my grandfather’s Budapest letters in the family archive and gave them to me. I came to Budapest in the middle of March 2016. It was love at first sight. Simply beautiful, especially at night, vibrant, mysterious, with Baroque, Art Nouveau, and Art Deco architecture. It is a city that breathes 24/7.
Nowadays, I have the chance to spend a lot of my time in two remarkable places. My office has a magnificent view of Hero Square and from the windows one can admire the Millennium complex with the seven chieftains and other important Hungarian heroes, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Hall of Art. A little further, behind the Millennium Monument, at one o’clock, as military people say, you will find the City Park Ice Rink and the Vajdahunyad Castle. Across from the park there are the Széchenyi thermal baths. Sometimes with colleagues from Tirana, or by myself, I walk in the paths surrounding the castle. It’s a good place to go when you need to think and restore your energy. Andrássy Avenue, another landmark of the city, with its unique underground, connects Hero Square with Deák Ferenc Square. During Christmas time, it turns into a shiny gem inviting people, locals and tourists alike, to enjoy the atmosphere and the food in its many fancy restaurants. Last year, we took the opportunity to move to a small and cozy apartment located on Stollár Béla Street, in District V. It turned out to be a very good decision. The Parliament building is there and Margaret Island is five minutes away walking distance. Our windows look on Olimpia Park, the Danube River, and the Buda side of the city. The Fisherman Bastion and Matthias Church are on the left hand side of this panorama, then Batthyány Square, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade just in front of us and Margaret Bridge on the right hand side. A little further, on top of János Hill, there is the Neo-Romanesque Elizabeth Lookout Tower. It is a gorgeous construction that looks like a shrine. Many times, with my wife, Elda, I walk in the evening following a path that goes towards Széchenyi Bridge, then on the Buda side towards Margaret Bridge and then back home making a circle. We always stop for a while in the middle of Margaret Bridge to enjoy the view. The Danube flows quiet. Hundreds of photo flashes sparkle on the tourist boats that come and go underneath. Citadel on Gellért Hill, the Hungarian National Gallery, the Fisherman Bastion, the Parliament building and Széchenyi Bridge are there, all together, in front of you, in a magnificent composition, perfectly shaped by the decorative lighting. For several days a month, you can add to this picture a shining moon in all its phases. Sometimes, on top of the Parliament, and sometimes, on top of the National Gallery. Quite a view! It was in one of these stops that I expressed a wish, although, I knew that chances of it coming true were very close to zero. But, after watching 'Back to the future’ you never know! So, I wished I had a time machine, to drive back in time, pick up my grandfather in 1988 and take him to 2018. And there, in the middle of Margaret Bridge, enjoy the view with him, and, of course, chat with him. A lot. I am not sure whether I would ever take him back. Wishing and dreaming don’t cost money, so, I keep making that wish every time I cross Budapest’s Margit híd.
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style handmade clothes in particular. I studied shop windows when I went on holiday to London and other places and I walked into workshops to watch people working. In the 1970s, when I was a child, people still mended clothes, little girls made clothes for their dolls, some mothers still made dresses, so, people knew how clothes were made and had respect for this. Nowadays, people just think that T-shirts come from a machine and they have no idea how it is made; they don't know how to judge the quality of clothes. I have always been interested in how clothes are made; I’ve never seen them as a status symbol or as luxury but mainly as a result of craft. Of course, I realize that in most people’s eyes, tailoring is usually associated with fairly expensive clothes,” he adds.
even in an urban environment. I do not expect people to dress like people did in the 1950s, you cannot turn back time but I think it is good to remember that from a certain age on, it is nice to be maybe a bit discrete in your appearance and not show too much skin,” he stresses.
Fashionable – comfortable Commenting on whether fashionable is also comfortable, Bernhard Roetzel says it is a question of how comfort is defined. “The most comfortable, in the physical sense of the word, is when you are wearing your pajamas and not a suit in bed – or being naked in the shower, for that matter. So, comfort is not the main criteria in fashion unless you are alone. Humans are social beings and therefore, there are occasions when you need to watch what you're wearing.” Describing his own outfit worn at the interview, he says that “I got up at 5 o’clock in the morning, I left my home at 6, then travelled by train and plane. I feel completely comfortable in these clothes because as I am wearing a very soft flannel suit, my shirt is also comfortable. The shoes, although, they look very smart, are actually just as comfortable as my running shoes because they fit well.” He highlights that “if you go to a tailor and you just say ‘Dark suit, please!’, they will choose something for you and you will feel absolutely comfortable when going to an event because you can be sure that you look good. However, if you go to a ready-to-wear shop, you cannot really rely on the opinion of the salesperson there because they are primarily interested in selling what they have in stock. A tailor is like a car mechanic or a doctor, he knows his job.” Bernhard Roetzel points out in his books that “the more you know about clothes the more comfortable you are going to feel in them. If you go to a wine shop or a bookstore and you don't really know what you want, you are lost. Clothes are not rocket science but people just usually don't know much about them. I have noticed that the more men – not women! – know about something, the more they enjoy it."
German fashion is modern German designers are gaining more and more prominence on the European design market. Bernhard Roetzel points out that German fashion has played a great role in Europe since the 1970s. “However, it was in hidden from the public mind because when people think of Germany they think of cars, machinery and modern insulated windows – all kinds of technology rather than clothes. The funny thing is that some of the most influential sports brands are German, like Adidas.” He believes that if German fashion companies are successful, it is because they are modern. “The English have this great tradition in fashion while the Germans had to focus on the future after World War II, after everything was destroyed and there was no great past to look back on. Today, people in Germany love everything that is new, so, the best German fashion is very modern.
A picture book for inspiration
“Basically, what interested me in clothes and fashion from an early age was the childish fun of dressing up and disguising oneself. This is something that most grown-ups enjoy, too, even if some do not realize it. It is the power of clothes. When children play, they put on a piece of cloth and say ‘Now, I’m a princess’ or ‘Now, I’m a knight’ or they take a towel, put it
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on their back to ‘turn into’ Superman and ‘can fly’. Then, when people grow up, they usually forget about this power of clothes, not considering it important,” German fashion author Bernhard Roetzel recalls to Diplomacy&Trade how he became fascinated with the world of clothes in his youth. “I realized early how important clothes were and, as a student, I became interested in
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BERNHARD ROETZEL’S NEW BOOK TO INSPIRE MEN TO WEAR TAILORED ITEMS
Style dictatorship The author believes that, in most societies, there is no such thing as style dictatorship. “Prior to World War I, we had royal courts setting the trend for what people were supposed to wear. Then, with most of the royal houses abolished, there were a lot of actors, mainly film stars, and aristocrats in this role. Nowadays, many people think that we are manipulated by social media but I do not agree. Probably, the style dictator is the idea of comfort and the reluctance to make the slightest bit of effort because that would be too much for most people. My advice to people is this: always wear a shirt even if you are wearing jeans. Jeans will look better with a shirt than with a T-shirt. People make an effort for so many things and that should include pressing their shirt, having their suit dry cleaned and cleaning their shoes sometimes. I think the greatest style dictator nowadays is convenience.”
photo by
THE POWER OF CLOTHES
Bernhard Roetzel was in Budapest this October at Simon Skottowe Bespoke Tailors for the presentation of his new book ‘Gentleman Lookbook’. “My first book was called ‘Gentleman’. It was published in 1999 but it is still selling in slightly modified editions. All in all, I have written 15 books since then but some were published in Germany only. I have also written hundreds of newspaper articles before starting to write for Internet sites. This ‘Gentleman Lookbook’ is centered on images as if it was on Instagram, containing relevant information for those interested in men’s fashion. It is something people can look to for inspiration. Why a picture book? ‘A picture is worth a thousand words’. This is not something I would agree with as a writer because – as I mention it in the foreword – a thousand words can say a lot. However, this way, it is easier to show what I want to present. People can look at the picture and begin to imagine what they themselves would look like in those clothes. The other idea of this book was that it does not only depict me on the pictures but also people with completely different figures. Some men look great in a T-shirt and jeans but not everybody has the figure for them. Nowadays, in the summer, you can walk around in shorts, a T-shirt and flip-flops
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culture
16TH FESTIVAL OF ANIMATED FILMS IN BUDAPEST
ANILOGUE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL BRINGS A PACKED PROGRAM TO TOWN
photos by ANILOGUE
INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION FESTIVAL
The most anticipated animation event of Budapest, the annual Anilogue International Animation Festival illuminates the screens of Budapest cinemas on November 28-December 2. To be opened by French film director and storyboard artist Michel Ocelot (best known for his 1998 début feature Kirikou and the Sorceress), the festival will deliver 300 new animations from around the world and ten animated feature films, including
the latest movie of Japanese film director and animator Mamoru Hosoda, titled ‘Mirai’, the five festival days will also feature the premiere of the French ‘Dilili à Paris’ which is a story of an investigation taking place in Paris, during the ‘Belle Epoque’ era. Another premiere is Milorad Krstic’s ‘Ruben Brandt, Collector’, which introduces a psychotherapist who suffers violent nightmares inspired by legendary works of art. The festival’s guest countries this year are those bordering the
The Residential Villa is a historical building, which was built in the 19th century and was a property of an aristocratic family. The real estate is located in Buda’s elegant XIIth district. We offer full financing possibility. We offer full planning for residency and embassy, taking into account the needs of embassies, with complete architectural construcion.
Adriatic Sea: Croatia, Italy and Slovenia. Screening locations include the Uránia Film Theater, the French Institute, the Polish Institute and the meeting place Három Holló (Three Ravens). Outside the cinema halls, the most inspired members of the festival public will enjoy the workshops, roundtables and exhibitions brought to Budapest by numerous international guests. For the complete list of films screened during the fest, and more details, visit the Diplomacy-n-Trade.ai 1 2017. 02. 27. 11:22:30 festival’s website: www.anilogue.com
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Contact person: Ms. Sylvia Takács Mobile: + 36 30 200 3410 E-mail: sylvia@ssgartdesign.com Web: www.ssgartdesign.com w w w . d t e u r o p e . c o m
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WALKING WITH THE DINOSAURS - THE ARENA SPECTACULAR
photos by
APRIL 19, 20 AND 21, 2019 PAPP LÁSZLÓ BUDAPEST SPORTARÉNA Seen by over 9 million people in more than 250 cities around the world, WALKING WITH DINOSAURS - The Arena Spectacular has arrived to Hungary. Be amazed and thrilled as the greatest creatures ever to walk the Earth return before your eyes. The dazzling USD 20 million production features new, state of the art technology, making this the biggest and best dinosaur show in the world. Internationally renowned designers have worked with scientists to create 18 life-size creatures, including the Stegosaurus, Raptors, and the terrifying Tyrannosaurus-rex! Marvel at the story of their 200-millionyear reign on earth, as the continents split and the show transitions from the Triassic to Jurassic eras. Watch them walk, hear them roar, and see their fight for survival and supremacy depicted in almost cinematic realism in front of you. Walking with the Dinosaurs is the must-see live arena experience for audiences of all ages, so book your tickets now… before they become extinct! www.livenation.hu
HIDDEN STORIES – THE LIFE REFORM MOVEMENTS AND THE ARTS
UNTIL JANUARY 20, 2019 MŰCSARNOK (KUNSTHALLE BUDAPEST) This exhibition presents the ‘Life reform’ movement that emerged in the last third of the 19th century and became popular in Central European countries, and its impact on contemporary artists. “Life reform” is a collective term summing up fin-de-siècle reform efforts of modernization criticism, of which the common features were the return to nature, self-healing and the search for lost cosmic completeness and spirituality. The often arguing trends of this multi-colored movement, which sought to reinterpret the relationship of man with nature, work and God, were linked by joint motto of civilization criticism: ‘escape from the city’. www.mucsarnok.hu
GREGORY PORTER CONCERT
NOVEMBER 19, MOM SPORT CENTER American jazz and soul singer-songwriter Gregory Porter is an artist whose music is at once timeless yet utterly of its time. The Double Grammy Award-winning singing sensation returns to Hungary this fall. Liquid Spirit – which followed the critically-acclaimed and GRAMMY-nominated albums Water (2010) and Be Good (2012) – quickly grew into a global phenomenon, selling a million albums worldwide and becoming the most streamed jazz album of all-time with over 20 million streams. The album has sold Platinum in the U.K. and Germany, and Gold in France, The Netherlands, and Austria. In the U.S. Porter made his first-ever national TV appearances on The Tonight Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live while both ESQUIRE and NPR Music declared him ‘America’s Next Great Jazz Singer’. Liquid Spirit won Porter his first GRAMMY Award in 2014 for Best Jazz Vocal Album while also earning him a Best Traditional R&B Performance nomination for his affecting ballad ‘Hey Laura’. In the Fall of 2015 Porter finally found the time to return to the studio in New York City to record Take Me To The Alley. As he’s done on his previous three albums, Porter teamed with producer Kamau Kenyatta to craft a collection of stirring originals that juxtapose the personal and political. His partnership with Kenyatta started in the mid-1990s when he was a student at San Diego State University (Porter began his college years playing football on a full athletic scholarship before a shoulder injury diverted him into a music career). It was through Kenyatta’s mentorship that Porter’s professional musical career began. www.koncertpromo.hu
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LEÓ PINTÉR, TRAFÓ, GÁBOR DUSA
UNTIL DECEMBER AT KOMPLEX Mystical ceremonies and rituals, history and artifacts of mummification. Mummies of the World highlights real advances in the scientific methods used to study mummies, including Computed Tomography (CT), ancient DNA analysis and radiocarbon dating, all of which allow researchers to learn about the lives, history, and cultures of the mummies. Who were they? Where did they come from? And what can they teach us? The exhibition features a group of fascinating mummies and artifacts including the Vac Mummies (a mummified family from Hungary believed to have died from tuberculosis), Baron Von Holz (a German nobleman found tucked away in the family crypt of a 14th century castle wearing his best leather boots), the Burns Collection (a group of medical mummies used to teach anatomy in the early 19th century), an Egyptian priest (named NesHor determined to have had arthritis and a broken left hip), in addition to Egyptian animal mummies including a falcon, a fish, a dog and a baby crocodile (many of which were deliberately preserved to accompany royals for eternity), and much more. Experience this compelling collection of naturally and intentionally preserved mummies, and find out all the secrets they may reveal through state-of-the-art multimedia, hands-on interactive stations and cutting-edge 3-D animation. www.avilagmumiai.hu
photos by
PATRICK MURPHY/PRM DIGITAL PRODUCTIONS, KARL WILHELM DIEFENBACH: SELFPORTRAIT - 1892.NEUE GALERIE
MUMMIES OF THE WORLD
GRAZ UNIVERSALMUSEUM JOANNEUM AUSTRIA - PHOTO: N. LACKNER/UMJ, COURTESY PICTURE
what's on
LEÓ PINTÉR, TRAFÓ, GÁBOR DUSA photos by
GRAZ UNIVERSALMUSEUM JOANNEUM AUSTRIA - PHOTO: N. LACKNER/UMJ, COURTESY PICTURE
VÁRKERT CINEMA: FLORENCE AND THE UFFIZI GALLERY
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photos by
PATRICK MURPHY/PRM DIGITAL PRODUCTIONS, KARL WILHELM DIEFENBACH: SELFPORTRAIT - 1892.NEUE GALERIE
what's on NOVEMBER 10, VÁRKERT BAZÁR (CASTLE GARDEN) Italian Renaissance through the most beautiful and representative works of art of the period created by the authors of ‘Vatican Museums 3D’, which was beamed onto 2,000 screens across 60 countries in 2015. A filmed tour of the city that was once the cradle of the Renaissance – and of its Museum par excellence – Florence and the Uffizi Gallery uses the most advanced 3D and 4K technologies (including aerial shots, complex long takes and cutting-edge techniques) to ensure a totally immersive and unique experience and allow the audience to see, listen, feel and savor the most outstanding and celebrated breeding ground of creativity in the history of art. Explore and discover the city of Florence, artistic home to legendary figures like Michelangelo, Brunelleschi, Raphael, Leonardo and Botticelli, with a detailed, central chapter dedicated to the treasure house containing their masterpieces: the Uffizi Gallery. The ‘secret story’ of each of the timeless works of art in the gallery will be disclosed in all its beauty. Moreover, a fascinating, Gothicflavored interlude will display much darker, more monstrous and frightening paintings, such as those by Caravaggio. Art plays the leading role in the film, thanks to the moving narration provided by the mastermind of the Italian Renaissance, Lorenzo the Magnificent, played by Simon Merrells (Spartacus) and authoritative contributions from the main international expert in Renaissance art Arturo Galansino (curator of the Royal Academy in London and newly appointed director of the Strozzi Foundation in Florence) who signed the academic, artistic and scientific supervision of the script, and Antonio Natali, director of the Uffizi, who will welcome guests inside the Gallery and will detail the key works. www.varkertbazar.hu
HUNGARIAN STATE FOLK ENSEMBLE: SUNLEGEND
WHS: DEPARTURE (LÄHTÖ)
NOVEMBER 9-10, TRAFÓ “Lähtö mixes up dance, theatre, circus, and magic into a compellingly beautiful imagery that lingers to haunt the mind for a long time.” -Turun Sanomat Feelings and words are not communicated through lines in this work of WHS, but through movements and vibrant surroundings. The story is formed about a relationship, a game of closeness and distance. WHS is a visual theatre/contemporary circus group from Finland, founded by visual artist/magician Kalle Nio, juggler Ville Walo and set & costume designer Anne Jämsä. The productions of the group have been a crucial factor behind the rise of Finnish new circus that has rapidly grown in the past decade. In the performances of the group new circus has become a very modern, independent and continually changing form of expression, that other arts, especially video image, compliment. www.trafo.hu
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NOVEMBER 16 HUNGARIAN HERITAGE HOUSE The Hungarian State Folk Ensemble’s dance performance ‘Sunlegend’ tells the tale of the Sun and its various phases (day, night, eclipse and full moon) mirrored in human life and Hungarian history. The two-part performance features 40 dancers and two singers, computer-controlled lighting and special effects. The breathtaking, folk-inspired but modern show includes the rhythmic movements of traditional Eastern European dance and new choreographic ideas alike. The production is firmly set in the 21st Century and conveys a disconcerting glimpse of the future through archaic ethnic images. The choreographer Gábor Mihályi was chosen ‘The Best Author of the Year’ by the Association of Hungarian Dancers for making ‘Sunlegend’, which debuted in 2000 at Budapest’s Erkel Theatre. www.heritagehouse.hu
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gastronomy
GLITZY GLAMOUR A TASTE OF HOLLYWOOD AT THE HIGH NOTE SKYBAR Aria Hotel Budapest’s High Note SkyBar welcomes guests with a special theme menu inspired by the biggest American blockbusters. Following months of brainstorming, Chef Gergely Kövér, Pastry Chef Zsuzsanna Szabó and Bar Managers Richárd Mihály and Péter Gózon have come up with a unique idea, never seen before in Budapest: they have adapted several iconic movies into their menu of eight cocktails, six main dishes and two desserts. The dishes and cocktails represent Hollywood movies with a hint of experimentation regarding the ingredients. Named ‘The White Mexican’, a winter-style cocktail is created for those who love cinnamon and nutmeg, reminiscent of the legendary White Russian drunk in The Big Lebowski. The drink is served in a glass that literally wears a dressing gown, while ‘French 7.5’, a champagne cocktail inspired by Casablanca, is served in a special glass pierced with a real bullet. The duck foie gras suggests James Bond’s Goldfinger, while the rosé duck breasts come in a blood orange and beetroot bath as a reminder of Francis Ford Coppola’s Dracula. In the extraordinary milieu designed by Zoltán Varró, guests are encouraged to ‘take action’ and prepare their own dessert from ingredients they receive in testtubes and a fuming cauldron - inspired by the Harry Potter movies.
14TH NEW WINE AND CHEESE FESTIVAL NOVEMBER 24 AT THE MUSEUM OF AGRICULTURE, VAJDAHUNYAD CASTLE
Enjoy fresh air and a beautiful setting while gathering expertise on fine wines and wineries, and sampling local artisan cheeses. Programs include a ceremonial presentation and greeting of the new Hungarian wines, wine tastings with the introduction of the best new Hungarian wines and a ‘consecration of Advent wine and and cheese’. A market place will be set up, presenting wine and cheese tourism in Hungary. www.ujboressajtfesztival.hu
kempi-D&T-GQDB-127,5x160-201810:Layout 1
More to experience 10/18/18
The hotel offers a weekly screening in the Teatro Aria, which takes place every Page 1 Tuesday. A list of the movies can be found on the hotel’s FB page.
2:31 PM
WINTER GALORE
at Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM, HIGH NOTE SKYBAR
Come November, the weather may get cold but the holiday season gets hot! Don’t let the prep work ruin your celebrations. Throw yourself into entertaining at Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and the New Year, and leave the work and service to Kempinski Corvinus. Our Gastronomic Quarter Downtown Budapest has a diverse range of holiday specials and parties at Nobu, ÉS Bisztró, the heated ÉS Terrace in Fashion Street, The Living Room and Blue Fox The Bar. If you prefer to celebrate in the comfort of your home, we deliver and cater the most sumptuous seasonal delicacies right to your table. Looking for company party ideas and an expert team to manage your event? Call in the specialists: The Kitchen Caters provides an A-to-Z service at Kempinski’s recently reconstructed Ten Rooms spaces or in any outside location so you can be the host with the most.
photos by
Erzsébet tér 7-8 | 1051 Budapest | +36 1 429 3777 hotel.corvinus@kempinski.com | kempinski.com/budapest
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wine RENEWING BOLYKI LABELS This year, the Bolyki Winery in Eger launched new labels for their complete range of wines that carry on the well-loved, light-hearted, tongue-in-cheek style of the previous series. The ideas for the fairy tale, fantasy world depictions came from Géza Ipacs, and were drawn by hand. As the new vintages hit the market, customers will see the labels change gradually, and through the end of next year, when the entire new range will be out.
THE IMAGINARY WORLD OF CRAFTY RABBIT
The wines of János Bolyki are well-known for their quality, for their label designs and for their names, such as Indián nyár (Indian Summer), Hazug mókus (Insincere Squirrel) or Pocok a szántásban (Vole in Ploughland). These names are not easy to remember – even in Hungarian – but the funny thing is that once you do, you’ll never forget them. The ’old’ labels were the result of a cooperation between the winemaker himself and the artist Géza Ipacs. “The exciting imagery, the characters and the stories of the previous generation of the labels have been popular but we felt the need for change as our product range has been revamped. The new line-up with the Egri Bikavér at its core demanded a unified image and I asked Géza again to come up with the design. We not only work together but have been friends for donkey’s years and there is no better person to find the right visual world that fits us,” János Bolyki says. They have decided that the new labels should take up where the previous series left off, with some minor changes. The visual framework was provided by the Bolyki Winery’s iconic quarry. Like the set stage of a play where all the action takes place, the winery is always busy with workers, visitors, wedding parties, joyful festival crowds and concertgoers. One special feature of the labels is that, going against the tendencies of our digital age, the images were all drawn by hand by an illustrator. The narrative style of the back labels hasn’t changed and is complemented by the matching imagery: the stories back up the drawings and vice versa. The playfulness, the funny and fairy tale-like elements remain the same, while the execution of the images is much more sophisticated and the labels form a more cohesive unity. Each wine has its own story but somehow the wines together add up to one larger story. Crafty Rabbit is the protagonist, he is the one that guides us through the cellar, introduces the wines, tells stories and has something to say about everything that happens at Bolyki Winery. “The label design, which is so close to my heart has been revamped, retaining its main motives but now boasting a more unified style and the images are even more imaginative. It now fulfils a new function as well: each label tells a Bolyki-story, and illustrates the text. We actually have a new publication out which includes all the stories collected in one issue. The design changes were also prompted by the fact that Jani Bolyki is about to welcome his fourth child and wants to tell his children his own stories about the Crafty Rabbit and his mates,” designer Géza Ipacs notes.
ONE NIGHT AROUND THE WORLD –
NEW
GÉZA IPACS, BENDEGÚZ SZABÓ
WELCOME 2019 IN CHIC STYLE
Y E A R’ S
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PA RT Y
Lounge VIP table: 219 EUR / table / 2 persons Lounge walk-in ticket: 39 EUR / person
Champagne Reception, Gala Dinner & One Night Around the World Party: 289 EUR / person
ONE NIGHT AROUND THE WORLD PARTY
at Buddha-Bar Lounge Buddha-Bar resident DJ Mada Laser show / Performances from all around the world
photos by
MORE INFORMATION & TABLE RESERVATION restaurant@buddhabarhotel.hu · +36 1 799 7302 H-1052 Budapest, Váci utca 34. · restaurant.buddhabarhotel.hu
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Non-stop flights from Budapest to New York City and Chicago lot.com Book 1.indb 32
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