Diplomacy & Trade 2019 July by Diplomacy&Trade

JULY 2019 HUF 1710

EUR 6

DIRE STRAIT

THE CONFLICT BETWEEN IRAN AND THE U.S. IS A STAGE FOR LEADERS IN WASHINGTON AND TEHRAN TO CONSOLIDATE THEIR RESPECTIVE POSITIONS WITH THE ELECTORATE. SEE ANALYSIS on page 8

United States

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FOCUS

The Trump administration seeks to help Hungary reduce its natural gas reliance on Russia, U.S. Ambassador to Hungary David B. Cornstein tells Diplomacy&Trade. Washington hopes Hungary and Ukraine will soon overcome their political differences and Hungary will support its neighbor in standing up to “Russian aggression.” The Ambassador notes that following a positive turn in U.S.-Hungarian relations, security and business co-operation may reach new heights. see articles on pages 10-19

Questions for Humanity

Best-selling author and Israeli professor Yuval Noah Harari argues that people around the globe have to fight for “intellectual freedom” and stand up to political manipulation. Nuclear and climate catastrophe, the proliferation of artificial intelligence and deepening social gaps are the issues that humanity needs to address, Harari said in the Hungarian capital recently. see more on page 25

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A Hungarian-Korean transport institute research agreement was signed at the 'Smart mobility for Smart City' seminar in Budapest.

05 ON THE RECORD 06-07 COMPANY BRIEFS 08 ANALYSIS

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Next month, Diplomacy&Trade dedicates a special Focus section to relations between India and Hungary on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the elevation of diplomatic relations to ambassadorial level. The timing of the special Focus coincides with India’s Independence Day. Three years after the previous India compilation, the Focus section will include an exclusive interview with Ambassador Kumar Tuhin, an introduction to the Cultural Center of India in Budapest as well as Indian businesses that have recently set up shop in Hungary and those that are already wellestablished in the market. The volume of bilateral trade last year exceeded USD 700 million, with the trade balance in India’s favor. Indian companies are among the top greenfield investors in the country, providing employment to 10,000 Hungarians.

FFT, Depositphotos.com, sennebogen.com, tjdarmstadt/wikimedia, HIPA, Daimler AG, www.tamaspal.hu, Baga, Riso, Attila Németh/US Embassy, White House, Matt Rybczinsky, Lázár Todoroff, Csaba Pelsőczy, matthewshaw.co.uk, Embassy of Nigeria, Embassy of Slovenia, Derek Hudson, Gregor Hohenberg, Live Nation, Frederique Calloch, Márton Gáspár, René Magritte, Salvador Dalí, Paloznak Jazzpiknik, Hilton, Intercontinental, Bertalan Ádám, László Balkányi, MTI Photos: Márton Mónus, Péter Lakatos, Zoltán Balogh, Csaba Krizsán, Zsolt Szigetváry, Noémi Bruzák

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Budapest Airport; Takenaka; Smart mobility for smart city 23 WITTYLEAKS by the Nigerian Renewed conflict in the Strait of Hormuz Ambassador 09 TERRACES 24-25 CULTURE 10-19 AMERICAN FOCUS Curiosa; Questions for humanity Interview with the U.S. Ambassador to 26-27 SOCIETY Hungary, David B. Cornstein; Interview with the Hungarian Ambassador to the U.S. 28-29 WHAT’S ON László Szabó; Citibank; AmCham; Duna Concerts, festivals, events and exhibitions Elektronika; US-Hungarian relations in the in and out of Budapest 21st century; Ritz-Carlton Budapest; The 30 HOSPITALITY Hilton: 100th anniversary ambassador of Hungarian cuisine 31 GASTRONOMY Hungaricum cocktails

PUBLISHER: Peter Freed EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Edith Balázs EDITOR: Sándor Laczkó COPY EDITOR: Joyce Freed PHOTO EDITOR: Dávid Harangozó SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR: Tamás Varga DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Tibor Ocsenás ADMINISTRATION: Judit Ludányi ASSISTANT: Ágnes Rapaport

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We welcome inquires for advertising in this issue. PLEASE CALL TAMÁS VARGA FOR FURTHER INFORMATION +36 209350250 - tvarga@budapestweek.com J U L Y

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As relations between the U.S. and Iran continue to unravel, the global community keeps a wary eye on the region, wondering listlessly whether war is looming on the horizon. Our political analyst strikes a soothing note, arguing that military conflict is not in the interest of either country and political leaders are demonstrating power to their home audiences. The Special Focus section is dedicated to U.S. and Hungarian relations this month as America celebrates the 243th anniversary of the country’s independence that lay the groundwork for the emergence of this global superpower. Following years of strained bilateral relations, the election of Donald J. Trump as U.S. President marked a new chapter in the relationship between the two countries, which culminated in Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s visit to Washington in May. U.S. Ambassador to Hungary David B. Cornstein shared his views with us on issues related to energy, security co-operation and business ties, highlighting the need for Hungary to ease its dependence on Russian gas imports and stressing the importance of protecting Ukraine from “Russian aggression.” The section also includes interviews with executives from the banking and hotel industries, focusing on Hungary’s allure as an investment and tourist destination. Internationally celebrated historian Yuval Noah Harari draws attention to the utmost importance of people regaining their intellectual freedom and not falling prey to political or social manipulation. The WittyLeaks section features a heartfelt rendering of the natural and architectural beauties of Hungary and Budapest by Dr. Enola Ajayi, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Hungary. As the summer heat engulfs the capital, we trust that our compilation of the most exquisite terraces to enjoy an evening drink or a savory meal in Budapest is a well-timed effort and will provide useful pointers on excellent venues for sampling the city’s ambiance.

Curiosa – an adaptation of a real-life story from the 'Belle Epoque' page 24

COURTESY PICTURE, DÁVID HARANGOZÓ, HILTON, DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM

letter from the publisher

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on the record LATIN AMERICA CONFERENCE IN SZEGED

The Department of Hispanic Studies at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Szeged hosted the 19th Congress of the International Federation for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (FIEALC) entitled 'Latin America and the World: spaces for encounter and cooperation' at the end of June. Nearly 350 participants from 33 countries attended the five-day event, featuring about 270 lectures from a wide range of disciplines. In addition to the lectures, participants had the opportunity to exchange ideas and build relationships; "several attendees reached out to us to help establish bilateral scientific and educational relations," Zsuzsanna Csikós, Cochairwoman of the organizing committee said.

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MÁRTON MÓNUS/MTI, PÉTER LAKATOS/MTI, ANNA BOBKÓ/UNIVERSITY OF SZEGED, DR. MICHAEL HERRERA, CORINNE DUBREUIL/FFT CSABA KRIZSÁN/MTI

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF FREEDOM 'Thirty Years of Freedom’ is the theme of the memorial year celebrating the 30th anniversary of the reburial of Prime Minister Imre Nagy and five of his fellow martyrs of the 1956 revolt against the Stalinist-style regime. The ceremony was held on June 16, 1989. Among the historical turning points of the past two centuries, it was this change of regime – the fall of Communism – that the country accomplished of its own free will without major sacrifices, Gergely Gulyás, the Minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office said at the opening of the exhibition ‘30 Years in Freedom’ at the House of Terror Museum. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán laid a wreath at the statue of Imre Nagy in Budapest. A special concert organized at Heroes Square, the original venue of the reburial, also paid tribute to the victims of the 1956 events. The stars of Hungarian rock and pop of the past decades took the stage, accompanied by the musicians of the Liszt Ferenc Chamber Orchestra and a 30-member choir. The scheduled flyover of Hungarian Air Force Gripen aircraft was canceled in the last minute due to stormy weather. The concert at Heroes Square was preceded by a small demonstration of 100-200 people (including historians) against the “day-to-day falsification of the memory of the change of the political system in 1989/90.”

ILL-FATED BOAT RECOVERED FROM THE DANUBE On June 11, following several days of preparations, the wreckage of the 27-meter sightseeing boat Hableány (Mermaid) was lifted by rescue workers with the help of a crane vessel from the bottom of the River Danube onto a barge in Budapest. The Hableány sank almost two weeks earlier after its rear side was hit by the 135-meter, 1,000-ton river cruise ship Viking Sygin at the foot of Margaret Bridge on May 29. The collision caused the boat to capsize and disappear in the water within seconds. It had 35 people onboard: 33 South Koreans (31 tourists and two tour guides) and the two-member Hungarian crew. Only seven people, all of them South Koreans, survived. They were rescued by police and civilian boats immediately after the accident. As we go to press, the bodies of all but two victims have been found – either in the wreckage or in the river. Following the accident, rescue workers (including special divers) arrived from South Korea to help recover the shipwreck and the bodies of the victims. South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha came to Hungary “to personally manage the operations of her colleagues at the accident site”, the South-Korean ministry said. Police investigation into the circumstances of the accident is ongoing, the Viking Sygin’s Ukrainian captain has been released on bail but he cannot leave the Hungarian capital. w w w . d t e u r o p e . c o m

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UPCOMING NATIONAL DAYS 1 Canada July 3 Belarus 4 USA 5 Algeria 5 Venezuela 9 Argentina 13 Montenegro 14 France 21 Belgium 23 Egypt 28 Peru 1 Switzerland August 6 Bolivia 9 Singapore 14 Pakistan 15 India 15 South Korea 17 Indonesia 20 Hungary 24 Ukraine 25 Uruguay 27 Moldova 29 Slovakia 31 Malaysia

National day National day Independence day Independence day Independence day Independence day National day National day National day National day Independence day National day Independence day Independence day Independence day Independence day National day National day National day Independence day Independence day Independence day National day National day

The event offered encouraged critical reflection on historical and socioeconomic processes, literary trends, linguistic changes and culture. The scientific program was accompanied by several parallel events with the participation of high representatives from Embassies accredited in Hungary, former Hungarian ambassadors in Spain and Latin America, High Ministerial representatives and of the Conference of Rectors of Hungary, representatives of the City Council of Szeged and the University of Szeged as well as representatives of the EU-LAC Foundation.

HUNGARIAN WINNER AT THE ROLAND GARROS

HUNGARIAN-ARGENTINE INVENTOR OF BALL-POINT PEN REMEMBERED The world’s probably most commonly used tool is the ballpoint pen. Its commercially successful version was invented by a Hungarian, László Bíró who was born 120 years ago in Budapest. He patented the first modern ballpoint pen in Paris in 1938. Five years later, he fled the Nazis with his brother, moving to Argentina in 1943. As he had some 300 inventions altogether, his memory is cherished in both Hungary and Argentina. The Argentine Ambassador to Hungary, Maximiliano Gregorio-Cernadas and the Vice President of the Innovation Industrial Park Cluster, Sándor Rácz, an avid collector of László Bíró memorabilia, established the László Bíró Prize in 2016. The 2019 recipient of the award is the Argentine tenor José Cura in recognition of his performances in Hungary. The inventor’s daughter, Mariana Bíró visited Budapest this June. She told a press briefing at the Argentine Ambassador’s residence that the foundation had acquired a collection of 70 window-shaped glass cabinets full of different types of ballpoint pens from around the world from a German collector. In the name of the foundation she chairs in honor of her father, she announced that 20 of these cabinets were brought to Hungary: seven were given to the Argentine Embassy in Budapest, seven to the Municipality of Budapest, and six donated the collection of Sándor Rácz.

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Hungary’s top female tennis player, Tímea Babos – paired with France’s Kristina Mladenovic – won the women’s doubles final at the French Open tournament after beating the Chinese duo of Duan Ying Ying and Zheng Saisai 6-2, 6-3 this June. This is the second Grand Slam title for Babos after winning the Australian Open, also in pair with Mladenovic, in January 2018. This time, the masterful play of Mladenovic and Babos, the No.2 seeds, was too much for Duan and Zheng to overcome, according to the tournament’s website. The contest was more intriguing than the final score implied. At 2-1 up in the first set, the Chinese racked up three separate chances to break in a four-deuce game. However, the European duo persevered and Duan’s serve was breached for Babos (pictured on the left) and Mladenovic to take a 4-2 lead and march on to wrap up the first set, winning 89% of points on their first serve. In the second set, Babos and Mladenovic took a 2-0 lead and although the Frenchwoman lost her serve, the Europeans restored their two-game lead following a mighty baseline exchange between Babos and Zheng. At 5-3 up, winning the second match point earned them the title.

INTERNATIONAL DANUBE DAY This year, it was for the 14th time that the International Danube Day took place in all 19 countries of the catchment area of the River Danube, Europe’s second longest river. The Day, on June 29 each year, calls attention to the need to protect the values of the river and its catchment area with a total population of about 81 million people. In Hungary, there were programs organized on this day all along the river – in Budapest as well as in small villages – with the opening held in the city of Győr.

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company briefs WIZZ AIR EXPANDS FLEET

Wizz Air, the largest low-cost airline in Central and Eastern Europe, has announced that, as part of the Indigo Partners deal, it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus S.A.S. related to exercising some of its options for the purchase of twenty Airbus A321XLR aircraft. The present order will be delivered over the course of three years starting in 2023. The A321XLR model will be operated with 239 seats, the same as the A321neo, to ensure full fleet commonality with Wizz Air’s existing fleet. The XLR aircraft can be utilized on Wizz Air’s existing network with the same efficiency. Completion of the order remains subject to approval by Wizz Air shareholders. According to Wizz Air's Chief Executive Officer József Váradi, the A321XLR is the most cost efficient aircraft of its type and represents a significant opportunity for Wizz Air to further expand its network and connect points on the WIZZ map that are currently out of reach, given the enhanced range capability of the aircraft.

EUR 30 MILLION TLC INVESTMENT IN LITÉR

The China National Machinery Import & Export Corporation (CMC) will build the largest solar park of Central Europe in Kaposvár, SW Hungary, the Hungarian Ministry for Innovation and Technology (ITM) announced. The total cost of building the almost 100 MW solar power plant is estimated at HUF 32 billion, which is close to EUR 100 million. The company has already obtained all necessary permits, recently concluded a contract for the purchase of the land, and is currently in the process of project preparation, according to a report on Hungarian news website, index.hu. In recent years, CMC and its subsidiary have

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The German technological concern ThyssenKrupp is establishing its newest production plant in Pécs, southern Hungary. The plant will supply European automotive partners with next generation camshafts and e-motor parts. Through the investment, worth over EUR 55 million, a new production line will be introduced and close to 200 new jobs will be created. ThyssenKrupp has been present in Hungary since 1999 and has conducted R&D activities from the first moment. Today, over a million cars are equipped with its technology, developed in the company's internationally known and acknowledged competence center in Budapest, now employing 600 people. The E/E (electrical and electronic) center is crucial for the Hungarian economy, since such high-tech developments represent the most innovative technology within the automotive industry. Besides its development center in Budapest, ThyssenKrupp Components Technology Hungary operates a running gear plant in Győr, and in 2018 started the production of electromechanical steering systems and cylinder head-integrated camshafts in Jászfényszaru. Spring and stabilizer manufacturing was launched in Debrecen in 2018. On November 25, 2016 a strategic cooperation agreement was concluded between the Hungarian government and ThyssenKrupp, which currently gives work to some 2,000 people in the country. The company's new generation camshafts and e-motor components from Pécs and Jászfényszaru will largely contribute to the objective to successfully meet the ever more rigid CO2 emission standards for combustion engine cars in the European Union. With the new systems, environmental standards will be attainable even after 2025, despite stricter regulations.

“Today, we are flying a number of 5-6 hour routes with great satisfaction to our customers; the XLR will extend our outstanding value and service proposition on routes of 7-8 hours of flying… The inherent aircraft economics of the Airbus A321XLR will widen our competitive advantage for stimulating demand for air travel in Central and Eastern Europe and beyond while minimizing our environmental footprint. The A320neo family aircraft are game-changing aircraft that enhance Wizz Air’s low-fare model and undisputed cost leadership in Europe." This latest purchase will bring Wizz Air's outstanding firm orders with Airbus to 276 aircraft deliveries through 2026. invested USD tens of billions on international level, largely in the energy sector. According to ITM, the company will be able to invest up to a total of EUR 1 billion from its own resources in Hungary in the future. CMC intends to set up a regional center in Hungary, which will be in charge of the preparation and management tasks of its planned projects in 16 Central and Eastern European countries. The agreement that laid the foundation for this huge solar park project was signed – at the end of April this year – by the Hungarian Minister of Innovation and Technology, László Palkovics and the CEO of CMC, Ruan Guang, in Beijing. At the end of 2018, Hungary had around 700 MW of solar power capacity installed and the government intends to increase this to 2,000-3,000 MW within a fiveyear period. J U L Y

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SENNEBOGEN.COM, TJDARMSTADT/WIKIMEDIA, DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM, ZOLTÁN BALOGH/MTI

CHINESE FIRM TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION OF SOLAR PARK IN HUNGARY

FIFTH HUNGARIAN UNIT FOR THYSSENKRUPP

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TLC Kft., a subsidiary of the German Sennebogen company is building a new plant in Hungary. An expert in welded heavy steel structural component production. the company is investing over EUR 30 million in capacity expansion and machinery modernization, which will also create 80 new jobs. The Germany-based family-run business of Sennebogen was started in 1952 to develop and produce machinery for agricultural industry. Over the past six decades, the company has established itself as a full service provider in crane technology and material handling. It designs and manufactures complex model series for duty-cycle cranes and draglines, crawler cranes, telescopic cranes, port cranes, material handling machines and multifunctional loaders, as well as other specialized machinery. Production takes place in three Bavarian plants and in Hungary. A report by the Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency (HIPA) points out that TLC, which was founded in 1993 with its headquarters in Balatonfüred, has become a leader in welded heavy steel structural component production. Work at the Hungarian plant includes the manufacturing of loading arms, road and railroad vehicle chassis, 4-part telescopic arms, vehicle frames as well as fixed and moveable compartments, giving work to more than 280 employees. The new plant in Litér will be home to the latest production technologies and cuttingedge infrastructure, which is essential for the manufacturing of high-standard products.

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company briefs EXXONMOBIL: 15 YEARS IN HUNGARY

HUNGARIAN INVESTORS ACTIVE ON THE DOMESTIC ACQUISITION MARKET Contrary to global trends, the number of business acquisitions decreased in Central and Eastern Europe in 2018; consequently, the stagnation on the Hungarian market is considered a positive result by regional comparison, according to a Deloitte’s study on the domestic M&A market. The strongest transactional activity in Hungary was measured in the consumer, industrial and service sectors last year, but the IT sector is also on the rise. The property market is soaring, but further improvement is hindered by narrowing supply. In the region, businesses were more active in Poland and in the Czech Republic, with these two countries registering 60% of corporate sales transactions. In Hungary, the number of transactions with a total value over USD 5 million was 25, similarly to 2017. Although only a fragment of corporate acquisitions in 2018 had a publicly available purchase price, PPF Group N. V.’s transaction carrying a price tag of EUR 2,800 million stands out. PPF purchased the CEE operations of Norwegian telecommunication company Telenor S. A, including the Bulgarian, Serbian and Montenegrin subsidiaries, as well as Telenor Hungary. Another significant deal in 2018 was the sale of construction company Trigránit, purchased by Revetas, an international real estate investment company with a CEE focus. The purchase price has not been made public, but the asset value exceeded EUR 450 million. The sale of GE’s regional light source and global car lamp business was concluded in the second half of 2018. The business was purchased by Joerg Bauer, former leader of GE in Hungary, with advisory support from Deloitte.

ExxonMobil, which has been present in Budapest since 2004, celebrates fifteen years of operations in Hungary, the Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency (HIPA) says. Currently, the headcount at the U.S.-based company’s Hungarian subsidiary has risen to 1,700 and over the years the list of tasks and duties has also expanded at a similarly high rate. Today, the unit plays an ever more important role in the global ExxonMobil network. Professionals at ExxonMobil’s business service center in Budapest primarily focus on the European, African and Middle Eastern region, contributing to the company’s business processes in nine languages. In addition, the center hosts a number of other departments that are involved in the parent company's global activities. The Hungarian center mainly supports the company group in the field of controlling, accountancy, IT, customer service and taxation. The number of employees at the Budapest center has grown five-fold since its opening in 2004. ExxonMobil Corporation is the largest listed international company in the oil and gas industry, with a presence in more than 100 countries on six continents and provides employment to more than 70,000 people.

MERCEDES-BENZ LAUNCHES PRODUCTION OF NEW MODEL IN KECSKEMÉT

Mercedes-Benz Cars continues to ramp-up the manufacturing of compact cars at short intervals, demonstrating its potential for flexible and efficient production. The new CLA Shooting Brake is manufactured exclusively by the Mercedes-Benz plant in Hungary – similarly to the preceding model and the CLA Coupé. The A-Class has been part of the production portfolio at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Kecskemét since 2018. Innovative logistical solutions, such as the delivery of replacement parts for maintenance by drone, further assist the flexibility of the production process, according to the company’s press release. "Many distinguishing features of smart production are already in place at the MercedesBenz plant in Kecskemét. We work on a networked, digital and flexible basis, so the start-up of the new CLA Shooting Brake fits seamlessly into our production processes," Christian Wolff, CEO and Site Manager of Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing Hungary in Kecskemét, says. New CLA Shooting Brake models are now rolling off production lines at the Kecskemét plant. This also means that the international ramp-up cascade for compact cars that started with the new A-Class in Rastatt in April 2018 has reached another milestone. “All this is possible thanks to our highly-motivated and well-trained workforce. We are proud of this team. Together, these colleagues ensure that the Diplomacy-n-Trade.ai 1 2017. 02. 27. 11:22:30 success story of the CLA will continue at the Kecskemét location," Wolff says.

HIPA, DAIMLER AG

CMY

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analysis

PLAYING FOR THE GALLERIES? RENEWED AMERICAN-IRANIAN CONFLICT IN THE PERSIAN GULF REGION BY TAMÁS MAGYARICS

U.S.-Iranian relations have been backsliding since the overthrow of the Shah in early 1979. The hostage crisis in 1979-1981 poisoned bilateral relations almost beyond repair. The Reagan administration even went as far as silently assisting Saddam Hussein’s Iraq in the extremely bloody Iraq-Iran war in the 1980s. Tehran tried to employ one of its most potent – if not the most potent – weapons in the mid-1980s: it wanted to shut down the Strait of Hormuz and, at the same time, started to attack tankers from the Gulf states bound for Western and Asian destinations. The U.S. responded by reflagging Kuwaiti and other tankers to scare the Iranian speedboats and warships away. Then, the administration of George H. W. Bush made a momentous decision after the Gulf War in 1991: it adopted a ‘dual containment policy’, which, in essence, meant that Iran and Iraq were balancing each other, while the U.S. opted for offshore balancing in the region at large.

This state of affairs started to shift in the early 2000s due to a number of factors. The toppling of Saddam Hussein and his regime left Iran without a major opponent in the neighborhood. The Iraqi regime change resulted, among others, in the rise of the Shiites in Baghdad, who at times – and still – have close relations with their brethren in Iran. Washington has been trying to bolster Sunni Arab states as a counterbalance to Iran; the Trump administration is pinning high hopes on the Saudis and the Gulf states. Second, Iran has been trying to act as a regional hegemon of sorts, busy in creating a ’crescent’ of power stretching from Lebanon through Syria to Iran. One of its favored tools is training and financing groups such as the Hezbollah; in other words, using proxies to promote its influence in the vicinity. Third, Iran – as one of the key members of the OPEC – has the capacity to produce about 3 million barrels of oil per day, and its customers range from Italy and Greece through Turkey and India to China and Japan. The roster suggests that Tehran has rather influential patrons when it comes to the U.S. deploying its most lethal weapon against Iran, namely sanctions on oil exports. The latest (May 2019) American sanctions are biting: Iran’s oil exports have dropped to 1 million barrels per day, which means USD tens of billions in lost revenue in case the sanctions can be – and are – enforced by the international community. (China and Turkey have indicated their defiance.) Finally, there is Iran’s contentious nuclear and missile program. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPA), negotiated by the Obama administration, did not admittedly solve the problem; it only delayed Iran’s endeavor to build its own nuclear capability. The threat is no smaller than triggering a proliferation of WMDs in the Middle East: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and potentially other states in the region would likely follow suit, turning the entire region much more unstable than it is at present – if such a thing is possible at all.

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The specter of war The Trump administration’s decision to pull out of the JCPA, and its rather ham-fisted methods to force the other signatories, including major European powers to renege on the promised economic and political rapprochement with Tehran have boxed Iran into a corner. Despite the considerable amount of oil Iran is pumping every day, there is ample supply in the world market, and it blunts Iran’s oil ’weapon’ for all intents and purposes. Iran may resort to actions it already tested in the 1980s: to prevent oil shipments from leaving through the Strait of Hormuz. The incidents in mid-June, attacks on tankers owned by a Norwegian and a Japanese company, could have been the works of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps – or not. The evidence produced by the U.S. is not accepted across the board as being conclusive, and even the targeted companies suggest that no one should rush to conclusions. Some observers even envision the specter of

a war between the U.S. and Iran with dramatic consequences. In fact, U.S. force posture in the Gulf region does not point toward large-scale American military action; the reinforcement of some 1,000 troops is clearly not meant for an offensive against Iran. On the other hand, despite all the bravado and bellicose rhetoric in Iran, the country’s leaders are well aware that a military conflict with the U.S. would be catastrophic for their regime and their country. Moreover, they may expect a Democratic president to succeed Donald Trump in January 2021, and in such a scenario – at least given the Obama administration’s record –, the ayatollahs have reason to believe that there may be a return to a kind of JCPA.

politics dictate the events. Standing up against the ‘Great Satan’ and putting the blame of all domestic problems, including economic mismanagement, repression of civil and human rights on the West in general and the U.S. in particular has a popular appeal in Iran. Likewise, demonstrating toughness and determination against Iran and standing up for U.S. interests in the Middle East resonates with a large segment of American public opinion. Moreover, it also allows the Trump administration to score points with Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf states, which are concerned with Iran’s expanding influence in the region. With Donald J. Trump announcing his intention to run for a second term, the campaign for the White House has essentially started. Major action in the Gulf is not in the interest of the President of the U.S., either. Fiery speeches and tweets are bound to be the weapons of choice in the current conflict in the Gulf region.

Playing for the home audience A relatively plausible explanation for the current quasi-conflict in the Gulf region might be that leaders both in Washington and in Tehran are playing to their own galleries, that is, domestic J U L Y

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D I P L O M A C Y

Tamás Magyarics is a foreign policy analyst

T R A D E

photo by DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM

Regional roles and sanctions

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summertime easy living

photos by WWW.TAMASPAL.HU,

LÁSZLÓ BALKÁNYI, BAGA, RISO

OUTDOOR DINING RECOMMENDATIONS

BISTRO FINE

KÉHLI

1061 Budapest, Andrássy út 8. • +36 1 611 7090 hello@bistrofine.hu • www.bistrofine.hu

1036 Budapest, Mókus utca 22. • +36 1 250 4241 • +36 1 368 0613 postmaster@kehli.t-online.hu • www.kehli.hu

IN THE HEART OF THE CITY, ON ANDRÁSSY AVENUE, Bistro Fine is a casual, friendly, yet sophisticated place to meet with friends or business partners, for a tasty Business lunch or a nice dinner. You can also pop in after work for a glass of wine or for a special cocktail. Bistro fine focuses on creativity and a colorful world of flavors. Visit Bistro Fine and enjoy diverse cuisine!

THE NAME KÉHLI has been synonymous with good Hungarian food and merriment since 1899, when the Kéhli family opened this restaurant in Óbuda. Today, the Cecei-Horváth family manages this restaurant and remains true to its century-old traditions. Gyula Krúdy, one of Hungary’s most famous writers was a regular guest here, and his spirit can still be felt in the atmosphere.

LA PERLE NOIRE

RISO

LA PERLE NOIRE RESTAURANT features a tasteful interior, a lovely terrace, and a great location on the historic Andrássy Avenue, where beauty and culture meets. Its kitchen is a pioneer amongst the top Hungarian gourmet restaurants, which introduces modern and innovative dishes that draw upon French and Hungarian traditions - a real culinary experience for all. La Perle Noire welcomes guests with lavender champagne, followed by an “amuse bouche” to die for. Live music is played by pianist János Csikós.

LOCATED AT THE FOOT of Buda Castle, Riso Ristorante provides the perfect setting for romantic dinners, family gatherings, weddings, and corporate events. If weather permits, a beautiful 80-seat terrace is available for al fresco dining. The restaurant even has its own playground to entertain kids. As for the kitchen, Riso offers traditional Italian and Hungarian dishes. A business lunch menu is available on weekdays. If you desire a true Mediterranean experience and a friendly atmosphere, visit Riso!

1063 Budapest, Andrássy út 111. • +36 1 462 2189 info@laperlenoire.hu • www.laperlenoire.hu

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1012 Budapest, Lovas út 41. • +36 1 224 7424 • +36 1 224 7421 info@riso.hu • www.riso.hu

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U.S. KEEN ON WEANING HUNGARY OFF RUSSIAN ENERGY Hungary’s reliance on Russia for energy supply has repeatedly been highlighted as an issue needing remedy both domestically and in the international arena. The country imports most of its natural gas for domestic consumption from Gazprom under a long-term supply agreement, due to expire by 2020. “My number one priority today is to see Hungary’s energy dependency on Russia reduced by the opening up of other sources of gas supply,” Ambassador Cornstein says. Hungary is not alone in its reliance on Russian energy. The European Union also imports the majority of its natural gas from Russia and for years this has been accomplished via the free flow of gas through Ukraine. In recent years, the relationship between the EU and Russia has been under increasing strain due to Russia’s armed conflict with Ukraine, sparked by the former’s annexation of Crimea. The conflict is fueling uncertainty in Eastern Europe with regards to energy acquisition. For its part, Russia is also working to ease European concerns related to security of supply and the Nord Stream 2 pipeline – a project led by Gazprom – will

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Hungary’s dependence on Russian natural gas imports is a concern for the Trump administration, which seeks to help the eastern European country in diversifying its natural gas supply sources, U.S. Ambassador to Hungary David B. Cornstein tells Diplomacy&Trade in an interview. Washington is hoping Hungary and Ukraine will overcome political differences over language issues, so that Hungary will continue to aid Kiev in standing up to “Russian aggression.” directly connect Germany with Russia, bypassing Ukraine. The U.S. has been vocal in its criticism of European reliance on Russia for gas imports; former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and current Secretary of State Mike Pompeo both strongly oppose the pipeline because Nord Stream 2 will increase Europe’s dependency on Russian energy while also harming Ukraine’s economic and national security. Cornstein stresses that there are multiple ways for Hungary to cut back its energy supply reliance on Moscow; “we will keep working with the Hungarian government and all of the parties to make this happen. I believe the Hungarian government is aware of the importance of this issue and is

committed to diversifying sources for their energy supplies.” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, often the target of international criticism for maintaining close ties with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, said during a visit to Moscow last September that he had made an agreement with Putin on gas supplies from Russia after 2020. The premier noted that Hungary would like to see the Turkish Stream gas pipeline pass through Hungary and asked Putin to support these plans. Meanwhile, Budapest is also searching for ways to diversify energy supply. Hungary has declared its support for the new Partnership for Transatlantic Energy Cooperation (P-TEC), launched by U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry. P-TEC strives J U L Y

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to catalyze investment in critical infrastructure within the twelve European Union member states that border the Baltic, Adriatic and Black Seas. The Hungarian government is working on including the Romania-Hungary (ROHU) natural gas pipeline and the Krk LNG terminal project in Croatia in the framework of P-TEC, as both projects need American political and financial support. The ROHU project and ExxonMobil’s deep-water Neptun project on the Black Sea in Romania – planned in co-operation with Austria’s OMV – would provide a new, substantial, non-Russian gas source to Central Europe. The Krk terminal will be the closest port to provide direct access to LNG sources, including Americans, to Hungary. Orbán’s government also

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BY EDITH BALÁZS

DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM, ATTILA NÉMETH/US EMBASSY

INTERVIEW WITH DAVID B. CORNSTEIN, AMERICAN AMBASSADOR TO HUNGARY

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american focus announced in June the opening of a new seaport and logistics base in Trieste, Italy in the near future.

United front Ambassador Cornstein notes that Hungary and Ukraine overcoming their political difference is important for the future of Ukraine and stability in the region. “I’m hoping that there will soon be an opening to resolve the impasse between Ukraine and Hungary over language issues, so that NATO can engage more fully with Ukraine in the face of continued Russian aggression. As allies, we need to maintain a united front against this aggression.” The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is now entering its fifth year. Since April 2014, some 13,000 people have been killed in fighting between Kiev's forces and the separatists who control parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern parts of the country. Cease-fire deals announced as part of the Minsk accords – September 2014 and February 2015 pacts aimed at resolving the conflict – have contributed to a decrease in fighting but have failed to hold. A new cease-fire agreement was reached on March 8, but both sides have accused each other of repeated violations since then. “We are allies, and we need to be engaged as allies so that we can face together the issues that endanger our collective security, whether it be Russian malign influence or threats posed by Chinese technology or the threat of terrorist attacks,” the Ambassador says.

Security issues

DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM, ATTILA NÉMETH/US EMBASSY

ATTILA NÉMETH/US EMBASSY, DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM

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Cornstein regards the continued strengthening of the U.S.-Hungary security relationship a cornerstone of bilateral relations. “On July 2, the Hungarian Parliament completed its work on the new Defense Cooperation Agreement between the United States and Hungary, which is a win for both of our countries. This Agreement will deepen our already robust security cooperation and help us prepare for the 21st century challenges we face together as allies. Hungary is on track to meet its NATO commitment to spend 2% of its GDP on defense, and is investing in the modernization of its military by purchasing NATO-interoperable equipment. In my opinion, they should buy the best equipment available, which comes from American companies,” the Ambassador says. In 2001, Hungary opted for leasing 14 Gripen JAS39 fighter aircraft instead of American F-16s.

▶ AMBASSADOR CORNSTEIN’S VISIT TO PÁPA AIR BASE IN OCTOBER 2018 Getting stronger Cornstein characterizes bilateral relationships as “strong, and getting stronger.” “We are committed to engaging with Hungary and across Central Europe more broadly. Treating Hungary as an ally that we respect makes our alliance stronger, and of course it will improve the commercial side of our relationship as well. Our policy is working,” the Ambassador says. He views boosting trade ties and supporting Hungarian entrepreneurs that want to invest in the United States as a key mission of his mandate. “In a recent visit to Washington, I led a delegation of Hungarian business leaders to the SelectUSA Investment Summit, the highestprofile event dedicated to promoting foreign direct investment in the United States. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross convened it. It connected foreign firms directly with U.S. economic development organizations to facilitate business investment and job creation. Fifteen Hungarian companies were represented in the Hungary delegation. I was very impressed with the summit and with the caliber of Hungarian entrepreneurs that came over. This kind of engagement – and greater awareness of the potential in both countries – will keep us moving in the right direction.” When asked about contentious issues between the two countries, Cornstein replies that even the best allies and friends sometimes have disagreements, “and we don’t agree with Hungary on every issue. But we are allies, and we need to be engaged as allies so that we can face together the issues that endanger our collective security, whether it be Russian malign influence or threats posed by Chinese technology or the threat of terrorist attacks.”

Very optimistic The accomplishments of the past year, “most notably, a sincere, very positive change in the tone of the bilateral relationship” is a source of satisfaction for the Ambassador. He highlights that there were several memorable milestones along the way, including his initial meetings with Prime Minister Orbán, the visit by Secretary of State Pompeo to Hungary, and Prime Minister Orbán’s meeting with President Trump in the White House. “President Trump and Prime Minister Orbán are w w w . d t e u r o p e . c o m

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alike in a lot of ways, and this meeting was an important opportunity for them to connect on a personal level and share their visions. I think the meeting underscored the sincerity of our friendship with Hungary and that we value Hungary as an ally. I think the Prime Minister’s heart is with the West. Looking to the future, I’m very optimistic about what we can accomplish now in the bilateral relationship,” Ambassador Cornstein says. Contributing to this year’s celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of the end of Communism and the fall of the Berlin Wall, the U.S. Embassy in Budapest is engaged in several programs to commemorate these events and the courageous Hungarians who stood up to embrace the West and eventually join NATO and the EU. “We must never forget what was at stake in 1989, and we must keep the values of liberty and democracy in the forefront as we look to the future. “

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

Europe’s hidden gem Cornstein, who took over as U.S. Ambassador to Hungary one year ago, sees the country as “Europe’s hidden gem in so many ways,” because of its natural beauty, gastronomy, wine, and not least, its cultural heritage. “Now that I’ve lived here for a while and attended some performances, I’ve come to appreciate how talented Hungarians are when it comes to the arts. I just hosted the Kennedy Center at my residence, where they presented their prestigious Gold Medal in the Arts to some very accomplished Hungarians: Éva Marton, conductors Iván and Ádám Fischer, and composer György Kurtág." He also holds in high regard Hungarianborn Americans, who have made enormous contributions to U.S. society. “Former New York Governor George Pataki is a good friend of mine; he had a very successful political career. The late Congressman Tom Lantos, the only Holocaust survivor in the United States Congress, was a champion of human rights and a protector of common decency all through his long political career. I’ve been very pleased to see that Hungarians continue to remember him and honor his legacy,” Ambassador Cornstein concludes. HUNGARY

UNITED STATES

93,028 sq km 111 9,825,704 (July 2018 est.) 92 -0.26% (2018 est.) 214 8.9 births/1,000 population (2018 est.) 206 76.3 years (2018 est.) 88 1.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) 54 USD 29,600 (2017 est.) 68 4.2% (2017 est.) 54 12,030,940 (2017 est.) 75 41 (2013) 103

9,833,517 sq km 4 329,256,465 (July 2018 est.) 3 0.8% (2018 est.) 130 12.4 births/1,000 population (2018 est.) 157 80.1 years 45 3.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.) 35 $59,800 (2017 est.) 19 4.4% (2017 est.) 62 395.881 million (2017 est.) 4 13,513 (2013) 1

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american focus U.S. WALKING THE WALK IN RELATIONS WITH HUNGARY

on Russian energy. The ROHU project and ExxonMobil’s deep-water Neptun project on the Black Sea in Romania – planned in co-operation with Austria’s OMV – would provide a new, substantial, non-Russian gas source to Central Europe. “Completion of these two projects would not only significantly reduce Russian political and economic influence over the region but would also likely decrease consumer prices. The time factor is crucial as the Hungarian-Russian longterm gas contract even with the recent extension is due to expire in 2021,” the Ambassador points out. For Hungary, the terminal at Krk, once built, will be the closest port to provide direct access to LNG sources, including Americans. Hungary remains open to negotiations with Croatia on a strategic partnership concerning the investment portfolio that should pave the way for joint ownership by Hungarian and Croatian entities. The Hungarian government also announced in June the opening of a new seaport and logistics base in Trieste, Italy in the near future.

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION BRINGS ALONG RENAISSANCE OF BILATERAL RELATIONS

The United States and Hungary have excellent military and defense cooperation, mutual energy security interests, close economic and trade ties, the Ambassador of Hungary to the United States of America, László Szabó tells Diplomacy&Trade. More than 1,700 U.S. companies are active in the country, providing employment to over 100,000 Hungarians.

Shared values and interests The two governments share a personal interest in maintaining their friendship with Israel, Ambassador Szabó says. Hungary opened a new diplomatic mission in Jerusalem this March and the Israeli and Hungarian prime ministers both paid an official visit to each other’s countries. The Orbán government continues to promote a zero tolerance against anti-Semitism in Hungary, the Ambassador adds. “The Hungary Helps program, as well as the aid and support of persecuted Christian communities in the Middle East and Africa is a Hungarian project that the USAID regards as a role model for Washington to follow.”

Improving relations Following years of strained relations sparked by the Obama administration’s repeated criticism of Hungarian government policies, which the Orbán cabinet regarded as involvement in domestic

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issues, the two countries began enjoying closer ties after the election of Donald J. Trump as President. The appointment of David B. Cornstein as Ambassador to Hungary has also been instrumental in advancing key bilateral issues. “His Excellency is the best American friend we can have, who tirelessly works to improve relations, and constantly urges U.S. companies to not only talk the talk, but walk the walk when it comes to investments in energy security, production, finance, or commerce,” Ambassador Szabó says. This year, nearly 50 Hungarian political, economic and cultural delegations have visited Washington while approximately ten American delegations came to Budapest. U. S. visits by Hungarian President János Áder, Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office Gergely Gulyás, Defense Minister Tibor Benkő, and Finance Minister Mihály Varga – on top of several visits by Foreign Affairs

and Trade Minister Péter Szijjártó – all gave strong impetus to Hungarian-American bilateral relations.

Energy in the limelight Hungary supports the new Partnership for Transatlantic Energy Cooperation (P-TEC), launched by U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry. The new program strives to catalyze investment in critical infrastructure within the twelve European Union member states that border the Baltic, Adriatic and Black Seas. Ambassador Szabó stresses that work is underway to include the Romania-Hungary (ROHU) natural gas pipeline and the Krk LNG terminal project in Croatia in the framework of P-TEC, as both projects need American political and financial support. These endeavors are the first tangible programs to bring real energy source diversification to Central Europe and reduce one-sided dependence J U L Y

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The visit of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to the Oval Office in May this year was a zenith in the HungarianAmerican relations of recent years, and the two leaders, who share views on a range of issues, enjoyed great chemistry, Ambassador Szabó says. “It is no coincidence that President Trump quipped at the end of their meeting that Prime Minister Orbán is like his twin brother. I can state with all certainty that in the last two years, we have had more productive and friendly meetings at the Pentagon, the Department of Energy, the State Department and the USAID than in the previous eight years,” he stresses.

The Hungarian Embassy in Washington recently held the long-awaited grand opening of its Innovation Center. The Business Promotion & Development Campus is a new facility, which aims to help innovative Hungarian startups and SMEs to set foot on American soil by providing them the infrastructure and resources they need to be successful. “We also try to use cultural and public diplomacy in presenting Hungary to the U.S. government and the American people. The Number 1 Hungarian Jazz/World Fusion band DJABE gave several concerts last year and this year in New York, Rochester, Baltimore, Atlanta and Washington. I was lucky and more than happy to be able to play with them in November 2018 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, and in June 2019 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,” Ambassador Szabó concludes.

OF THE WHITE HOUSE, COURTESY OF MATT RYBCZINSKY

Promoting Hungary across the Atlantic

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KEEPING THE FLOODGATES CLOSED HAVING LEARNT THE LESSON OF THE GLOBAL CRISIS, BANKS TREAD LIGHTLY ON LENDING

The short-term outlook for the banking industry in Central and Eastern Europe is reassuring, but the f inancial industry has grown more cautious with respect to lending despite a supportive macroeconomic and industry backdrop, Kevin A. Murray, Chief Executive Off icer for Central Europe and Country Head for Hungary tells Diplomacy&Trade in an in-depth interview. Although, certain changes in the Hungarian tax system would be welcome by investors, the country is regaining its allure as an investment destination.

at wages and your first reaction may be a negative one, but, in fact, the increase we see is a good thing. If you narrow the wage gap with Western European countries, people in CEE countries have less incentives to leave or if they do, they come back,” according to Murray.

Friend or foe? Technological advancement and the ceaseless emergence of fintech companies offering services that disrupt the banking market are a challenge that incumbents can ill afford to ignore if they want to stay competitive in the digital age. “It’s important to see fintech companies as partners. They have some great ideas and we have to listen to them because some of those ideas will make us more efficient,” Murray says. Citi operates three innovation labs in EMEA, and part of their dayto-day business is to monitor start-ups, test them out and occasionally offer the possibility of working together. “I don’t think these companies will eat into established banks’ market share. Banks have an established construct including compliance, risk and infrastructure to support all aspects of the economy. Nevertheless, we have to learn from them; some banks will fall to the wayside if they don’t learn.”

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HARANGOZÓ

Good place to do business

In recent years, countries in Central and Eastern Europe have confirmed their ability to continue to generate growth. Markets expect economic expansion to stay elevated this year and the region to consolidate its position as the champion of growth in the European Union. The favorable macroeconomic backdrop, with GDP growth rates expected around 3% or above in 2019, has a beneficial impact on the region’s financial industry, which looks set to boost its bottom line further, Murray says. “The outlook for the sector is pretty positive for the next 2-3 years. By and large, we have good and improving portfolios, non-performing loans (NPLs) are definitely moving in the right direction, interest rates are still low, and the CEE is growing 3-5% or more in terms of GDP. I don’t think this will go on forever, but I do believe that at least for this year and next – unless something unforeseen happens –, we’ll see GDP rates of around 3%,” Murray notes. He cautions that a potential recession in the EU or a significant deterioration in America’s trade dispute with China, leading to a hard landing in the w w w . d t e u r o p e . c o m

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latter’s economy, could disrupt this process. The improvement in banks’ asset quality is evidenced in NPL ratios gradually trending back to single-digit figures or even converging to pre-crisis levels in some countries, according to a study by Deloitte published on its website. This was also stimulated by the recovery of lending activity driven by the continued positive trends in the macroeconomic environment, the study says. In Hungary, corporate credit surged 13.6% annually in the last quarter of 2018, an exceptionally high rate in the region and the highest in the past 10 years in the country, the National Bank of Hungary said in a study entitled 'Trends in Lending', published in March this year. Despite the supportive economic environment and historically-low interest rates, banks are more cautious when it comes to lending, having learnt the lesson of the 2008 financial crisis, Murray says. “Central banks strongly support lending, but I think banks are sitting back and saying we have to be cognizant of the risks and not open the floodgates. With some products, the price may be going up again, close to

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levels where people start to get worried, but the capital base is much bigger and banks are much safer. Compared to 2008, Citi is smaller, certainly more efficient and a lot safer.”

Can’t fall asleep at the switch Tight labor markets, however, are tainting the positive economic picture across the region. The lack of skilled workers and continued emigration to Western Europe are putting a strain on economies from the Black to the Baltic Seas. “Attrition is a concern that we monitor closely,” Murray says. “All of us at U.S. financial institutions in the region feel the pressure, but we feel our prominence in the market gives us a bit of an edge. Core banking functions – products, compliance, middle office functions, are pretty steady. That is great but you can’t fall asleep at the switch, you have to watch salaries and job content or you find yourself way behind the power curve.“ Hungary has had double-digit wage growth for nearly two years and economists see the trend remaining in place at least for this year. “Just from an expense aspect, you look

Hungary’s solid economic growth in recent years and more predictable government policies are appealing to foreign investors, as testified by FDI inflows, according to Murray. “Hungary is a good place to do business. Would I like to see a few things changed? Yes. I’d like to see the bank tax removed and it would be nice to see other tax changes on the municipality level that support service centers coming into the country.” The central bank’s dovish policy helped pump liquidity into the markets and keep the GDP momentum going. Looking ahead, inflation and the ECB will be crucial for local monetary policy evolution, Murray says. “Inflation is starting to pick up and once the central bank’s most refined inflation indicators get uncomfortably close to the upper limit of the central bank’s range, they will be more pressurized to start to increase rates.” The government’s decision to draw down EU funds as early as possible “was foresightful, as the impact of the implemented projects will start to kick in around the time the EU fund inflow declines,” Murray says. Having set up its business in Hungary in 1985, Citi was one of the first foreign investors to establish a banking presence in the then Communist country. Although the New York City-based lender has scaled back its operations both in Hungary and the CEE region by exiting the retail banking market, the bank continuously offers a range of products and services to large local corporations, SMEs, multinational clients, financial institutions and the public sector. In addition, Citi’s shared service center, established in 2005, provides services in the areas of technology, operations, risk modelling, analytics, finance, among other things for Citi-entities around the globe.

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american focus

U.S.-HUNGARIAN RELATIONS ON THE MEND AMERICAN CHAMBER MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS ‘FOR A MORE COMPETITIVE HUNGARY’

Improving bilateral relations are a strong foundation for further rejuvenating U.S. and Hungarian ties, Dr. Farkas Bársony, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hungary and CEO of Kondor Holding says. AmCham, which celebrates its 30th anniversary in November, is in talks with the government on the competitiveness-bolstering package the Chamber has put forward to decision makers. the Chamber. The organization has been an avid facilitator of the ‘Invented in Hungary’ paradigm shift, designed to support the local innovation ecosystem. “We believe that moving toward high added-value activities could boost the economy – the revised R&D incentive system is a step in the right direction. Our biggest policy win to date, however, was the introduction of the 9% corporate income tax. It was the collective effort of many organizations to deliver this.”

Recommendations and challenges

AmCham has been putting forward recommendations to the Hungarian government since 2016. The organization submitted its latest ‘package’ entitled ‘Cooperation for a more competitive Hungary 2019’ a couple of months ago.

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Efficiency and digitalization Bársony was elected President of AmCham Hungary in December 2016. He points out that “efficiency was the key word for me. I wanted AmCham to have stronger ties with our government partners, a streamlined advocacy cycle for better representation and to establish a more dynamic, more productive working relationship among our working groups. I believe we achieved this. Furthermore, I wanted to focus more on the digital economy. AmCham realized that we needed to get more involved in this area because it offers a potential competitive edge; we set up a Digitalization Policy Task Force, we host an annual conference and have become one of the founders of the AI Coalition.”

Commitments

Three Seas Initiative

He also stresses that AmCham has made headway with various initiatives in education, like the prioritization of the development of key competencies and skills in the national curriculum, and placing more focus on career orientation in public education and vocational training. “We do not just make recommendations; we make commitments, too. Our working groups explored the options where the AmCham community can help the next generation directly. After consultations with all involved parties, we launched the Career Orientation Program this November, a platform

Bársony was one of the signatories to the Three Seas Initiative in Ljubljana. He highlights that the Three Seas Initiative was launched to strengthen cooperation among the 12 countries located in the region bordered by the Adriatic, Baltic and Black Seas, to bridge the East–West economic gap and promote unity and cohesion in the EU. The affected countries include Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary. “It is a high-level, multi-stakeholder commitment to stimulate economic growth and increase the stability and the prosperity of the region. Three priority areas were highlighted where the members aim to contribute: infrastructure, energy and digitalization. The governments involved dedicate significant resources for development projects in this region. The chambers believe this initiative is beneficial for member companies as well, and as we are involved in cross-country projects, we can add value and know-how to this platform,” he says.

THE AMCHAM FOUNDATION

Since its inception in 2001, the AmCham Foundation has worked to promote the culture of volunteerism and corporate social responsibility in Hungary. The organization works with AmCham members to support children in need of social, psychological or physical support and helps various schools, homes and institutions. In 2017, the foundation launched the ‘Code Theater’ program to promote safe Internet use. This May, the foundation hosted a forest school camp with Ford near Verőce for 60 disadvantaged children and their caregivers to teach kids about nature, wildlife, arts and crafts. AmCham Hungary President Dr. Farkas Bársony explains that “every year, around Thanksgiving, we host a charity dinner with the Budapest Marriott Hotel to support the AmCham Foundation and the SOS Children’s Villages. It is a truly magnificent and heart-warming event where our members gather to donate, participate in a raffle and a silent auction – all for a fantastic cause.” J U L Y

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HARANGOZÓ, LÁZÁR TODOROFF

For a more competitive Hungary

“We are currently in the process of discussing the recommendations and gathering feedback from our partners. The chamber’s leadership held exclusive meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó and Minister of Finance Mihály Varga, and we signed a strategic agreement with the Minister of Justice Dr. László Trócsányi. Besides, we are in regular contact with the state secretaries from the Ministry of Innovation and Technology, the Ministry of Human Capacities and the Ministry of Justice,” Bársony explains. He highlights that AmCham members pull a significant economic weight, making the organization a strong advocacy group whose voice matters, “but we know it takes time for the proposals to gain the required support. We must be patient and unwavering in our efforts to accomplish the goals we set in the interest of the country and the businesses operating here. Since the first package in 2016, several policy measures introduced by the government bear the imprint of

where companies and secondary schools can organize career orientation visits to inspire and inform the students about the skill requirements, labor market trends and career opportunities. 220 volunteers, the so-called Career Ambassadors, from 110 companies and 104 schools have signed up to date.”

photos by DÁVID

It is yet too early to gauge the comprehensive impact of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s official visit this May to the White House on the course of bilateral relations, President Bársony explains to Diplomacy&Trade. “We have experienced steady improvement in the relationship in recent years and the numbers support that, too. The two countries seem to be close on policies in many areas and the President and the Prime Minister are on good terms, sharing the same values, which will surely move the needle, but to be fair, it is too soon to feel the effects of the meeting, yet.” AmCham, with 350 member companies hailing from a wide range of sectors and nations, is a community that represents U.S. business values. The organization has always been a melting pot of ideas, knowledge and values. “It is incredible how much we can learn from each other here and naturally, members inspire and influence each other. One of the reasons why our organization was founded was to develop international business conduct and to promote values such as partnership, transparency, free enterprise, competitiveness and integrity. We at AmCham believe in leading by example, so we represent these values everywhere we go.”

As regards the channels at AmCham’s disposal to communicate with decision-makers in the government, the President points out that they have established a great working relationship with policy-makers, based on a constructive approach. “AmCham is considered a reliable partner that provides solutions and the government relies on our input. Five years ago, AmCham introduced a new way of working, an annual cycle of consultations with our strategic partners and restructured the advocacy groups. We have minister and state secretary level meetings; we work with designated contact personnel throughout the year to address our recommendations and other challenges.” The chamber also organizes flagship events such as the ‘Business Meets Government Summit’, the ‘Digitalization Conference’, and the ‘Competitive Education Conference’ to provide a platform for AmCham members, experts, partners and decision-makers to discuss the most pressing issues. “It is important for us to present new industries, initiatives and the latest development to our government partners to share knowledge,” Bársony adds.

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american focus time, but its intensity is stronger than ever before and affects all segments of the economy. ”Digital transformation is a conscious, in-depth decision that affects the entire organization, processes, competencies and business strategy. It is a transformation that has to adapt to the situation of today and possibly tomorrow. Accordingly, as part of digital transition, we need to examine how to integrate automation, VR (virtual reality), AR (augmented reality), AI (artificial intelligence), big data, agile working methods and other forwardlooking technologies into the business. Effective digital operation, placing the company on a new foundation and the related organizational transformation is the biggest challenge today for an SME or a larger company,” he says.

How important is IT security?

Duna Elektronika was founded by an American-Hungarian in 1991. One of the company’s first projects was the installation of modern computer technology in the Hungarian Parliament with the support of the US government. From early on, international ventures present in Hungary made up the largest share of the company’s sales. The direction has not changed but the volume has grown significantly. Tibor Kiss joined the company in 1995 and has been in his current position since 2008. He stresses that partnership with global manufacturers such as DellEmc, HewlettPackard, Lenovo, or Micosoft provide the framework through which the company can provide products and services to multinational companies in Hungary. “In recent years, the focus of our activity has shifted toward services. At present, more than 70% of our employees are IT engineers, highly qualified professionals. We are present at several giant companies that are international market leaders in their areas of business. Today, Duna Elektronika is a medium-size company that has increased its revenue by 50% in the past three years.”

photo by DÁVID

HARANGOZÓ

Challenges “Duna Elektronika has come a long way since I have been in this position. Market demand is constantly changing. In the beginning, it was enough to meet simple hardware needs. Nowadays, with the increasing complexity of IT and the strengthening of its connectivity to other areas, demand has changed completely. It is not enough to sell isolated systems; it is necessary to integrate them into the entire system of the company,“ Kiss says. “A wellfunctioning stable company cannot exist without a well-functioning, properly sized, integrated IT system. We are closely involved w w w . d t e u r o p e . c o m

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IT SERVICES IN FOCUS

DUNA ELEKTRONIKA HAS SERVED THE HUNGARIAN MARKET SINCE 1991 Budapest-based Duna Elektronika, a US-Hungarian computer services company is a dynamic player in Hungary with a signif icant share of the multinational corporate market. Its Commercial Director, Tibor Kiss tells Diplomacy&Trade about the evolution of the company, the services it provides and the challenges it faces in this constantly changing industry. in the lives of most of our customers: we work with the highest level of decision-makers in other corporate areas, not just the IT department. Our joint work also covers a vision for the future. Our partners are becoming more open in this direction, but it is still a challenge for decisionmakers, who are not experts in this area, to realize the potential of information technology in time.” The company’s slogan “Always by your side” emphasizes this relationship.

Motivated employees Keeping up with the industry requires giving the maximum at all times. “Our colleagues take part in at least a hundred training courses per year, and at brainstorming sessions, we continually evaluate the results and the answers to new challenges. We watch all the ‘market roadmaps’ of the industry. We participate in international and domestic conferences. At the managerial level, we keep in touch with the key regional leaders of our partners.” Up-to-date expertise, endurance, diligence and

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incredibly precise work are prerequisites for the success of an IT company. ”It is not enough to find clients occasionally, the main goal is continuous cooperation. To do this, you need to find employees who identify with the company's interests. We can proudly say that we recognized the importance of employee retention very early. That’s not to say there are no issues attracting and retaining qualified employees. Wages and benefit costs have risen significantly over the past several years and the company is committed to providing the best possible conditions to our staff. Our employees believe that their financial security and their future are with us. Since the formation of the company, we have celebrated the birth of more than 200 ‘Duna babies’.”

Transformation The revolution of the present is digitalization, which has rushed to overcome the whole society and economy, the Commercial Director notes. This transformation has been going on for a long

Companies and individuals are increasingly concerned about the issue of IT security but they do not pay enough attention to this area. “We are currently living in the 4th industrial revolution, which essentially means that the electronic devices around us are connected to the information network, creating a huge global information system. The incredible amount of data thus generated, also called the Big Data phenomenon, is both a problem and an enormous business opportunity, as information is the most important value, the protection of which is of paramount importance to everyone,” the Commercial Director stresses. Thanks to the advancement of IT and digitalization, tasks are becoming more complex and people receive so many impulses in a day that they do not even notice a significant part of it. According to some experts, 2.5 exabytes (2.5 million terabytes) of data are produced daily. Eric Schmidt, former President of Google, described this amount as approximately as much information as humanity created from the dawn of civilization up until 2003. At the same time, cybercrime has become one of the most profitable forms of crime in the world, estimated at USD 1,500 billion annually (Michael McGuire, Surrey University, April 20, 2018). “Duna Elektronika has been one of the first to recognize the importance of this area and has begun building and acquiring the necessary competencies, enabling our professionals to help our clients in all areas of data protection, data security and business continuity. To reduce the likelihood of threats and mitigate damage at the time of occurrence, protection measures should be applied by organizational or technical means,” Kiss says.

GDPR As of May 2018, the EU’s data protection regulation (GDPR) became mandatory for all organizations that manage, process, transmit and protect personal data of European citizens. Prior to introducing GDPR, companies/organizations had a reporting obligation and the authorities had to prove their compliance. Now companies have to prove that they will not have a reporting obligation unless an incident occurs.” Duna Elektronika has completed several successful GDPR preparation projects. Its employees can provide continuous assistance not only in the preparation but also in the performance of the duties of the Data Protection Officer. “We have trained and experienced professionals to carry out the service, our team members are internationally and locally experienced lawyers, IT security experts and certified data protection officers,” Kiss concludes.

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american focus the shape of, first and foremost, a rising China in the Pacific and the Far East, and transnational terrorism centered in the greater Middle East and Central Asia. Hungary was trying its best to support the U.S. diplomatically (the Letter of Eight in January 2003) on the eve of the invasion of Iraq, in opposition to such countries as France, Germany, and Russia. Later, Hungary contributed as many troops as it could muster to peacekeeping missions in Afghanistan and Iraq as well as the Balkans. Although these were not game changers in either place, U.S. administrations appreciated the goodwill and the efforts. There were occasional spats between the Socialist-Free Democrat government and the Bush administration over Hungary’s one-sided dependence on Russian oil and gas imports, but the general atmosphere of bilateral relations was good, though not exceptionally warm.

SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE U.S.-HUNGARIAN RELATIONS IN THE 21ST CENTURY BY TAMÁS MAGYARICS

Marriages can be of different nature. Some are between equals, others between partners where one is ’more equal than the other’. U.S.-Hungarian relations clearly fall into the latter category; given the size, the capabilities and the opportunities of the two countries, it is a euphemism used only in polite circles that they are equal partners in bilateral relations. On a strategic level, it is fairly safe to say that the United States, together with Germany and Russia, basically defines and shapes the geopolitical and geostrategic environment for Hungary. The reverse, of course, cannot be said of the U.S. In fact, American policies toward Hungary and much of Central and Eastern Europe, have frequently been subordinated to U.S.-Russian relations in the name of the ’Russia First’ concept, which enjoys quite the popularity in the Department of State and the White House. This also means, by implication, that it is Washington that primarily defines the dynamics of bilateral relations. In other words, when U.S. interests in the region require the cooperation of Hungary, relations are warm, and if U.S. interests are not so pronounced, questions of secondary importance, such as ‘values’, take the foreground.

Hungary first. Hungary played a crucial role in the Kosovo conflict as a staging area for U.S. troops. However, after Romania’s accession to the Atlantic Alliance, Hungary lost much of its strategic importance for NATO as Romania has been able to provide better access to trouble spots in the Balkans and the Black Sea region. Relations started to sour between Hungary and the U.S. in late 2001 because of some hostile comments in the Hungarian Parliament after 9/11, and the botched leasing of Gripen JAS39 fighter aircraft instead of American F-16s, which had been considered shoo-ins even on the day the Hungarian cabinet ultimately opted for the Swedish-British plane. These events earned no friends for Hungarian Prime Minister

Viktor Orbán in the U.S. In fact, even his fiery speech on June 16, 1989 in which he demanded the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Hungary, was considered to be ill-advised by some in Washington, who would have preferred a sort of ’Second Yalta’ in Central and Eastern Europe.

Salutary neglect The better part of the 2000s brought about a ‘salutary neglect’ of the region; or, as Professor Charles Gáti put it, decision makers in Washington “ticked off” the region. Most of the countries between the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea, and the Adriatic had joined the Atlantic Community (NATO and the European Union) during the decade, and challenges for the U.S. emerged elsewhere in

Erratic ties A ’honeymoon’ characterized the late 1990s when Hungary joined NATO, or, given the role Hungary played as a host nation for NATO forces even before 1999, NATO had joined

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Things started to take a different shape following the victory of the Fidesz-KDNP coalition in the parliamentary elections of spring 2010. The neoconservative elements in the Obama administration, bent on the promotion of democracy all over the world, questioned some of the principles embodied in the new Fundamental Law of Hungary adopted in April 2011. Their criticism was regarded as interference in Hungary’s sovereignty by the Orbán government, and political relations started to go south. The differences in principles and opinions spilt into the open and the parties were caught in a vicious circle of sorts where neither side could back off without losing face. At the same time, defense and security cooperation went quite smoothly despite recurrent American demands that Hungary spend at least 2% of its GDP on defense. Hungary, in the company of other NATO-members that were also lagging behind in defense spending, finally committed itself to meeting the target by 2024. Under current plans, the target date may even be earlier than 2024. Trade and economic relations were picking up, by 2019 some 1,700 U.S. companies employed about 100,000 people in Hungary, making the U.S. the second largest investor in Hungary after Germany. Political relations took a turn for the better with the Trump administration. Theoretically, the U.S. abandoned the freedom project or democracy promotion in general. In particular, A. Wess Mitchell, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs (2017-2019) suggested a different approach to Hungary and, by extension, the Central and East European region. He believed the strategic interests of the U.S. required good relations with countries in the area and considered that issues of secondary importance (such as endless debates about ’democratic’ values, etc.) should be put on the back burner. President Trump seems to endorse the idea that Central and Eastern Europe is one of the pivotal strategic areas for the U.S. besides the Asia-Pacific region and the Middle East. Under the same reasoning, U.S.-Hungarian relations, as part of the overall strategy, should be friendly and cooperative with non-interference in domestic affairs. PM Orbán’s ‘Hungary First’ agenda meshes with President Trump’s ‘America First’ idea and creates common ground for political understanding. In sum, the years of ’marriage counseling’ seem to be succeeded by a more tolerant attitude toward the spouse’s/partner’s idiosyncrasies.

SZIGETVÁRY/MTI, DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM

Non-interference in domestic affairs

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ICON IC B E YO N D TH E V I E W

1052 Budapest, Apรกczai Csere Jรกnos utca 4, Phone: +36 1 486 5000 | www.marriottbudapest.com

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american focus THE HUMBLE HOTELIER

Hugo Lecanda boasts a track-record spanning close to three decades in the hotel industry, with an intimate knowledge of managing luxury hotels. His career path took him across several continents to locations such as Ecuador, Mexico, and most recently Spain. A self-proclaimed “humble hotelier,” Mr. Lecanda holds a Spanish and Mexican passport and while he feels at home in Spain, he is very proud of his Mexican roots. “Being outside of my country is an opportunity to grow, my wife accompanies me on this journey, she has been with me on 3 continents, I’m very lucky to have such an excellent ‘partner in crime’.” He has a 19-year old daughter, who studies in the United Kingdom. An avid golfer, Mr. Lecanda was thrilled to discover the Royal Balaton Golf course, which has turned out to be one of his favorite courses in the world. He loves cooking and believes that food brings people together, creating a special ambiance and connection. He is a white wine enthusiast, the music of the 1980s is closest to his heart, and his most memorable movie experience is Schindler’s List. “It touched me at a young age and it always reminds me of the importance of helping others.”

PLAYING IN THE BIG LEAGUES

Fierce competition

Budapest is relentlessly marching ahead as a prominent tourist destination, the city’s historical heritage, vibrant cultural scene, gastronomic wealth are proving a magnet for visitors. Affectionately dubbed as “the pearl of the Danube” by European Best Destinations, the Hungarian capital “offers the elegance of Paris, the architectural heritage of Vienna, the charm of Porto, Stockholm’s gentle way of life,” the organization said earlier this year. The accolade is enthusiastically shared by Hugo Lecanda, General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Budapest, who was taken aback by the splendour of the city, its rich offerings, the cleanliness and security. “We are in the big leagues, we are competing with the best destinations in the world, but we need to make sure that we continue to improve. The growth trend is there, not only in hotel industry, but also in traveller numbers. The cultural and entertainment offerings are amazing, this is what makes a destination attractive. Music festivals, the opera, high-quality cultural events, antique shops, old cars. There is always something happening in the city,” Mr. Lecanda says. Luxury travellers are also flocking to the Hungarian capital, and the increase in accommodation, dining and shopping opportunities targeting this class of visitors bodes well for the sector. “Luxury travellers are truly taken by Budapest, not only as a destination that is part of the Vienna-PragueBudapest triangle. We see that many travellers, who visit these three cities come back to Budapest, as they find that their time was too short to discover all that city has to offer,” according to Mr. Lecanda. Securing the proper infrastructure is a key challenge because “travellers have high expectations right from the moment of arrival, irrespective of whether it’s low-cost or commercial airlines. The arrival and departure experience has to be world class. We have a very narrow window to capture the attention and interest of visitors through the best service, infrastructure and facilities, and deliver an emotional connection. To provide them with something that they can take back home and which will stay with them forever,” Mr. Lecanda says.

The Ritz-Carlton Brand, which entered the Hungarian market 3 years ago, is benefiting from the current boom in the tourism industry. “We are growing both in volume and in rate, which is the result of being active in the luxury market. The influx of new hotels coming onto the market, with about 10 hotels opening over the next 18 months, will have an impact in the luxury segment. But these brands will also advertise and target this type of clientele, which will help sustain high numbers. We are still not at capacity.” The Ritz-Carlton, Budapest is constantly reinventing itself to stay ahead of the game, and one of the major projects is the overhaul of the Deák St. Kitchen restaurant. The menu is constantly being revamped to include Hungarian specialties with a sophisticated touch. The hotel management invites several Michelinstar chefs to contribute to the evolution of culinary offerings and help create that essential emotional connection with the guests.

Turning a greener page “I admire the way Hungarians recycle waste. You may see it as normal living here, but when you compare it to some other places in the world, the conscious approach of locals to recycling is really something special,” Mr. Lecanda says. The Ritz-Carlton is also committed to becoming greener, there is now selective waste collection in the rooms and management is working on getting rid of straws and reducing the amount of plastic used. The hotel eliminated plastic laundry bags and plastic bags in the bins in the rooms, and is taking steps to reduce electricity consumption by investing into more efficient technology. “When I look at the future from a climate change perspective, I’m scared but also optimistic. I don’t think it’s too late. New technologies and the approach of the new generations to the environment give me hope.” PELSŐCZY, MATTHEWSHAW.CO.UK

BUDAPEST IS COMPETING WITH THE BEST DESTINATIONS IN THE WORLD

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photos by CSABA

Voted "European Best Destination" by travellers in 2019, the Hungarian capital is in the race with the top cities of the world to attract tourists from all walks of life, including the luxury segment, Hugo Lecanda, the recently appointed General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Budapest tells Diplomacy&Trade. This is no time, however, to sit back and celebrate, as f ierce competition and the constant evolution of the tourism industry call for round-the-clock innovation and development. J U L Y

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american focus my Hungarian heritage, but as I turned older, I started to beg her for recipes and stories alike, but then I realized that it wasn’t easy for her to remember her painful past.”

Inspiration from Lang

THE AMBASSADOR OF HUNGARIAN CUISINE AN INTERVIEW WITH JEREMY SALAMON

photo by DÁVID

HARANGOZÓ

On May 19, American chef Jeremy Salamon took the gastro stage of the Gourmet Festival in Budapest and won the hearts of the audience by introducing his own take on lángos, a popular Hungarian street food classic. A few months before, on the invitation of ReConnect Hungary, he presented a dinner demo at the Hungarian Library in New York, dazzling guests by demonstrating a few of his signature Hungarian dishes. Diplomacy&Trade was eager to f ind out where his passion for Hungarian gastronomy comes from. Only 25, Jeremy Salamon is often referred to as a culinary whiz kid who, at the age of 9, told his mother he wanted to become a chef, and stuck to his plan. Upon turning 13, he started his own cooking blog to connect with other like-minded teens. “I did start early, which gave me a certain advantage, but I’ve never aimed for the Youngest Chef title, or anything like that,” notes Jeremy, who was born and raised in South Florida, and soon moved to New York to attend the Culinary Institute of America. As you might have guessed already, Jeremy does have Hungarian roots. “My grandparents were born in Hungary, and somehow managed w w w . d t e u r o p e . c o m

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to stay alive in the Budapest ghetto during WWII. They chose to leave Hungary in 1956 (following the Hungarian Revolution), and fled to the U.S. through Vienna, finally landing in New York City, to start a new life, operating a drycleaners,” Jeremy reveals, At the time, a huge Hungarian community lived on New York's Upper East Side (adjacent to Central Park, between the 73rd and 85th Streets), forming ‘Little Hungary’, with many Hungarian restaurants and shops. “These don’t exist anymore, and the Hungarian legacy is reduced to a confectionary and one tiny, 10-seat place called Andre’s where one can find traditional gulyás,” Jeremy continues. He says he was

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lucky enough to grow up tasting his Ági grandmother’s home cooking. “In fact, she learned to cook Italian and American dishes too, and our Sunday brunches often turned into multi-cultural, international feasts. But having palacsinta (a popular Hungarian dessert, which instead of the American pancake is similar to the French crepes: it is thin, silky, and rolled into logs with jam or cottage cheese cream inside) on the repertoire was a must,” Jeremy recalls. Despite their strong relationship, Jeremy says he rarely spent time in Ági’s kitchen. “Being a very proud, stubborn woman, she has never accepted help in the kitchen. Up to a point I wasn’t interested in

Later, while in college, Jeremy decided to cook a Hungarian meal for friends. Not possessing his grandmother’s entire collection of recipes, he stopped by a bookstore and purchased the only Hungarian cookbook they had: The Cuisine of Hungary by George Lang (the late Hungarian restaurateur, who owned New York’s iconic Café des Artistes). “That book was incredibly eye-opening. It became my Bible, and I became a Lang-freak,” Jeremy admits. Meanwhile, he started working in different restaurants in New York City, and, in 2015, one job took him to the East Village, namely to The Eddy, which, at the time, was famed for its international cuisine, something Jeremy did appreciate and liked, however, as he put it, “Something was missing.” In 2017, he left the restaurant behind and bought a ticket to Hungary. “I wanted to visit my relatives in Eger, and to gather as many ideas on Hungarian food and ingredients as I could. When I returned to New York City, I kicked off FOND, a series of pop-up dinners, which were to demonstrate what I learned on my Hungarian trip: that Hungarian dishes don’t have to be overwhelmingly hearty, meatfocused and sauce-heavy.” His new, modern interpretations of his grandmother’s cuisine were so successful that The Eddy’s Canadian owner, Jason Soloway, soon asked Jeremy to return as executive chef, giving him a platform to showcase his love of Hungarian cuisine. “I must point out though, that The Eddy is not a Hungarian restaurant. Normally, the menu is a synthesis of New American with a few Hungarian touches, I would say,” Jeremy notes, adding, “within a year and a half, I am to open a little restaurant that focuses solely on Jewish-Hungarian food.” In the meantime, he hosts Hungarian dinners, such as the one he calls a ‘milestone’ in his career: a dinner commemorating George Lang. Held on June 5, 2018, The Eddy welcomed the entire circle of Lang’s friends and family, among them Jenifer Harvey Lang, Lang’s widow. “To me, they were like the Royal Family,” Jeremy says enthusiastically. “My inspiration for the menu that night came from Lang’s obituary in the New York Times, that mentioned an interview Lang gave to a Nina Lalli at Village Voice, on what his last meal would be: fisherman’s soup, stuffed goose neck, sour cherry soup, layered cabbage, stuffed peppers, plum dumplings, pancakes with apple meringue, and whippedcream strudel. I did make a few modifications, for instance I changed the traditional green peppers to poblanos for the stuffed peppers. I also served my signature lángos, made with potato, yeast and milk, deep-fried once the gluten developed, topped with pecorino and finished with wildflower honey.” Jeremy says he can’t stand to see Hungarian cuisine becoming extinct. “Over a million people have Hungarian roots in the U.S. I’m sure Hungarian cuisine has much potential here. I’d love to see it revived, first in New York, as an homage to Little Hungary. I guess my mission is to spark some interest in it, by making it approachable and more attractive, with a few updates for a new generation.”

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ENSURING SMOOTH TRANSFER BUDAPEST AIRPORT’S PRIMARY AIM IS TO IMPROVE PASSENGER EXPERIENCE

Impact on residents

traffic. A lot of the overseas long-haul flights can now use this pier for passenger handling. In addition to building this terminal wing, we also revamped our runways, especially runway No. 1, the older of the two, which was in great need of refurbishment. Basically, a large sequence of its concrete surface was replaced. We also upgraded our instrument landing system, which assists aircraft crew to land at lower visibility or bad weather conditions. Of course, we have also done a lot of things that fall in the maintenance category of this investment program,” Szarvas highlights.

This March, Budapest Mayor István Tarlós announced that, in principle, an agreement was reached regarding the noise created by planes while landing and taking off from Budapest Airport. Giving some insight into the agreement, the Chief Corporate Affairs Officer believes that Mayor Tarlós and the local government as well as the national government have recognized the overall improvements that have been made in terms of efficiency and the environmental impact of aviation. “Yet, they are also keen to work on further solutions, which can decrease the impact on local residents. As a responsible airport operator, Budapest Airport has backed these initiatives, to work together with the city.”

From plane to road In addition to Pier B, the most prominent part of the BUD 2020 plan is the Cargo Terminal City project. The Chief Corporate Affairs Officer stresses that the facility itself will have over 20,000 square meters of service area. “This is a major cargo handling area but we will also build an additional apron for parking large aircraft, one that is able to accommodate two ‘cargo jumbos’. It will be in the close vicinity of Terminal 2, allowing the belly cargo transported by passenger aircraft to also be handled through this facility. As the next step, the construction of a forwarder building has already started. That will facilitate the transfer of goods coming out of the cargo handling building and being packed for road transportation or sent to the forwarder company’s own facility. The structure is designed to expedite the procedures from the air side to the land side. This is actually a template construction: we also manage the land property in an adjacent area to be able to continue with similar projects. We are already seeing great interest in developing this facility, so, possibly, an extension may be on the way soon. It is a project planned to be completed by November this year but we already have plans to expand it.”

Link to the city Another major issue, which gets ever bigger as the number of people using the airport increases, is access to the airport from downtown Budapest. For instance, the direct bus service introduced in 2017, is so popular that it now has to run more frequently to accommodate the high demand. According to the Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, “in this regard, responsibility obviously only lies to a certain extent with us. We manage the airport and the immediate surroundings of the terminal area where we want to – as I already mentioned – increase our parking capacities. We have also allocated space for public transport – let it be bus or future rail. So, for all these connections, Budapest Airport will provide the necessary facilities. However, the major construction elements in this context, regarding the express road or the rail connection, are government projects, which we fully support, of course. We are in contact with the government and we hope that they will deliver these as soon as possible.”

Budapest Airport manages the number one – and by far the largest – airport in the country, “the community we serve is as wide as the country, itself. We also value very much the awards, which recognize that our operations are responsible toward the environment and/or the communities. We have – for many years – been credited with the European initiative ‘Airport carbon accreditation’. In this scheme, we have for the second year been named as a carbonneutral airport, recognizing our efforts on neutralizing our climate-change impact. That is a very important acknowledgement for us especially because we are the first and only carbon-neutral airport in Central Europe. Another example is our CEO being given the ‘Pro turismo’ prize. He also received an award for the development of the Hungarian economy from the Hungarian government. These achievements are also very important as they help us look at the wider context of our activities,” Szarvas concludes.

Security in challenging times

Gábor Szarvas has held multiple directorial positions at Budapest Airport since joining the company in 2008. Originally responsible for environmental management, he has gradually taken over other responsibilities such as health and safety, certification, and public affairs. He initiated the first corporate social development program of Budapest Airport and coordinated various sustainability projects at the company. He was also instrumental in initiating the Budapest

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Airport Cluster launched in 2015. Prior to his current position, he worked at a leading global environmental consultancy for over ten years and has extensive professional experience.

BUD 2020 developments At Budapest Airport, “we have delivered significant upgrades and improvements. Obviously, the flagship project of BUD 2020 was Pier B, the extension of Terminal 2 with a new pier serving mostly the non-Schengen

Nowadays, security is of utmost importance at airports all around the world. Regarding the immediate measures taken and Budapest Airport, Gábor Szarvas mentions the ones they have branded under the bud:plus umbrella. “We have defined the main goals among which the primary one is to improve the passenger experience even in these challenging times of rapidly growing air traffic and try to add to the comfort of passengers from the speed of check-in procedure to the security and safety of the passengers passing through Budapest Airport. This is also the main goal in our medium and long-term development. We are reviewing almost every day what we can do to achieve this greater comfort: for the really short term, we have allocated EUR 20 million to cope with the immediate need and this will be added to the greater development program in the years to come,” he says. J U L Y

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HARANGOZÓ

Awards

photo by DÁVID

In the summer of 2016, Budapest Airport CEO Jost Lammers outlined an ambitious plan, ‘BUD 2020’, to develop and modernize the airport, its facilities and services. This May, we interviewed the Chief Commercial Off icer Kam Jandu on this subject. Now, Gábor Szarvas, the Chief Corporate Affairs Off icer of Budapest Airport tells Diplomacy&Trade how the goals of this plan are perceived and carried out in his area of authority.

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business

TAKENAKA GOING GREEN

CERTIFIED FACILITY THE HIGHEST ENERGY RATING: A+ 7/2006 (V.24.) TNM

WHY ARE GREEN BUILDINGS BENEFICIAL?

A variety of evaluation schemes exist worldwide to assess the environmental impact of buildings. Architects and engineers at TAKENAKA EUROPE believe that Green buildings should be seen from two perspectives: both improving the quality of living and reducing the environmental burden. The company highlights that “when we think of improving the living – and working – quality of buildings, our focus is on the people who use them such as employees, residents, students.” It has several projects that demonstrate how Takenaka Corporation, one of the largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms in Japan and the global leader in the DESIGN&BUILD construction sector, contributes to providing a favorable living environment for the users of its buildings. This means healthy work conditions, reduction of energy costs, contribution to the protection of the environment and also improving the corporate image of Takenaka clients.

Green buildings

Reducing the environmental load Buildings contribute to C0 2 emissions and global warming through energy consumption and choice of building materials and resources. The challenge here is to optimize the energy concept under given local conditions and specifications. Another requirement of green buildings is to make careful use of resources and materials, including control of any emission and pollution. Therefore, the three main areas for reducing the environmental load are (1) energy (2) resources and materials and (3) emission and pollution.

photos by FOTOMORI,

TAKENAKA

TAKENAKA EUROPE, with 12 branch offices, of which the one

in Hungary celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, is committed to providing sustainable solutions for buildings (GREEN BUILDINGS) by taking into consideration the environmental impacts and risks of building projects: (1) monitoring European trends of sustainable technology; (2) developing green solutions for its clients; (3) realizing green buildings together with its clients and (4) ensuring efficiency for the environment. The reduction of energy costs is manifested in energy-efficient design and technologies that help cut down energy consumption throughout the entire lifetime of buildings. The creation of healthy work conditions means the use of nontoxic materials, natural light and fresh air that all contribute to a healthy work atmosphere.

Takenaka’s contribution to the protection of the environment includes reduced C02 emissions in its operations, the application of ecological materials and the better use of resources. Last but not least, clients who visibly commit to the environment achieve recognition for their social responsibility and thus their corporate image improves.

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business

SMART MOBILITY FOR SMART CITY

Technology and infrastructure “We have 4-5 major car manufacturing companies in Korea, including Hyundai and KIA. They are targeting Level 3 automation, wanting to meet the requirements by the 2020s and target the Level 4 functions by 2025-30. They are now changing the concept of conventional car manufacturing to automated and connected vehicle types. At the same time, we are also focusing on infrastructure. It is a very important part of the solution. We have to upgrade our physical infrastructure, for example, lane marking,” Young-Jun Moon says. He points out that “when you drive, you have all the adaptive functionality but the machine does not. That is why we need to change, that is, digitalize our infrastructure. For instance, we have to change all the traffic signs, digitalize them – you can see the current road signs but the machine cannot. Then, when you have it, you will need to manage this infrastructure. If it is raining, for example, the road authority may say that 120 kms per hour speed is not safe under given circumstances and the speed limit needs to be reduced to 100 or 90 kph. This information has to be downloaded to the vehicle and the car will act accordingly. It means that management and control are carried out by some artificial intelligence. Kyuok Kim highlights that in 2016, the Korean government started to build a test driving ground – similar to the Zala zone in Hungary. “The area that was completed last year is used to test the performance of autonomous vehicles and we designed the facilities used there. Another important research activity was the preparation of policy guidelines for the government regarding the standards for autonomous vehicles to be taken into consideration when they are preparing legislation. As project manager, I have been involved in creating policy guidelines for ethical and technical considerations.”

KOREAN AND HUNGARIAN EXPERTS DISCUSS THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORTATION

In commemoration of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Hungary, a ’Smart Mobility for Smart City’ seminar was hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Budapest. Diplomacy&Trade had the opportunity to talk to two Korean researchers who attended the event.

Young-Jun Moon (pictured on the right), Chief Director and Senior Research Fellow at the National Innovative Technology Cluster (Sejong) at the Korea Transport Institute pointed out that “we are looking into the possibility of future mobility up to the year 2040. By 2020, the target is that we have to change our transportation issues to be greener and smarter. By ‘smart’, I mean utilizing communication and information technology and ‘green’ means we utilize electric vehicles for sustainable transportation. We also want to make smart and green those people who use these means of transportation.” Kyuok Kim, Head of the Center for Autonomous Driving and Future Vehicles at the Department of the Fourth Industrial Revolution & Transport at KOTI, added that “Every five years, we draw up master plans for vehicle policy. We have shortterm, medium term and long-term plans and we see 2025 as the deadline for completing some of the projects regarding autonomous vehicles.”

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As Young-Jun Moon projected, “in 2040, you will sit in your car that has no control functions like a wheel or things like that. You will simply ask your car, like nowadays you use an application on your mobile phone, to go somewhere and the vehicle will take you to the desired destination door-to-door. Say, by 2030, there is a mediumterm target that in some areas you can drive by yourself but in some designated zones, you can ask your vehicle to drive you in automatic mode. That is what we call the ‘Level 3 version of the automated vehicle’ and by 2040, there will be Level 4 or Level 5 vehicles.” According to Kyuok Kim, “mobility integration and innovation will make a new society by 2040.”

Humans and technology Kyuok Kim believes that “human drivers' behavior will change by adopting new technologies. In the future, the traditional vehicles and autonomous vehicles will both be on the road and that causes some problem of communication how the general vehicle and the automated vehicle communicate with each other. I think it will take a long time until we can find an efficient way for this communication to work and that is when regulations come into the picture. Autonomous vehicles will only be allowed to move within a limited area. For instance, an autonomous shuttle or bus we'll have to use a dedicated lane on the road.”

Environment

Young-Jun Moon stated that regulations will play an important role. “The machine is running, the machine is moving – the question is how we can make it smoothly adapt to benefit the people within a social environment. When you drive by yourself, you are protected by the law and you have insurance, etc. With version Level 3 automation coming, some of the vehicles will be allowed to move automatically on certain parts of the road. What happens in case of an accident, who will be responsible? There is a reason why we are now working on some sort of harmonization solution in cooperation with lawmakers and all the stakeholders in this area as to what kind of regulation to establish. We have to be patient and do this step by step and not overnight in some revolutionary mode.”

Young-Jun Moon stresses that if a new electric vehicle is introduced in Korea people immediately want to try it because, with such a vehicle, they make a small contribution to saving planet Earth. “This way, we don't have emission problems from fossil fuel, however, we still have the problem of congestion, etc. Someone quite justifiably asks the question where the electricity comes from. We try to figure out what is the best way forward in this respect, for instance, we can offer the example of shared vehicles and automated mobility. We are trying to increase people's awareness not to drive their car everyday if they don't need to because by sharing a shuttle, we contribute to saving the globe, to having better quality of life and even saving some space that would be used for parking in big cities – saving the environment and paying more attention to sustainability.”

HARANGOZÓ

For a greener and smarter future

Travel in 2040

photos by DÁVID

The seminar, organized in cooperation with the Korea Transport Institute (KOTI), the Korea Transportation Safety Authority (KOTSA), the Hungarian Ministry of Innovation and Technology, the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Hungarian Institute of Transport Sciences (KTI), the Ányos Jedlik Cluster and the Zala Automotive Proving Ground, focused on e-mobility, connected autonomous vehicles, and from a broader perspective, on the future of transportation.

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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 HUNGARY: A TRULY WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE ENJOYING THE LANDSCAPE OF BUDAPEST AND THE COUNTRYSIDE BY DR. ENIOLA AJAYI, AMBASSADOR OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA TO HUNGARY

My most pleasurable pastime is enjoying the beauty of nature. Upon my arrival in Budapest, on that faithful day in October 2017, I was enthralled with the beautiful landscape.

bishop of Veszprém was entitled to crown the queens of Hungary. The cathedral was built in 1767. There are so many things to see there. It is also noteworthy how clean the various towns and cities that I have had the privilege to visit are. I think a lot of credit goes to all those who work round the clock to ensure a pristine environment. One even wonders when they clean the streets or if Hungarians generate waste like we see in other parts of the world. I also wonder whether the fact that paper or nylon bags are not given for free in most supermarkets has helped the reduction of waste.

The driver took me along the River Danube as he wove his way around houses and streets built along the natural plains and hills. There were no signs of erosion because natural landscape formations had not been disturbed. The beautiful architecture in ancient and modern styles dotting the landscape never ceases to impress me. I also noticed the optimum land coverage of pavement and grass that prevented the incidence of loose topsoil and thus created a healthy atmosphere.

Architecture and environment

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OF NIGERIA

Stories behind places I saw the amazing demarcation of Buda and Pest by the River Danube, as I would later come to know. I was regaled with stories about how the merging of Buda and Pest was initially called Pest-Buda but later renamed Budapest. The masterful way in which the River was cordoned off with amazing bridges has kept me fascinated and inspired, especially seeing how each bridge has its own place in local history and some are linked to myths that are impossible to ignore within the history and continued existence of the Hungarian people. I have come to enjoy the beauty of these bridges both night and day whether in winter or summer. I love the stories behind the Chain bridge, the beauty of the Elizabeth Bridge and the myth behind the Margaret Bridge. Understanding the latter requires a visit to the captivating oasis in the middle of Budapest called Margaret Island. Exploring the island is a pleasant and peaceful experience on its own. Just a walk or bicycle ride under the shade of those giant trees is a truly delightful experience, not to mention the various facilities for relaxation.

At peace with the environment Another notable feature is the attention paid to the planting, pruning and preservation of trees and greenery around the country. Hungary is the poster country for being at peace with the environment and a significant understanding of w w w . d t e u r o p e . c o m

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▶ AMBASSADOR AJAYI WITH A FRIEND AT THE CITADELLA our roles in mitigating climate change. Every time I take a glimpse outside my residence window or even across the street from my office, my heart blesses those who took time to plant the roses that are now blooming and the lush trees. It feels as if respect for the Earth, nature and beauty, as ordained by God, was woven into the DNA of the Hungarian people and state. This is one experience I wish we could have as a template for all the countries in the world.

Historic towns It is amazing how beautiful it is to walk through the towns and villages in Hungary. I have enjoyed walking around the cultural streets of Szentendre. The paved streets, music wafting from different angles, the ceramics and various works of art, the restaurants and shops amalgamating into a truly unique cultural experience is refreshing. Another town worth mentioning is Veszprém. The town oozes with history. It boasts the first seat of a Catholic Bishop in Hungary. Based on the tradition, the

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It would be a disservice to talk about my experience in Hungary without mentioning the sprawling architecture right in the heart of Budapest, the architectural edifice called the Hungarian Parliament. It is not the imposing beauty of the building that I find interesting. It is the creativity, art and design inside that building. Every inch of the ceiling, every fragment of the walls, every pillar and every portion of the floor is a magnificent work of art. The paintings, the sculptures, the decorations are simply spectacular. Each experience in that building is worth writing home about. The way that Hungarians have conquered their environment and utilized it optimally is a class act. I note with pleasure how almost every region has carved a niche for itself. On my first weekend in Hungary, I visited St. Lawrence's Roman Catholic Parish Church in Nyárlőrinc, which was being consecrated after some renovation works. I learnt that the bottled apple juice that was served with our lunch was produced in the village. I have been to a couple of wineries and each region boasts of its own grape varieties and the particular wine they produce with passion and dedication, even if not in a huge quantity.

Nigeria. At the Ikogosi resort one can witness the wonder of nature where cold and hot water meet and flow side by side for a few meters. I will definitely be back for that lake-cave experience. We rounded up our adventure by having lunch at the Szent Donát Winery and Bistro in Csopak. The lunch was great, the wine was nice and the view from that restaurant was spectacular. I made a mental note to return sooner than later. My visit to the Hámori Lake and my experience at Lake Balaton – the Hungarian sea – is a story for another day. I cannot completely capture the beauty of this great country in one piece as I continue to explore the caves, hills and plains. The breathtaking beauty is beyond words, it can only be experienced by one’s sight and soul. I recommend this surreal beauty in the heart of Europe called Hungary. It has been a truly wonderful experience of beauty, adventure and pleasure for me.

Tapolca and Ikogosi My latest captivating adventure was the trip I took with some of my colleagues under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to the Tapolca Lake Cave. Riding in pairs with an escort in those small boats while avoiding the low ceilings of the cave is quite an experience. It simply opened my mind to endless possibilities for our tourism sector in Nigeria. It immediately reminded me of what we could do with our Ikogosi Warm Spring in Ekiti State,

▶ AMBASSADOR AJAYI WITH HER COUSINS IN SZENTENDRE

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culture

FRIENDSHIP AND LOVE

I were interested in why it was that Marie, who was only 18 and a virgin when her relationship with Pierre started, decided not to sleep with her husband on their wedding night but gave her virginity to a man who was not the type recommended to respectable ladies: he had relationships with a lot of women, including prostitutes, and photographed them. How was it possible that an 18-year-old innocent girl who married a man in order to pay her father’s gambling debts? How come she asked Pierre to take her virginity and take immoral photos of her? How had she heard of Zohra, Pierre’s Algerian lover, and the pictures he had taken of her and why did she want the same kind of photos to be taken of herself?”

CURIOSA – AN ADAPTATION OF A REAL-LIFE STORY FROM THE ‘BELLE EPOQUE’

To pay off her father's debts, Marie de Heredia marries the poet Henri de Regnier, but it is Pierre Louÿs whom she loves, a poet who is an erotomaniac and a great traveler. It is with him that she will have an introduction to love and eroticism through the photographic and literary link that they invent together. Director Lou Jeunet gives Diplomacy&Trade an insight into why she has chosen this theme for her f irst feature f ilm and how she intends to portray friendship and love through this network of relationships.

Friendship or love? When the director is confronted with the question whether ‘Curiosa’ is about friendship or love, she has a quick and definite answer: “Both. For me, it was interesting that the friendship between Henri and Pierre remained intact. They could have become eternal enemies but still, they remained friends. It is like the François Truffaut film ‘Jules and Jim’ where nothing, not even a woman, can break the real friendship between two men. I was very much interested in why they remain friends despite ‘sharing’ Marie.”

Tragic moment

A real story with invented scenes

In real life, Pierre Louÿs wrote a book entitled ‘The Woman and the Puppet’ that served as a basis for Luis Buñuel’s movie ‘That Obscure Object of Desire’. The director considers that an incredible book. “I love it – just as I love Buñuel’s film, excerpts of which I showed the actors and actresses when shooting my movie. Pierre was really a puppet – that of two

The movie was inspired by true events but Lou Jeunet, who was one of the scriptwriters herself, changed the original real-life story somewhat. “When I started shooting the film, I was really interested in who was setting the venue for the photos: whether it was Marie de Régnier or Pierre Louÿs who wanted to take

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women, Marie and her younger sister, Louise. There was also a cruel relationship between Henri de Régnier and Pierre. In fact, Henri de Régnier wrote a book dedicated to his friend, Pierre with the words ‘To Pierre, who is a puppet between two women’. Yes, Pierre was a puppet whom Marie convinced to marry Louise. My co-scriptwriter, Raphaëlle Desplechin and

Network of relationships The whole story is a multilateral set of bilateral relationships. “With my co-scriptwriter, I wanted to create combinations from duos: relationships between two people that become a network of relations. For instance, the physical relationship between Marie and Zohra. The role of this scene was to show how Zohra teaches sexual freedom to Marie. So, there you have their duo, then, also that of the two sisters (Marie and Louise) and that of Henri and Pierre,” she adds.

Next movie “I am working on a very modern film and I am still in the phase of writing the script. The two shooting locations will be France and Poland. The basic story is about an aging actress who has long been away from filming but would like to return to acting. I will examine beauty. What is beauty? A still picture or something that is constantly moving? Another major theme of the movie will be motherhood as this aging actress has a daughter whose upbringing she neglects because she is very busy shooting movies, the daughter was just growing up beside her,” Lou Jeunet concludes.

Moving the puppet

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erotic photos of the woman in her husband’s apartment – who was the ‘driving force’? Yes, the movie is about the real-life relationship between Marie and Pierre. Based on this real story, I wrote a script that also allowed my imagination to run wild. I was interested, for instance, in the role of the betrayed husband. Interestingly enough – and this is a part that I wrote into the story –, Henri, the husband, also wanted his share of the erotic experience and listened to Marie and Pierre while they were in the other room. Also, in another invented scene, Marie and Zohra, Pierre’s North African lover, make love. In reality, Marie de Régnier did have lesbian relationships but not with Zohra. Here, I changed the original story a bit as I wanted to convey a message of how important female sensuality was for Marie and for people in that era,” she says.

photos by DÁVID

“I have long wanted to cover this theme of Marie de Régnier and Pierre Louÿs falling in love with each other through photos. That is why I chose this topic for my debut on the big screen,” Lou Jeunet says. The story takes place during the ‘Belle Epoque’, at the end of the 19th century in Paris – an optimal time and place for the arts to flourish. She stresses that “this era was not so ‘belle’ for everybody in France, although, I was not shooting a description of society but a love story, making a movie in which images, the erotic photos, have a very significant role in the relationship of Marie de Régnier and Pierre Louÿs. I wanted to describe this in an elitist environment. My film takes place at the time when cinema appeared but at the same time, that was the era when servants and workers are treated badly and industrialization took the lives of many people.”

Family friend Jean de Tinan’s role in the movie was to show that one can fall victim to romantic love. “He is a character who does not think of the relationship between a man and a woman the same way as others in the movie. We depict his death in the movie as a suicide but that is not entirely true – he basically died of his relationship with Marie and of love. Marie once asks Pierre ‘how about me having a lover?’ and Pierre forbids it. It meant that Pierre did not want Marie to be as free as he was. However, Marie demanded this freedom for herself and Jean’s role in the movie became that of someone for whom love can be lethal,” the director explains.

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culture NATIONALISM IS LOVING YOUR COMPATRIOTS ISRAELI AUTHOR SAYS “WE HAVE TO FIGHT FOR OUR INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM”

Following a lecture at the Central European University in Budapest on nationalism and globalism, Israeli professor Yuval Noah Harari talked about these and other issues in a panel discussion organized by the Hungarian publisher of his books, Animus Publishing House, in the Hungarian capital recently. One of today's most influential thinkers, Yuval Noah Harari is an Israeli historian read by millions around the world. His best-selling books include ‘Sapiens: A Brief History of Mankind’, ‘Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow’ and, most recently, ‘21 Lessons for the 21st Century’. His popularity is partly due to a new approach to history, a search for answers beyond the usual ones, particularly in the field of biology, and partly to his many public appearances. In Budapest, he was taking questions like ‘What is happening in the world today and what is the deeper meaning of the events around us?’ and giving his views on the subjects that he believes threaten the survival of humanity.

photo by DÁVID

HARANGOZÓ

Evolutionary ‘buttons’ In his presentation at the CEU, ‘The Bright Side of Nationalism’, he drew attention to the fact that essentially, nationalism made it possible for Homo sapiens to overcome tribal wars, to trust unknown people who, although, we do not personally know them, are similar to us. As reported by ekultura.hu, he repeatedly emphasized that nationalism should not be based on the hatred of outsiders, but on the love of compatriots. However, we must be alert and cautious, he said, as the evolutionary ‘buttons’ of fear and hatred are much easier to activate than to encourage people to cooperate and think. He also pointed out that the processing of national traumas requires the same amount of investment in time and energy as the weathering of personal shocks. And if the right effort is not made, the wounds are just as easy to re-open – and it is just as easy to manipulate a nation as it is a single person. w w w . d t e u r o p e . c o m

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Questions for humanity Before the panel discussion, Harari’s Hungarian publisher recalled that his first book, ‘Sapiens’, dealt with mankind’s past, exploring how an ‘insignificant monkey’ gradually became the sole master of the planet over millions of years. The second, ‘Homo Deus’, explored the future of life, pondering how the human being can eventually become a god, and what might be the meaning of reason and consciousness. In his work ‘21 Lessons for the 21st Century’, Harari focused on the present and immediate future of human societies. God is back? Is a new World War approaching? Which civilization dominates the world? Does Europe leave the gates open to migrants? Why is liberal democracy in crisis? Can nationalism solve the problems of inequality and climate change? What can we do against the epidemics of fake news? These are the questions – among other things – that Harari's ‘21 lessons for the 21st century’ asks. The book is not meant to be a historical narrative but a collection of selected lessons. However, these lessons do not provide simple answers. The aim is to encourage further thinking and help readers participate in the important dialogues of our time.

Global threats At the panel discussion, the world-renowned historian spoke of the effects of globalization, politics, the impact of major power games on society, and the forces most likely to affect the future of mankind and the planet. “Today's people are essentially concerned with the same thoughts all over the world, such as the nuclear and climate catastrophe, the excessive proliferation of artificial intelligence, and deepening social gaps

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that threaten technological progress. However, certain political forces are consciously diverting attention from these real problems by affecting our senses based on our ancient instincts,” Harari said. He sees the key to solving this problem in tackling manipulation. "Appropriate self-knowledge and ‘self-defense’ against manipulation! This means the liberation of the individual, the true spiritual freedom. However, we have to fight for our spiritual freedom!” He asked the audience questions like ’What do you think are the biggest threats to humans today? Climate change? Migration? Technological decay? Nuclear winter? Terrorism? Human miserliness?’ According to Harari, the biggest threat is that we do not to pay attention to real dangers, but rather to what politicians or social media want to make us see. Our attention is ‘abducted’, and we turn a blind eye to important issues – such as a possible nuclear war or the effects of mass automatization. This may even become a sort of modern colonialism in the near future, with Californian and Chinese giant companies collecting mass data, analyzing it and developing more marketable products to re-sell . And no one will have a chance to get into this two-pole race.

The EU in power games We hear a lot about the European Union nowadays: European Parliament elections, Brexit, such and such European Union tenders, the EU crisis ... what awaits Europe and what will Hungary's future be like. According to Harari, on the one hand, the European Union has been the most successful attempt in world history to co-ordinate people of different cultures and

languages, but on the other hand, it was rather naive to think that members will forever share the stated and unspoken values, such as belief in democracy. Internal debates also have advantages, but in a broader perspective, the picture is quite daunting, he said. ”The European Union, for example, is nowhere compared to the United States and China in terms of technological competition, although, it should be playing a balancing role between the two great powers. That is because whoever comes out winning the US-China competition, chances are that all mankind will be the loser if we fail to properly regulate the development of killer robots and artificial intelligences.” As far as the latter is concerned, Harari believes that there is a need for a different direction in the development of artificial intelligence – one, which is not aimed at monitoring individuals for the government or companies (as in the Chinese or American model), but for the public to observe the government in order to balance power.

Manipulating choices In summary, the Israeli historian stressed that there are countless ways in which companies, politicians, media players, algorithms try to grab our attention, to manipulate our choices every day, to divert attention from the really important but often unpleasant questions by referring to free will. The good news is that we don't have to fall for them. By making conscious decisions, we can all contribute to solving the problems, which will help us focus attention on really important issues and problems. As Harari said: Brexit and the refugee crisis will not destroy humanity on the face of the Earth, but climate change, a nuclear war, or technology may do just that…

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society Russia Day Vladimir Sergeev, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Hungary hosted a reception in the Embassy building in Budapest to celebrate his country’s National Day, which commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR) on June 12, 1990.

Queen’s Birthday Party Iain Lindsay, Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland welcomed fellow members of the diplomatic community, British nationals in Hungary and other guests to a reception in the garden of his residence in the Buda Hills in June to celebrate the 93rd birthday of Queen Elisabeth II.

Swedish National Day and Farewell Party

DÁVID HARANGOZÓ

Swedish Ambassador Niclas Trouvé held the Summer Garden Party at his residence in the Buda Hills to mark the National Day of Sweden as well his farewell as Ambassador after a tenure of close to five years in Hungary. The June 6 National Day commemorates Gustav Vasa becoming king in 1523 and the adoption of a new constitution in 1809.

Day of Portugal

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Maria José Morais Pires, Ambassador of the Republic of Portugal invited guests to her residence in the Buda Hills to celebrate the National Day of Portugal and the Portuguese Communities. The holiday commemorates the death of national literary icon Luís de Camões on June 10, 1580. J U L Y

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society Croatia Statehood Day Dr. Mladen Andrlić, Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to Hungary welcomed guests to a reception at the Museum of Military History in the Buda Castle to celebrate the Day of Croatian Statehood and, at the same time, the 6th anniversary of Croatia joining the European Union.

Diplomatic Spouses Excursion Anita Herczegh, the wife of Hungarian President János Áder, regularly invites members of the Diplomatic Spouses of Budapest (DSB) to excursions in Hungary that, according to DSB, “foster multicultural relationships and bring new friendships among us”. This excursion took the group to two historical sites in northwestern Hungary: the Esterházy Mansion in Fertőd and the Széchenyi Mansion in Nagycenk.

Slovenia Independence Day On the occasion of the Statehood Day and 28th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Slovenia, the country’s Ambassador to Hungary, Dr. Robert Kokalj, welcomed guests to a reception in the historic Elisabeth Lookout Tower on János Hill.

Canada Day

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HARANGOZÓ, NOÉMI BRUZÁK/MTI, EMBASSY OF SLOVENIA

At the end of June, Canadian Ambassador Isabelle Poupart celebrated Canada Day at the Festetics Palace in downtown Budapest with a host of attendees. July 1, 1867 was the effective date of the Constitution Act, which united the three separate colonies of the Province of Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick into a single dominion called ‘Canada’ within the British Empire. With her threeyear tenure soon coming to an end, this was also a farewell event for Ambassador Poupart who is moving to Berlin in August to become the Deputy Head of Mission at the Canadian Embassy to Germany.

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HUNGARIAN F1 GRAND PRIX 2019

AUGUST 2-4, MOGYORÓD The Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix takes place at Hungaroring (often referred to as the citadel of motor sports) just east of Budapest. The event has become a mainstay of the racing calendar. Due to the nature of the track, narrow, twisty and often dusty because of under-use, the Hungarian Grand Prix is compared to the Monaco races, with many cars often following one another, unable to pass. The F1 Grand Prix in Budapest has been organized every year since 1986, and each year, hotels, apartments and restaurants fill up with people coming to Hungary to see and experience the spectacular event. www.formula1.com

VALLEY OF ARTS

JULY 19 - 28, KÁLI-MEDENCE (APPROX. 150 KM FROM BUDAPEST) Művészetek Völgye (Valley of the Arts) takes place near the northern shore of Lake Balaton in a number of tiny villages: Kapolcs, Taliándörögd and Vigántpetend. Hungary's largest multi-art festival welcomes visitors for the 28th year with 26 stages and 40 exhibition yards. The secret of its constantly growing popularity lies in the liberated atmosphere, according to most visitors. This year’s festival will feature fairs and family programs, poetry and movie nights, yoga and cooking workshops, in addition to a number of blues, folk, pop, rock and jazz concerts. Both Hungarian bands and international performers will take the stage, including Alice Francis, the Boban Markovic Orkestar, Amber Run, Carbonfools, Sian Evans Kosheen, High Corporation, Mary Popkids, Quimby, Anna and the Barbies, Anima Sound System, and Muzsikás, to name only a few. www.muveszetekvolgye.hu

MARK KNOPFLER

JULY 9, PAPP LÁSZLÓ BUDAPEST SPORTARÉNA Hailed as one of the greatest guitarists of all time, Mark Knopfler has sold in excess of 120 million albums across his Dire Straits and solo career, and many of his songs have become standards, including ‘Money For Nothing’, ‘Sultans Of Swing’, ‘Romeo & Juliet’ and ‘Walk Of Life’. He has also created film soundtracks for Local Hero, The Princess Bride and Cal. In addition to producing his own records, Knopfler has also produced albums for Bob Dylan and Randy Newman, among others. Knopfler was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1999 and was given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Ivor Novellos in 2012. In support of his forthcoming ninth studio album ‘Down the Road Wherever,’ Mark Knopfler, whose world tour kicked off in April, has always viewed touring as an integral part of the process of releasing an album, going from songwriting through recording and ending up on the road performing old and new songs. “My songs are made to be performed live. I love the whole process of writing them alone and then recording them with the band, but ultimately the best part is playing them to an audience live. I enjoy the whole circus; travelling from town to town and interacting with this group of players is a total pleasure. I’m really looking forward to it.” ‘Down The Road Wherever’ features 14 slow-paced, elegant new Knopfler songs inspired by a wide range of subjects, including his early days in Deptford with Dire Straits, a stray football fan lost in a strange town, the compulsion of a musician hitching home through the snow, and a man out of time in his local greasy spoon cafe. Mark has a poet’s eye for details that infuse his songs with his unique psycho-geography – ‘where the Delta meets the Tyne’ as he describes it – his warm Geordie vocal tone and his deft, richly melodic guitar playing are as breathtaking and thrilling as ever. www.livenation.hu

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UNTIL AUGUST 14, BUDAPEST ZOO The annual summer concert series at Budapest’s Zoo kicks off in July with light jazz, pop and klezmer concerts at the Main Entrance Square, starting at 8.30PM. Before the performance begins, concert goers may take a walk through the Zoo that opens for these evening events at 7PM. JULY 10 Kozma Orsi Quartet: Woody & the Swing JULY 17 Budapest Klezmer Band JULY 24 Bernstein: The Jazz Side Story JULY 31 Tamás Bényei & the Gramohonia Hot Jazz Orchestra AUGUST 7 Malek Andi Soulistic AUGUST 14 Júlia Karosi: a pinch of Broadway, featuring George Gershwin www.zoobudapest.com/concerts

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EVENING CONCERTS AT THE ZOO

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JULY 24, DÜRER KERT Alien Weaponry is a heavy metal band from Waipu, New Zealand, formed in 2010 by brothers Henry and Lewis de Jong. The band consists of Lewis de Jong (guitar and vocals), Henry de Jong (drums), and Ethan Trembath (bass guitar). All three members have Māori ancestry and several of their songs are written in the Māori language. The band’s musical style has been described as “nü-metal tinged thrash”, and “thrashing groove-metal” with the band naming Metallica, Rage Against the Machine, and Lamb of God as inspirations. They are also often likened to a Māori version of Roots era Sepultura, both for their musical style and the infusion of indigenous culture into their music. www.livenation.hu

BARBARIAN NIGHTS (OR THE FIRST DAWNING LIGHTS OF THE WORLD)

JULY 18, MARGARET ISLAND OPEN-AIR STAGE Hervé Koubi, a French choreographer of Algerian descent, drew from his background in Mediterranean culture when creating his second performance work, Barbarian Nights. In this production, the dozen Algerian and West African men brilliantly blend contemporary style with urban and street dance, as well as capoeira and a variety of martial arts disciplines. With his balletic choreography, Koubi enchantingly evokes our several-million-year history. Who were the Barbarians? They were a mysterious seafaring people we practically know nothing about, even though they left behind countless ancient artifacts, and even the Bible refers to them. Join this unforgettable journey accompanied by Wagner, Mozart, Fauré, and traditional Algerian music. www.szabadter.hu

12TH ÖRDÖGKATLAN FESTIVAL

JULY 30 - AUGUST 3, NEAR PÉCS This pan-art festival has selected several locations for its events, namely Nagyharsány, Kisharsány and Palkonya. As in the past, the festival will highlight art forms from basket weaving to music, theater, literature and fine arts. Open-air concerts and shows will be performed by the Tiger Lillies, Iva Bittova, Mitch&Mitch, the Summer Rebellion, Chris Potter, René Trossmann, the Wombo Orchestra, Félix Lajkó, and many more. www.ordogkatlan.hu

8TH PALOZNAK JAZZ PICNIC

AUGUST 1-3, PALOZNAK ‘Jazz, Wine, Balaton!’ is the slogan of this annual summer fest, which is a winning combo of great wines and an array of international star performers at Lake Balaton. Organized by a local winery, Homola Pincészet and the Municipality of Paloznak, the festival is one of Hungary’s most charming summer events: the streets in the tiny village of Paloznak fill with music and people strolling around with a wine glass in hand while the garden of the Folk House turns into a live music venue. The main stage is traditionally set up on the edge of the village, and the audience is encouraged to lounge in the grass. The festival also stands for quality in terms of gastronomy: the most popular restaurants of Lake Balaton's northern shore will be catering. The picnic vibes include picnic baskets, cooled wines, local farmers’ delicacies (such as artisanal cheeses and hams, ice cream and pálinka variations) and picnic blankets. Paloznak Jazz Picnic presents a star-studded program this year: the international and Hungarian line-up includes Rick Astley, The Jacksons, The Brand New Heavies, Maceo Parker as well as the Peet Project. During the festival, a dedicated bus service will transport guests between Paloznak and their accommodations in nearby towns such as Balatonfüred, Csopak, Balatonalmádi and Alsóörs. www.jazzpiknik.hu

THE SURREALIST MOVEMENT FROM DALÍ TO MAGRITTE

UNTIL OCTOBER 20, HUNGARIAN NATIONAL GALLERY The Museum of Fine Arts – Hungarian National Gallery will mount a large-scale exhibition of surrealist works of art. The show, organized in conjunction with the Centre Pompidou, is primarily based on a selection from the rich collection of the Parisian institution. The exhibition documents the main trends of Surrealism, its central figures and outstanding artists through the extremely eventful period in the movement’s history, the year 1929 fraught with personal and artistic conflicts. One of the most noteworthy moments of 1929 was the appearance of Salvador Dalí of Catalonia on the Parisian art scene and his taking the leading role in the group of surrealists. His film made together with Louis Buñuel, Un chien Andalou, debuted that year, and was the first masterpiece of surrealist moving pictures, confirming that the unique perspective and new artistic approach advocated by the movement can be coupled with the most varied technical solutions. The show provides a broad overview of the works made at the time by the surrealists, including Salvador Dalí, Max Ernst, Joan Miró, Yves Tanguy, René Magritte, Pablo Picasso and Francis Picabia. Surrealist photography is represented at the exhibition by the works of Man Ray and Brassaï. www.mng.hu

VAJDAHUNYADVÁR CASTLE SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL 2019

UNTIL AUGUST 1 VAJDAHUNYAD CASTLE IN CITY PARK Enjoy a great selection of classical, gipsy, swing and k lezmer music, world hits and bar mood pop music in the very heart of Budapest, at a beautiful, enchanting venue, every Monday and Thursday throughout July. JULY 9 Hungarian Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra JULY 12 MÁV Symphony Orchestra: A Night of Romance JULY 15 Katica Illényi concert JULY 18 Monarchia Operett: Operett Gala JULY 22 Budapest Bar JULY 25 Budapest Strings: from Bach to Vivaldi JULY 29 Sabbathsong Klezmer Band AUGUST 1 The 100-member Gypsy Orchestra www.vajdahunyad.hu

photos by

LIVE NATION, FREDERIQUE CALLOCH, MÁRTON GÁSPÁR, RENÉ MAGRITTE/THE RED MODEL/1935©ADAGP-PARIS, SALVADOR DALÍ/INVISIBLE SLEEPING WOMAN, HORSE, LION/1930©SALVADOR DALÍ-FUNDACIÓ GALA/ADAGP-PARIS, DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM, PALOZNAK JAZZPIKNIK

ALIEN WEAPONRY

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hospitality

To mark the occasion, hundreds of hotels around the world are extending Hilton hospitality beyond their doors by taking “Random Acts of Hospitality” to their communities – from Chicago to Shanghai, from Dublin to Dubai and everywhere in between, including Budapest.

Hilton Budapest recently celebrated Hilton Hotel’s centennial anniversary in style, with a week-long series of programs, focusing on its guests, as well as its employees and the community. The staff was invited on a culinary journey around the world, guests received birthday cookies, while a spontaneous birthday celebration was held by the hotel at the Fishermen’s Bastion, offering muffins and balloons to residents of the Buda castle district and the tourists who were lucky enough to be present (see video in QR). “However, the celebration is not over yet, we keep on celebrating throughout the year,” the hotel’s GM Peter Knoll noted. “Another 100-year-period has just begun. We will continue our work with passion and in line with the vision marked by our founder Conrad Hilton: filling the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality by delivering exceptional experiences to every guest, every time,” Knoll added. In a statement, Chris Nassetta, President and CEO of Hilton said, “one hundred years ago, Conrad Hilton had a noble idea that travel can make the world a better place. That deep-rooted sense of purpose has fueled our transformative impact all across the globe, as we have welcomed 3 billion guests, employed 10 million Team Members and contributed USD 1 trillion in economic impact. And in the years to come, we will do even more to positively change the world through our Hilton Effect Foundation,” he added, referring to the establishment of

HILTON CELEBRATES MILESTONE 100 TH ANNIVERSARY

POP-UP BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION IN BUDAPEST

BUDAPEST JOINS GLOBAL CELEBRATIONS WITH PASSION AND SURPRISES

a new foundation that will become the company’s primary philanthropic arm internationally. The Foundation launched 15 grants to organizations that will support communities around the world. These inaugural grants support programs around the globe that are creating opportunities for youth, aiding in disaster recovery, and supporting water stewardship and sustainability. “Our 100th year of hospitality is an opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come and put a stake in the

ground for our future. Conrad Hilton charted an ambitious course for Hilton in 1919, and I think he’d be proud of what we’ve accomplished so far,” Nassetta summarized.

app). Hilton properties even invented the brownie (in 1893 at The Palmer House) and the piña colada (in 1954 at the Hilton Caribe in Puerto Rico), and opened the world’s first underwater hotel suite at the Conrad Maldive Rangali Island in 2018. Hilton hotels have been the stage for some of the world’s most iconic events, from the first “bed-in for peace” which took place at Hilton Amsterdam 50 years ago, to the world’s first mobile phone call that took place in front of The New York Hilton Midtown in 1973. Hilton today offers 17 distinctive brands across 113 countries and territories, with more than 5,700 properties. By 2020, Hilton plans to expand to nearly 20 additional countries. There are already more than 2,400 hotels in Hilton’s construction pipeline, and approximately one of every five hotel rooms under construction around the world is a Hilton.

The storied Hilton history in a nutshell Founded in 1919 in the tiny town of Cisco, Texas, Hilton has pioneered the travel industry for decades, introducing and globalizing the mini-bar (in 1974 at Hong Kong Hilton), room service, air-conditioned lobbies and airport hotels (with San Francisco Airport Hilton). The company was also the first to install televisions in guest rooms (in 1947, starting at the Roosevelt Hilton in New York) and to implement computerized reservation systems (in 1973), as well as introducing the Connected Room (the first hotel room allowing guests to unlock their doors and control their lights, thermostat and TV with a smartphone

freestyle wines

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HILTON

borok szabadon phone: +36 30 968 5340, web: szolo.eu, facebook: szolo.tokaj, instagram: szolowine

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gastronomy

HUNGARICUM COCKTAILS

‘LIVE ON THE TERRACE’ RETURNS TO THE DANUBE PROMENADE InterContinental Budapest’s summer event series titled ‘Live on the Terrace’ is back again this year. Visitors can enjoy live music and culinary treats while sipping cocktails inspired by Hungarian inventions as they take in one of the most beautiful sunset views Budapest can offer.

Throughout the summer, Thursdays will be all about Latin rhythms, with the Mai Rumba band performing in the bar, while on Fridays guests in the Corso Restaurant can enjoy acoustic music. Besides the music, a complete culinary experience awaits guests who are invited to actively participate in the preparation of their own dinner, using the popular Green Egg ceramic grill. On Saturdays, a DJ and a singer will ‘jazz up’ the atmosphere on the terrace. Having returned home after years of gaining experience abroad, Chef Gergő Gullner is in charge of Corso Restaurant’s kitchen, and his goal is to reinvent Hungarian traditions in the light of his international exposure. By transforming traditional dishes, he explores regional gastronomy from the Dalmatian seaside to the Tatra mountains in Slovakia. Gullner, an avid proponent of the globally popular ‘zero waste’ trend, uses locally available, in-season ingredients (every bit of them, according to ‘basic rules’). Keeping sustainability in mind,

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photos by INTERCONTINENTAL,

BERTALAN ÁDÁM, LÁSZLÓ BALKÁNYI

it’s handy that a bio garden has been created on the rooftop of InterContinental Budapest hotel, where herbs, paprika, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant and strawberries are grown. “We’d like to introduce high-quality Hungarian ingredients to the guests of the hotel bar as well, so we are offering Hungarian pálinka and gin,” the chef notes. “Our cocktails are inspired by worldfamous Hungarian inventions such as the Rubik’s cube and the Biro pen, and come in unexpected tastes, forms and design. One of our cocktails is a homage to Hungarian biochemist and Nobel Prize winner Albert Szent-Györgyi, who is credited for discovering and isolating vitamin C. The spectacular vodka-based cocktail includes sour tasting vitamin C pills finely pulverized in a mortar and the fresh flavors are highlighted by the addition of tonic water. The Corso Elixír is also freshly prepared and the roasted cocktail tomatoes and fresh herbs come from the rooftop bio garden,” the chef reveals. Guests can enjoy the complex culinary and musical experience of ‘Live on the Terrace’ until September.

AGARDI.HU

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LOCALLY FOCUSED. GLOBALLY CONNECTED. For over 200 years, we’ve made it our job to enable companies, public sector entities and institutions to transact, finance, invest, and grow. We’re proud to keep this spirit of enterprise going strong in Hungary, putting the combined strengths of our Banking and our Service Centre teams to work to help Citi clients make progress around the world.

citibank.hu

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