JUNE 2020 HUF 1710
THANK YOU! on page 09
EUR 6
SEE REPORT ON DONATIONS TO HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
SENIOR PHYSICIAN ILONA TINYEI IN THE WARD SET UP TO RECEIVE PATIENTS INFECTED WITH THE CORONAVIRUS IN BUDAPEST’S SZENT JÁNOS HOSPITAL – (THE PICTURE IS PART OF A SERIES ABOUT HEALTHCARE WORKERS)
Italian Republic Day
On June 2, 2020, Italians celebrated the 74th anniversary of the foundation of the Italian Republic. As Ambassador Massimo Rustico puts it, this day also means “sharing and constantly living values such as justice, democracy, equality and solidarity,” especially in such an extraordinary and dramatic moment of history as this one due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as you can read in the special Italian compilation, Italy is back, opening up to business and welcoming foreign tourists. see more on pages 10-15
Sparkling South Balaton
South Balaton sparkling wines are on the rise both in quality and recognition. Making sparkling wines in the region has a long tradition: excellent bubblies were produced in Balatonboglár, well before the fall of communism. Ferenc Bujdosó's winery, based in Balatonlelle, is one of the major players of the region, with three generations working together in the vineyards. The winemaker says style is characterized by fruit: “it is the world of more serious Proseccos that we feel attached to.” see article on page 23
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AND DON’T FORGET
monthly in print - daily on the web
05 ON THE RECORD 06-07 COMPANY BRIEFS 08 ANALYSIS
US-China relations in the shadow of the pandemic 09 THANK YOU! Donations to healthcare professionals 10-15 ITALIAN REPUBLIC DAY Ambassador Massimo Rustico; ICE – Italian Trade Agency; Italian Cultural Institute; ENIT – Italy’s National Tourist Board; Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hungary
PUBLISHER: Peter Freed EDITOR: Sándor Laczkó COPY EDITOR: Joyce Freed PHOTO EDITOR: Dávid Harangozó
Borsos/MFAT, Gedeon Richter Plc., Auchan, Tímea Lencsés/JETRO, Embassy of Italy, Esther Horvath, Márton Bornyi, Embassy of Poland, Bodies, Live Nation, broadway.hu, B My Lake, Albrecht Dürer, Dean Chalkley, Sezlony Café, Bujdosó Winery, Ferenc Dancsecs, MTI Photos: Zoltán Balogh, Zsolt Szigetváry Copyright 2004-2020 DUAX Kft., all rights reserved | ISSN 1589-8075 This magazine is produced by DUAX Kft. The opinions published in the magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions of DUAX Kft.
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pages 16-17
16-17 BUDAPEST
Life returning to normal – photos during and after the lockdown 18-19 CULTURE Hungary’s World Press Photo winner, Ester Horvath; Urban Verbunk 20 WITTYLEAKS by the Ambassador of Poland 21 WHAT’S ON Concerts, festivals, events and exhibitions in and out of Budapest 22 GASTRONOMY Sezlony Café 23 WINE Sparkling wines from Bujdosó Winery
Diplomacy & Trade is preparing a special Focus section on Switzerland as the Swiss-Hungarian Chamber of Commerce celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2020 with a series of events throughout the year. In an extensive interview, the Swiss ambassador to Hungary, Peter Burkhard highlights some of the aspects of successful bilateral relations. We also look ahead to the annual Swiss Business Day and cover some of the numerous Swiss companies in Hungary. According data by the National Bank of Hungary, Switzerland is the 5th largest investor in Hungary with about 5% (that is, over EUR four billion) of the total amount of FDI in Hungary coming from the Alpine country. Also, in 2020, the two countries celebrate the 125th anniversary of the birth of Carl Lutz, the Swiss Vice-Consul who rescued tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews from certain death during World War II.
CONTRIBUTORS: Sándor Laczkó, Tamás Magyarics, Réka A. Francisck, Jerzy Snopek PHOTO CONTRIBUTORS: Zoltán Balogh/MTI (Cover), depositphotos.com, DT Archive, CERN, Hungarian Interchurch Aid, Budapest Airport, Zsolt Szathmáry, Mátyás
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Urban Verbunk, a dance created by young Hungarians
page 20
DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM, MÁRTON BORNYI, DÁVID HARANGOZÓ, DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM
The COVID-19 pandemic has put the focus on the sacrificial work of healthcare professionals worldwide. People from all walks of life pulled together to support the tireless and dedicated activities of those caring for the patients. A significant number of donations and offerings were made to express their gratitude. We also thank the doctors, nurses, ambulance workers and others by presenting some of these much appreciated donations from that of a small restaurant to that of a big retail chain. On June 2, Italy celebrates the ‘Festa della Repubblica’, commemorating the institutional referendum passed by universal suffrage in 1946, in which the Italian people were called to the polls to decide on the form of government. In cooperation with the Italian Embassy and other Italian representations in Budapest, Diplomacy&Trade is pleased to present a compilation on multiple aspects of bilateral relations, how the Italians cope with COVID-19 and their optimistic expectations as they look ahead to post-pandemic life. Our international affairs analyst looks at the rivalry between the United States and China against the backdrop of the pandemic, drawing the conclusion that if they over-compete, neither of them is likely to be a winner – nor will be the rest of the world. In non-pandemic times, the Hungarian winner of this year’s World Press Photo contest, Esther Horvath is usually found aboard a ship somewhere in the Arctic region, documenting the work of researchers. Her award winning photo of a polar bear and her cub was also taken on one such assignment. On the cultural front, we also present Urban Verbunk, founded by one of the most acclaimed young dancers in Hungary. Our WittyLeaks column is authored by the Ambassador of Poland who takes a journey into poetry to discover his favorite landscapes in both Hungary and Poland, both of which he considers his homelands. Our wine page, focuses on sparkling wine’s long tradition in the South Balaton region. As Hungary is taking steps to open for business, let’s do it smartly and safely!
Hungary and Poland: two homelands for the Polish Ambassador
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letter from the publisher
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on the record
PRESTIGIOUS AWARD FOR HUNGARIAN RESEARCHER
Hungarian physicist János Frigyes Nemes has won the CMS Experiment Award of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), the CMS Success Award. CMS is one of the major international experiments of the Geneva-based CERN, the accelerator of the LHC of the European Organization for Nuclear Research. The award was established by the CMS Experiment in 2007 to recognize individual accomplishments, and can be won by members of the experiment who have contributed significant and lasting individual results to the success of the experiment, according to a Wigner Physics Research Center statement to the Hungarian news agency MTI. As they write, the prestige of the award is also reflected in the fact that almost 5,500 of the approximately 15,000 people working at CERN are members of the CMS experiment and only 28 of them have received similar recognition for their achievements in 2019. According to the judges, János Frigyes Nemes won the 2019 CMS Performance Award for his innovative, original and careful determination of the LHC optics from the PPS data, a key ingredient for all analyses based on PPS information. János Frigyes Nemes is a research assistant at the Femtoscopy Research Group at the Particle and Nuclear Physics Research Institute of the Wigner Physics Research Center. He obtained his PhD in 2015 from Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE). He is a Hungarian member of the CERN LHC accelerator CMS and TOTEM experiments.
RESTAURANT AND STADIUM RESTRICTIONS LIFTED AT THE END OF MAY
DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM, MÁRTON BORNYI, DÁVID HARANGOZÓ, DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM
DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM, DT ARCHIVE, CERN, DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM, HUNGARIAN INTERCHURCH AID
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Restaurants and hotels were allowed to open across Hungary on the last week-end of May. “This means, people can consume food and drink inside restaurants and hotels can reopen,” an official said. Outdoor sporting and cultural events can also be held, and outdoor exhibitions in national parks can be visited bearing in mind that the safety distance must be kept everywhere. Authorities also drew attention to the fact that it is still forbidden to take part in or organize music or dance events in indoor venues. Restaurants, cafes, bakeries and buffets are now allowed to serve food and drinks indoors in Budapest as well as in the countryside after they were forced to close due to the novel coronavirus epidemic. The same rules apply to catering establishments operated by hotels. Employees are expected to wear face masks and the same physical distancing rules apply as they do outside Budapest.
MILESTONE IN ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION AT PAKS
During the period since the start of production in 1982 until May 19, 2020, the Paks Nuclear Power Plant, located at the River Danube south of Budapest, generated a total of 500 terawatt hours, or more than 500 billion kilowatt hours, of electricity. Such an amount of electricity would be able to supply the entire world with electricity for a full week. By comparison, this much electricity would be enough for Hungary for about 12 years, an average household would consume this amount of electricity in 230 million years, and it would be enough to charge electric cars for a distance of about 260 million kilometers. According to a press release by the plant, the nuclear power station has been providing electricity at a low cost and free of greenhouse gas emissions, typically accounting for almost half of the gross domestic electricity production in recent years. The four units of the facility produced the largest amount in its history in 2019, after a continuous record of safety and production indicators in recent years, with a total of more than 16 billion kWh of electricity. As a result of regular safety improvements, the nuclear power plant is being expanded with state-of-the-art technological solutions, and accordingly, it performs among the best power plants in the world in terms of safety. w w w . d t e u r o p e . c o m
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HUNGARIAN, THE MOST DIFFICULT LANGUAGE FOR ENGLISH SPEAKERS Hungarian is the most difficult language for a native English speaker among languages using the same (that is, Latin) alphabet. That is the gist of an article published on the website of CNN and picked up by the Hungarian news site index.hu. "If you like a challenge, try Hungarian. It's like no other European language you've heard, except maybe Basque," the author says. Based on a comparison contained in the article, a native English speaker needs about 600 hours to learn Dutch, Norwegian, or the best-known Latin languages (Italian, Spanish, French). German is a somewhat harder nut to crack (750 hours), but even exotic Malay or Swahili (900 hours) is simpler to learn than Hungarian (1,100 hours), which means it takes the same amount of time for an Englishman to learn as Greek or Russian, though these languages use non-Latin characters.
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CHARITY RELAY RUN BY THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR As a volunteer for the Hungarian Interchurch Aid, the UK Ambassador to Hungary, Iain Lindsay, is drawing attention to the fact that the epidemic makes it even more necessary to support children. For charity, he started a running relay of well-known public figures, with whom he completed a distance of 221 kilometers by Children's Day, May 31. On May 16, Iain Lindsay was supposed to begin competing at the NN Ultrabalaton relay race as a Hungarian Interchurch Aid volunteer. For the past two years, the British Ambassador led the aid organization’s 'Don't just cheer, help!' charity running team, which collected donations for the organization’s program to support disadvantaged children. Like many events that attract large crowds, NN Ultrabalaton has been postponed until the fall of 2020 by the organizers. However, as Iain Lindsay is already leaving his posting in Budapest by October, he decided that even if he misses the Balaton race this year, he will fulfill his charity commitment: he would run his part (ten kilometers) of the 221 kms on the weekend planned for the race and launch a fundraiser for the benefit of the aid organization’s 'Hold on!' program to support children in need. “Now, maybe there is an even greater need for collaboration than when we collected donations a year ago. Many families and children may find themselves in a difficult situation due to the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic. The Hungarian Interchurch Aid supports more than 2,000 children nationwide on a regular basis and does not let go of their hands even in an epidemic situation,” Ambassador Lindsay is quoted in the aid organization’s report.
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YARIS KABIN TO ESTABLISH FACTORY IN HUNGARY
90% of students are unable to attend school worldwide and millions of families face financial, work or health difficulties. The global consequences of the coronavirus epidemic have an unprecedented impact on children’s well-being and education. A press release by the LEGO Group has been inspired by the work of thousands of great charities, non-profit and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working to provide families with basic services during these trying times, whether it is to provide access to education or to support the youngest members of their community to feel valuable and safe.
Turkish firm Yaris Kabin is establishing its first production unit abroad in Hungary. With this investment worth EUR 20.3 million, announced in the Hungarian capital this May, the company will manufacture tractor and agricultural machinery cabins in Iváncsa, south of Budapest. According to the Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency (HIPA), 150 jobs will be created in four manufacturing halls and an office building to be built on 30,000 square meters of land. Production is expected to start as early as at the beginning of 2021. Founded in 1977 and still owned by the Yaris family, the headquarters and center of the company is in Balikesir, Turkey. Yaris Kabin mainly manufactures cabins for loaders, tractors, excavators, and sprayers. Apart from this, it manufactures tools and performs metal sheet and profile processing, welding, painting, assembly and research and development activities. Its cabin production capacity in Turkey is currently 70,000 pieces per year, representing a market share of 70% in Turkey, and exporting to countries on four continents, too. Yaris Kabin's references include TürkTraktor, Hidromek, Basak, Hitachi and Hattat, but the company is also an official supplier to Fiat .
BUDAPEST AIRPORT: 240 MILLION PASSENGERS IN 70 YEARS The international airport of Budapest, Ferenc Liszt International Airport, the aerial gateway to Hungary was inaugurated 70 years ago, on May 7, 1950. Over the past seven decades, hundreds of millions of passengers and millions of aircraft have used the runways and the terminal buildings of the airport. Seven decades, more than 240 million passengers, approximately three and a half million landings and takeoffs, two million tons of goods – this is the history, in a nutshell, of the international airport of Budapest. Before the coronavirus pandemic, airport staff handled 40-44,000 passengers and 336 flights on average per day. At the end of 2019, aircraft connected Budapest with 153 foreign destinations, according to a summary by Budapest Airport. The Ferenc Liszt International Airport lies between Budapest Districts XVII and XVIII and the town of Vecsés, on 1,515 hectares, approximately 15 times the area of Margaret’s Island in Budapest. There are more than 200 buildings in this huge expanse, with numerous warehouses, office buildings, the airport’s own power plant, police and firefighter unit, terminal and logistics buildings. In 1950, the year of its opening, the airport handled nearly 50,000 passengers. In 2019, traffic reached a new record, with 16.2 million passengers, which means that passenger traffic increased 325-fold in 70 years. The 21,000 square meters of terminal capacity that existed at the time of opening has grown to more than 103,000 square meters by 2020. According to estimates, the airport handled approximately 430 million pieces of (hold and hand) baggage over the past 70 years. In terms of air cargo, Ferenc Liszt International Airport handled about two million tons of goods over seven decades. 3,000 tons of cargo arrived in and departed from Budapest on average during the first decades of the airport’s history. By 2020, Budapest Airport’s air cargo handling capacity has reached 250,000 tons annually. Over the past five years, cargo traffic at the airport increased by 60% to approximately 150,000 tons per year.
The LEGO Group and the LEGO Foundation are working together to support children affected by the coronavirus with a total of USD 50 million worldwide. Part of the amount will be offered to existing and new partners in their local communities to help them support the basic care of the children concerned and to give them the opportunity to learn through play, thereby supporting their well-being and developing their skills. In Hungary, the Amigos program captures rare, joyful moments for young patients in the country's hospitals. The foundation of the same name is run by undergraduate students who help children learn language skills and prepare their lessons during the visits, and in addition to the joint skills development game, they are also surprised with small gifts. As current restrictions prohibit access to hospitals, a donation from the LEGO Group helped create Amigos Online. This way, volunteers can keep in touch with their little protégés online and play, learn and laugh together even in these difficult times. An important part of the project is to provide support in as many places as possible.I In cooperation with the Smile Foundation, the two organizations will broaden and strengthen the achieved impact with qualified therapists.
BMW POSTPONES HUNGARY PLANT CONSTRUCTION BMW Group announced in the middle of May that it would take official possession of the site of its would-be plant in Debrecen, E Hungary, by the end of the month. The head of the plant, Michele Melchiorre said at the land transfer that “we remain committed to the plans for the new plant in Debrecen. However, the global economic situation due to coronavirus pandemic has also an impact on construction, there will be adjustments to the plant construction schedule. The complex timeline is now under review, we assume the delay will be several months.” The Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Péter Szijjártó was of the view that “at such a volume of investment, we need to take it natural that the schedule of the construction might have a few months of change. However, I would like to emphasize that every step will happen according to the contracts, there is no need to change any contractual frame. Today, the site has been handed over to BMW, the plant will be built and Debrecen will become a very important center of the global automotive industry.” The Hungarian government is reported to have already spent HUF 12-13 billion on infrastructural projects at or leading to the designated site of the manufacturing plant.
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LEGO GROUP TO HELP PANDEMIA AFFECTED FAMILIES IN HUNGARY
BUDAPEST AIRPORT, ZSOLT SZATHMÁRY, ZSOLT SZIGETVÁRY/MTI, MÁTYÁS BORSOS/MFAT
company briefs
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2020. 06. 03. 11:40
c ompany briefs PANDEMIC: SURGING RISK COSTS AT OTP BANK
RISING PROFITS AND SALES AT RICHTER GEDEON PLC. Sales and profits grew well above analysts' expectations in the first quarter of this year for the Hungarian pharmaceutical company Richter Gedeon Plc. The firm achieved a consolidated after tax profit of HUF 29.1 billion, which is 34.6% higher than in the same period of the previous year, and its sales revenue increased by 16.3% to HUF 141.4 billion, the company said on the website of the Budapest Stock Exchange. Highlighting the impact of the pandemic, the report says that the company’s capital-intensive balance sheet, currently unencumbered by any loan portfolio and complemented by a consistently positive cash flow, provides a solid foundation for both the crisis and the expected subsequent economic slowdown. "Although the pharmaceutical sector is commonly better shielded from crisis shockwaves, all economic sectors, including our own, were hit by the global COVID pandemic. I am extremely proud of the resilience of our business operations in the face of the disruption caused by the virus. We managed to stand our ground thanks to our organizational culture of trust and cooperation, our vertically integrated business model, our geographic and therapeutic diversification and a strong balance sheet – all of them core values that continue to define our approach to steering the ship of Richter," Gedeon Richter's Chief Executive Officer, Gábor Orbán said.
photo by
GEDEON RICHTER PLC., DAVID HARANGOZÓ, DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM
ZWACK NET SALES ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY TAX HIKES
Hungary's OTP Bank Plc. has announced that the summary of its first quarter 2020 results has been prepared on the basis of its non-audited separate and consolidated IFRS financial statements for March 31, 2020 or derived from that. Q1 2020 results were shaped mainly by the surging risk costs due to the assumed negative impact of the coronavirus. Consolidated earnings in the first quarter of this year amounted to HUF 31.8 billion adjusted profit after tax with quarter-on-quarter 2% organic performing loan volume growth; as well as surging risk costs as a result of the pandemic, further declining Stage 3 ratio, stable liquidity and capital position. The document states that as a result of the potential impact of COVID-19 pandemic, the original macroeconomic forecast for both Hungary and countries of foreign OTP Group members became outdated. In order to smooth the negative effects of the pandemic, and create the necessary conditions for restarting economic activities, a series of government, central bank and supervisory measures were introduced. Currently, there is a high degree of uncertainties around the depth and duration of the economic recession caused by the pandemic, as well as the steepness of the expected rebound. Also, at the moment, it is difficult to assess the global impact of the pandemic, and the effectiveness of economic protection measures introduced on national and international levels. Accordingly, the management has withdrawn its 2020 Guidance published on March 6, 2020 and will not make any new forecasts for the rest of the year as long as there is no comprehensive information about the state of the macroeconomic and operational environment.
MAGYAR TELEKOM: SLIGHT GROWTH IN Q1 2020 Total revenues at the Magyar Telekom Group in the first quarter of 2020 amounted to HUF 159.333 billion, which is 0.2% higher compared to the corresponding period in 2019, according to the Group’s latest financial report. The operating profit in the first three months of the year was HUF 12.723, 1.1% more than a year before. The report quoted CEO Tibor Rékasi as saying that he was pleased that “despite the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic towards the end of the quarter, thanks to continued focus on executing our commercial and strategic priorities, we delivered broadly stable total revenues and EBITDA year-on-year.” He added that the company’s main focus since the outbreak of the coronavirus has been on the swift implementation of measures to safeguard the health and safety of both employees and customers. “We have introduced strict social distancing across the Group and, at this time, around 80% of our employees are working remotely. While the majority of our points of sale remain open, we have significantly limited traffic within stores. Our call centers and online support services are successfully handling the resulting increased volumes of customer requests. In an effort to support our customers during this challenging period, we are also providing free mobile data and TV content, a range of attractively priced laptops and tablets, free voice usage for the most vulnerable in our society as well as Diplomacy-n-Trade.ai 1 2017. 02. 27. 11:22:30 difficulties.” payment restructuring for customers in financial
Hungarian liquor producer Zwack Unicum Plc. saw slight increase in gross sales and significant decrease in net sales in the 2019-2020 business year. According to audited data, total gross sales of the company were HUF 26,358 million – practically the same as in the previous business year (+HUF 17 million; +0.1%). Net sales (sales revenues excluding excise tax and public health product tax) were HUF 13,960 million, up 11.3% (by HUF 1.8 billion). The cause of the considerable difference between the gross and net sales was the amendment of the Act C on Public Health Product Tax (NETA), effective as of January 1, 2019, according to which, each and every type of alcoholic drinks has been taxed and the tax categories were raised by 20%. The company shifted M the massive tax hike into its gross prices but – just as it had been predicted – that has radically reduced theY volume sold. CM Acting in consensus with the main shareholders, the management decided to raise credits. By doing so, the company has generated a sufficient financial position even for the contingency that the COVID epidemicMY might last for a long period. On-trade sales, which account for a half of the company’s revenues, had CY practically discontinued by the end of March as the majority of gastronomic units suspended operation for CMY an indefinite period after the opening hours had been officially shortened to flatten the curve of new cases of COVID-19. If those restrictive measures stay in force for several more months, the company might have to K use those credits. In February 2020, when the COVID pandemic situation was becoming serious, the management considerably increased the stock of the Unicum finished product. That step was meant to forestall the undesirable situation where the unavailability of raw materials could bring the plant to a halt. By the end of March 2020, a considerable part of that quantity had been produced, which in turn strongly increased the closing inventory of finished products. w w w . d t e u r o p e . c o m
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analysis
AND THE LOSER IS… UNITED STATES VS. CHINA AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF THE PANDEMIC
The coronavirus pandemic has elevated the public dispute between the United States and China to new highs. By definition, in a rivalry between two states, every opportunity is grasped by each side to try to take advantage of the other; if the rivalry is between the two leading powers in the world, the stakes are higher as their competition affect almost all the other states in the world. As in almost all the similar cases, the undeclared ‘cold war’ between the major players is waged on two fronts: the international, and the domestic alike.
Shrinking consumer markets The short-term impact of the pandemic is unambiguously economic. The two strongest economies in the world, which are the engines of global economic growth to a large degree, are badly hit by the pandemic. (The U.S. and China generate about 40% of the world GDP.) The Chinese economic figures are less known than the American ones, owing to the differences between the nature of a more or less closed society and a more or less open one, but it is beyond dispute
that China’s economic growth has slowed down, and so has the American – in fact, the latter may produce negative growth rate by the end of the year. The consumer markets have shrunk in both countries. Another victim of the current situation is the trust in China, which – by the way – has had its sceptics for quite some time. Chinese policies in the past few decades have been classic examples of free-riding: taking advantage of a world system created and maintained to a large extent by the U.S. and its allies without being a ’responsible stakeholder’ (Robert Zoellick). It may be possible that the U.S. will be trying to work more intimately with its allies, especially the Europeans, to put more pressure on China to play by the rule book of, for instance, the World Trade Organization, and to loosen their dependence on Chinese supply chains, state-backed investments (the Belt and Road Initiative), which are more likely than not coming with political strings attached, and high tech exports (5G system). However, a tougher U.S. stance on China’s trade and economic policies – no matter, whether the President of the U.S. will be Donald Trump or Joe Biden – may deepen the divide between the U.S. and the EU, though the latter’s High
Chernobyl). China’s subsequent assistance and aid packages sent to a number of countries can mainly be attributed to smart PR-activity.
Commissioner for External Affairs, Josep Borrell has recently admitted that the Europeans have been too naive about the geo-economic and (the hardly hidden) geopolitical Chinese intentions.
Will China-bashing be enough?
Withholding information from the world
The impact of the pandemic in the U.S. has been quite dramatic. It is election year, and the potential atout for Donald Trump and the Republicans was the booming economy with the lowest unemployment rate for decades, a steady growth of the GDP, the soaring stock exchanges, etc. Not anymore. The rate of unemployment is about the same as it was during the Great Depression, the GDP growth is negative in the first two quarters in 2020, and the economic woes can be continued ad infinitum. The handling of the pandemic by the federal government is more than controversial, though it should be remembered that in the U.S., because of the federal system, it is the member states that are in the front line in dealing with emergencies in general, and providing for the health and well-being of their citizens, in particular. Donald Trump and his advisers are doing their very best to put the blame on the Chinese for all the economic hardships, and China-bashing seems to have replaced the economy as one of the major themes of the Republicans in the forthcoming presidential and congressional elections. In reality, it is a much weaker argument for the reelection of Donald Trump than the real or perceived economic achievements. China as a potentially central theme does not necessarily play into the hands of Democrats either. Joe Biden is personally held responsible for past U.S. policies towards China which are deemed too lenient, and even a downright strategic blunder by some. The trade restrictions imposed by President Trump (and, perhaps, any future ones), cannot be honestly attacked by the Democrats, who are, in general, more protectionist than the Republicans have been until recently. Having said that, it does seem that one of the losers of the pandemic, and the deteriorating U.S.Chinese relations will be President Trump, as his reelection chances are substantially weakened – at least as compared to those a few months before. The question is whether the Democratic Party and Joe Biden can emerge as winners. Despite the fact that the former Vice President has pulled ahead in the national polls, it is not a foregone conclusion that he will win the election on November 3rd. Biden spent rather lackluster decades in Congress and as Vice President, quite often took the decidedly wrong side of a debate, changed his opinions with frequency, has been gaffe-prone, and shows his age (both physically and mentally). In a word: he is not a John F. Kennedy or even a Bill Clinton. However, by default, either Donald Trump or Joe Biden will be the winner of the election in November. Another winner may as well be Xi Jin-ping facing a rather weak U. S. President. The loser is likely to be the international community with a weakened American leadership and a more assertive China.
The pandemic has, naturally, serious domestic political consequences, as well. As for China, it is not bound to be overly spectacular, at least in the short term. Chairman Xi Jin-ping’s position seems to remain as strong as it has been in the past few years; his credibility, especially abroad, is hurt, though. At home, his, and the Communist Party’s image of competent handlers is also tainted. The Chinese leadership, as a pre-emptive strike, began a disinformation campaign all over the world accusing the Americans of causing the pandemic. In fact, no matter whether the pandemic originated at a wet market in Wuhan or in a lab over there, the responsibility of the Chinese authorities is beyond dispute: they were withholding information from the World Health Organization, and the world in general, for weeks in the best traditions of Communists’ handling events which they believe damage their cause (witness
Tamás Magyarics is a foreign policy analyst
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BY TAMÁS MAGYARICS
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2020. 06. 03. 11:40
SAYING ‘THANK YOU’ WITH DONATIONS
charity
HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS APPRECIATE GESTURES THAT “FILL THEM WITH JOY”
This spring, the whole world got to know former British Army officer Thomas Moore (‘Captain Tom’) who, close to his 100th birthday, raised GBP tens of millions for the British healthcare systems. The sacrificial work of healthcare professionals fighting the COVID-19 pandemic is very much appreciated in Hungary, too, by a lot of people who have expressed – and continue to express – their gratitude with donations to those taking care of patients on the frontline in these difficult times.
points’ (worth HUF 5 million) to distribute among their staff members, points that are redeemable at Auchan stores. The retail chain also encourages its customers to join this ‘Support the Heroes!’ program by offering their ‘trust points’ to the ambulance service. On the National Ambulance Day (May 10), the Director General of the National Ambulance Service, Dr. Gábor Csató highlighted the kind of superhuman work that has been, and is being done by the ambulance service during the pandemic. It is these workers who respond to cases of suspected infection, identify those infected and transport those who need medical care to the hospital. As of that day only, 15,000 suspected or confirmed coronavirus-infected patients had been assisted, some 40,000 people had been epidemiologically sampled, and more than 420,000 kilometers had been traveled in connection with the coronavirus infection. The CEO of Auchan Hungary, Dominique Ducoux said he was glad they were able to help, “but maybe even happier to see our customers join us and offer an amazing amount of trust points in addition to the corporate donation. It is a great feeling for a trader to experience that his customers are forged into a real community who can move together with incredible force for a good cause.”
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AUCHAN, TÍMEA LENCSÉS/JETRO
Tablets for the children
Takashi Nagatake opened a new restaurant in downtown Budapest in January this year. He has been working in restaurants since he was 16, starting in Japan, then trying his luck in Australia and Canada. Eventually, he chose Hungary and settled down in the capital receiving help from local people. However, before the season could really start, the COVID-19 pandemic reached Budapest, and restaurants changed to home delivery or closed down. Nagatake, as the owner of the WAFU Japanese Bar, wanted to do something useful: to give energy to hospital workers and strengthen their immune system with healthy Japanese food – as the menu card says: ‘For the necessary momentum!’ The food was delivered each workday over a week to the Péterfy Sándor Street HospitalClinic and Trauma Center in Budapest’s District 7. As a member of the hospital management put it, this gesture really means a lot to them and fills them with joy. In organizing and coordinating this support, the WAFU Bar was assisted by the Budapest office of the w w w . d t e u r o p e . c o m
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Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). As Takashi Nagatake told Diplomacy&Trade, he “loves the views of Budapest and people living here. Lots of things, events and buildings inspired me, so, I opened a restaurant with the intention of delivering the goodness of Japanese food culture. I feel that everyone is
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suffering the consequences of the pandemic – especially the healthcare workers. So, I wanted to support them somehow. What can I do? The only way I can support these people is making them feel better and giving them energy with my food. I hope I can save lives of patients through this." Commenting on this nice gesture, District 7 Deputy Mayor Balázs Szűcs stressed that “as a long-time fan of Japanese culture and cuisine, I would like to say a special thank you for this generous offer. This pandemic has shown that we have to fight it together – that is how we can overcome this crisis. A better future is built on great gestures of empathy towards each other, such as this one.”
Support the Heroes! The French retail chain Auchan would like to thank the National Ambulance Service for its steadfastness during the pandemic. Every day, fresh fruit is delivered to ambulance stations for those doing sacrificial work and the company has also given the organization 10 million ‘trust
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Hungarian schools were closed in the middle of March and distance learning was introduced. However, the lack of digital tools made this kind of education difficult in hundreds of thousands of households in the country. As many healthcare professionals were no exception, the Hungarian Chamber of Health Care Professionals (MESZK) made an appeal through which many donations and offerings were received. Through the support implemented by the Association of Innovative Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (AIPM), Magyar Telekom, Samsung Hungary and MESZK, one thousand winners received tablets worth more than HUF one hundred million, as well as a SIM package containing data currently available free of charge. The use of websites directly linked to distance learning can be used for free in the mobile data plan until the end of the school year In total, 3,500 healthcare professionals applied for the donation, from which the national presidency of the Chamber selected the winners on the basis of objective evaluation criteria, taking into account the number of employees of the regional organizations. The purpose of the donation is to give the children of professionals as many opportunities as possible to participate in distance learning, the Chamber said. The majority of the winning applicants (588 people) work in different areas of nursing – such as adult, child, intensive care – and home care. 144 winners work in rescue and emergency care while 268 people applied successfully from the other eleven professional departments of the Chamber. As AIPM Director Dr. Péter Holchacker, put it, “we are proud to support you and your child in this emergency, and we can act indirectly, but together to care for Hungarian patients. We appreciate and thank you for your irreplaceable work. Remember: we are together in the fight against the coronavirus, we can defeat the epidemic together!”
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italian republic day ITALY IS BACK! A RESILIENT COUNTRY WITH TRUST AND DETERMINATION BY MASSIMO RUSTICO, AMBASSADOR OF ITALY TO HUNGARY
Dear Friends, ON JUNE 2ND, 2020, we celebrate the 74th anniversary of the foundation of the Italian Republic. This year, we are facing an extraordinary and dramatic moment of our history, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and our thoughts go to all the victims in Italy, Hungary and every other country in the world. Bearing in mind the emotional message of hope and trust of the President of Italy, H.E. Sergio Mattarella, we celebrate the historic turning point of June 2nd, 1946. The day when, shortly after the end of World War II, the Italians by popular referendum established the Republic and the monarchy was abolished. The Kingdom of Italy founded in 1861 and ruled for 85 years by the Savoy dynasty, was no more.
– all admirably expressed in our constitutional charter – while working hard to achieve success and being innovative. Through those values, the new democratic Italy soon started to build, with other European nations, what is now the European Union, the most valuable outcome of our common economic and political engagement.
that makes it among the most visited business destinations worldwide. Visitors continued to arrive from the infected areas far away from us. Unfortunately, the virus did not stop at the borders. Today, the whole planet is crying over the dramatic losses in human life, without mentioning the impact on the global economy.
I AM TOUCHED AND PROUD that during the emergency caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Italians have shown their sense of solidarity, courage and spirit of self-denial. In the case of doctors, nurses, health workers and all those who have kept the country going on, it has often been sheer heroism. The epidemic is a planetary tragedy. In Europe Italy got hit at a very early stage when there was very little awareness, if any, about the COVID-19 disease. We were at the peak of the flu season, so it was hard and unlikely to understand, at such an early phase, what was happening. Not enough timely information was obtained in those dramatic moments from the hotbed of the infection, which exploded in Asia. In fact, the whole world was taken by surprise and even the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic at a far later stage. The North of Italy hosts a gigantic industrial fabric
IN THIS RESPECT, I express all the sympathy and support to Hungary and its people, who are also suffering losses and hardships because of the pandemic and are facing this tragic moment with courage and strength. It is comforting, in these circumstances, to remember our long history of mutual respect and affection and the overall intensity of our bilateral relations in every aspect of life and trade.
system, among the most dynamic and innovative, with a global outreach. We are always among the ten largest exporters worldwide and we invest heavily in the economies of our international partners. Italy is well known for its industry that produces high quality products renowned for their technology, innovation, reliability, design and endurance, and are among the most competitive. R&D is a critical factor in this success and the vision of Industry 4.0 became a reality bringing digitalization into a very wide array of production processes. ON THE OTHER HAND, you all share the vision of Italy’s historic cities and small villages. A splendid sight inserted in natural masterpieces, with high mountain ranges, long coasts, and islands, rolling hills covered with vineyards, large lakes, and centuriesold forests. The country’s artistic and cultural heritage is unmatched in quality and quantity. With almost five thousand museums, monuments and archaeological areas, Italy has the highest number of UNESCO World Heritage sites in the world. So many Italian images flourish in the global collective imagination, such as the Rialto
ITALY IS A WONDERFUL COUNTRY that millions of people visit every year. After surmounting such a hard test, where the whole country had to lockdown for more than two months, we are determined to return to being open to the world, faithful to our long-standing tradition as a welcoming country, where people love to share life and beauty with visitors. We have a very large and diversified industrial
EMBASSY OF ITALY, DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM
UNFORTUNATELY, THE PANDEMIC, which has hit everywhere, has obliged us to modify our original plans to offer again – to all our friends – another memorable event, similar to those we have organized in the past three years at the beautiful venue of the Várkert Bazaar. In the past, you have honoured us with your participation. We were on average well beyond 1,000 persons celebrating the anniversary together. We were so pleased to offer you a unique setup of elegance, technology, entertainment and excellent food & wine. All this made possible thanks to the outstanding support of the Italian industry and its Hungarian and international partners who sponsored the events: an industry which is the pride of Italy and which represents the second largest manufacturing power of Europe; one of the world’s leading exporters and the eighth largest global economy. NOTWITHSTANDING the COVID-19 situation, we could not have left the 74th anniversary of the Italian Republic fall into oblivion. We are grateful to Diplomacy&Trade for hosting us with a special virtual event dedicated to Italy. Similarly, we wish to offer you – through the digital invitation for this celebration – a glimpse of some of the extraordinary beauty that Italy incorporates and that makes it such a unique destination.
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THIS IS WHAT REPUBLIC DAY means to our nation: sharing and constantly living values such as justice, democracy, equality and solidarity J U N E
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italian republic day Bridge in Venice, the Duomo of Milan, the Arena of Verona, the Colosseum of Rome, the Maschio Angioino of Naples, the Palatine Chapel of Palermo, to quote only a few. Italy is also synonymous with high quality of life, with a refined and healthy cuisine, an excellent wine production, the Italian ‘espresso’ as sublime tasting experience for everyone, even in the simplest bars. "Vivere all’Italiana" – live like the Italians do – is part of being trendy, innovative, forward thinkers, hardworking while keeping the taste of life and the meaning of it. THE WORLD SIMPLY cannot do without Italian beauty, culture and lifestyle, and it patiently awaits the moment when visiting Italy will be possible again. By then, be sure that Italy will be more than ready! Indeed, thanks to the extremely positive results of the action undertaken so far by the Government and the National healthcare system – including very tough measures aimed to contain the virus that have been followed in a disciplined way by 60 million citizens – we have announced the reopening of the Italian borders with the European member states on June 3rd, 2020. Naturally, prudence shall accompany all of us wherever we live, whichever the country; still, the worst appears to be behind us. I AM CONVINCED that Italy will relaunch itself by drawing on its precious eternal and ancient heritage. Also thanks to the lesson of great humanity that we have given to ourselves and shared with the world. We were the first to suffer in Europe and the first to take measures that have changed our lives drastically for some time at least. Moreover, through our dire experience and thanks to such radical measures undertaken nationwide, we could show the way to our friends and partners, whom got hit by the pandemic a few weeks later. If the COVID-19 did not spare a single corner of the planet, even the most remote ones, only working together we may defeat it. I QUOTE AGAIN the sentiments expressed by H.E. President Sergio Mattarella, by calling upon Italy’s long history in overcoming adversity to re-establish the conditions for the health and safety of its people. We are determined to relaunch the country's economic and social development according to principles of cohesion, fairness and solidarity in a true European spirit of collaboration. WITH THIS FEELING of trust and optimism, I wish everyone a happy Italian Republic Day and I thank all of you for sharing it with us and with the vibrant Italian community in Hungary. A community which has never spared its efforts to keep up our bilateral relations in each and every aspect. I also thank all my collaborators at the Italian Embassy for their commitment that has allowed us to remain fully operational during the emergency, as well as the Italian Cultural Institute, the Italian Trade Agency, ENIT, the Italian National Tourist Board and the Italian Hungarian Chamber of Commerce. I conclude by expressing our deep gratitude to the Hungarian authorities and to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in particular, for the untiring support and great friendship showed towards all of us in these difficult times. Viva l’Italia! w w w . d t e u r o p e . c o m
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italian republic day ITALY HAS RESTARTED! ICE’S WORLDWIDE NETWORK WILL INVEST HEAVILY TO SUSTAIN ITALY'S INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE BY ANTONELLO CANALE, DIRECTOR OF ICE- ITALIAN TRADE AGENCY IN BUDAPEST
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According to the strategies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) Budapest Office provides support, advice and information to Italian and Hungarian companies. ICE provides a wide range of services helping Italian and Hungarian businesses to connect with each other, like identification of possible business partners, bilateral trade meetings with Italian companies, Hungarian trade delegation visits to Italy, official participation in local fairs and exhibitions, forums and seminars with Italian experts and also specific market research and analysis. All these activities have the common purpose of developing and strengthening bilateral relations between Italy and Hungary. Italy is back, we have restarted and we will share with you the excellences that make Italy a unique country.
Commercial relations with Hungary
ICE – ITALIAN TRADE AGENCY ITA - Italian Trade Agency is the Governmental agency that supports the business development of the Italian companies abroad and promotes the attraction of foreign investment in Italy in coordination with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Italian Embassies overseas. With a motivated and modern organization and a widespread network of overseas offices, ITA provides information, assistance, consulting, promotion and training to Italian small and medium-sized businesses. Using the most modern multi-channel promotion and communication tools, it acts to assert the excellence of Made in Italy in the world. For more information, please, visit https:// www.ice.it/en/about-us
EMBASSY OF ITALY
Italian products in the large retail chains. It will also acquire the rights of an online fair market platform that will be available to the Italian fair system starting from the autumn edition. Thanks to its wide and diversified industrial capacity, Italy is among the largest
Italy is one of Hungary’s largest trading partners with a bilateral trade in excess of EUR 10 billion in 2019. According to the latest Hungarian statistical data (KSH), in the first two months of 2020 the trade between the two countries was recording a +6 % y/y. Italy steadily remains Hungary’s second largest export market after Germany and this trend is enhanced by a substantial surplus from the Hungarian side. The Italian investments are quite substantial, being concentrated into the service industry, especially banking sector and insurance. Several major Italian companies have production or operations here, including a large number of medium sized enterprises active in the manufacturing. Overall, more than two thousand companies owned or participated by Italians are steadily operating in Hungary, employing more than 25,000 persons and producing in excess of EUR 5 billion, which are supporting the Hungarian exports.
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On the 74th Anniversary of the Italian Republic, the Italian Trade Agency in Budapest is glad to be part of this special compilation that Diplomacy&Trade and our Embassy have conceived. The Coronavirus pandemic and the following lockdown almost everywhere are severely affecting the economy globally. Because of the pandemic, the world economy will contract sharply in 2020. It should grow again in 2021, as economic activities get back on track, supported by the governments, international institutions, and the European Commission in particular. European countries expect to witness a sharp reduction of their GDP and Italy – which is the 3rd largest economy in the European Union and the 8th largest by nominal GDP in the world – is no exception. The Italian GDP fell by 4.7% in Q1 2020, compared to the previous quarter, due to the reduction in domestic and foreign demand, the contraction in exports of goods and services, the temporary collapse of tourism and the significant, though temporary drop in industrial production. No sector is spared anywhere and the recovery will be gradual. In order to fight the COVID-19 crisis, the Italian government has approved two series of fiscal measures as part of the 2020 Economic and Financial Document, which should help boost the recovery. In 2019, Italian exports amounted to almost EUR 470 billion and represented almost a third of the GDP with a surplus of EUR 53 billion (+34.9 in 2018). In the same year, exports increased by 2.3% y/y and mainly addressed EU countries (+55.6%), non-EU European countries (+11%), North America (+10.5%) and the Far East (+8.8%). The growth was driven by the export of advanced industrial & digital, aviation and aerospace equipment, pharmaceutical, chemical and medical items, food and beverage, fashion clothing and vehicles. With around 130,000 regular exporters, Italy is the ninth exporting country in the world with a market share of 2.8% and the 4th largest in Europe after Germany, The Netherlands and France. The dramatic health emergency caused by COVID-19 challenges the world economy as never before. The Italian government and its institutions are determined to devise new ways to support the economy and boost the Italian exports in a much more complex environment. Not least because of the serious difficulties of the global supply chain and the paralysis of the flight connections, which remain fundamental for the international cargo shipments. In this perspective, the Italian Trade Agency, thanks to a worldwide network of 79 offices in 65 countries, will invest heavily to sustain the Italian presence. Special emphasis will be put on the e-commerce platforms, following the path already followed with Amazon and Alibaba. At the same time, the Agency will strengthen the presence of
ICE’s role in internationalization processes
businesspersons’ destinations attending specialized fairs. One for many, the ‘Salone del Mobile di Milano’, which draws hundreds of thousands of visitors from 150 countries. The Agency will also provide other resources to strengthen the products’ traceability, to protect the ‘Made in Italy’, which is by itself a leading global brand. Moreover, to strengthen the fight against counterfeiting and what is called “Italian sounding.” Italian products are very much appreciated in every corner of the planet for their high quality and design, thanks to the EUR billions invested in the R&D supported by a creativity and a tradition often unmatched. Unfortunately, in far too many places in the world, criminal rings are illegally counterfeiting the Italian products.
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italian republic day
FOR A PRODUCTIVE CULTURAL RENAISSANCE THE PROMOTION OF CULTURE AS THE CORNERSTONE OF THE RECONSTRUCTION
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DÁVID HARANGOZÓ, EMBASSY OF ITALY
BY GIAN LUCA BORGHESE, DIRECTOR OF THE ITALIAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE OF BUDAPEST
On June 2nd, every year, we celebrate the birth of our Republic. By doing so, we remember the reconstruction of an Italy founded on the values of democracy, freedom, justice, and social cohesion by a people who fought to rise from the horrors of the Second World War, redeeming itself from its recent past. This Italy, in its seventy-four years of existence, despite having gone through very difficult moments, has already written beautiful pages of its history. I am thinking in particular of the creation of its constitutional charter, of the post-war economic miracle, of the profound modernization of the country, of its social achievements, of its driving role in the construction of the present-day European Union, gaining respect in the whole world through its economic strength, political action and incomparable cultural impact. These achievements would not have been possible without efforts, crises, and difficult moments, which are in fact the daily bread of a true democracy. We certainly could not have foreseen, however, that after almost three quarters of a century, on June 2nd, 2020, we would be engaged in a sort of rebirth of the Republic, because of the most difficult test it has endured since 1945. The coronavirus pandemic was and still is, of course, a worldwide tragedy, which struck every corner of the planet after China, but in Italy, it raged with particular intensity. w w w . d t e u r o p e . c o m
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The generation that rebuilt our country after the war was perfectly aware that the huge task they had before them could not be faced without calling upon the country’s cultural
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heritage, without setting the promotion of culture as the cornerstone of the reconstruction. This is why article 9 of our constitutional charter reads: “The Republic promotes the development of culture and scientific and technical research. It protects the landscape and the historical and artistic heritage of the nation.” We also read in the Dialogues of Saint Augustine that “Bad times, hard times, people say. Let us live well, and the times will be good. We are the times.” We can thus also celebrate this anniversary of the Republic as a good time, at least to the extent that Italians have been able to respond to the pandemic with courage, sacrifice and solidarity in a collective reaction that made the country reach the most intense moment of national cohesion in its history. The whole population manifested its patriotic feeling, without rhetoric, through a series of simple gestures, paying tribute to those who suffered and to those who were fighting on the front line. The country has succeeded, under absolutely critical circumstances, in finding prompt solutions to combat the pandemic. It has been negotiating at a European level a possible way out of the crisis, inspired by the principle of solidarity, which was far from obvious during the initial weeks of international dismay. In those same weeks, after the outbreak of the epidemic in Italy, we also received genuine expressions of sympathy and moral support from many
countries, near and far away. We want to reciprocate those expressions of solidarity, in particular to Hungary and its people, who have faced the health emergency with courage and determination and who are always mindful of the ties that unite our two countries. For the economic and social revitalization of Italy, I trust that we will be able to regenerate the times we are living in, according Saint Augustine’s lesson: by amplifying our perception of cultural promotion, where culture is conceived in its widest scope, as the cultivation of fairness, inclusion, and eco-sustainable development. By experiencing a truly vital, renewable and productive cultural Renaissance, mirroring the authentic sense that we constitute a community in a multicultural and modern dimension. We are all called on to achieve this objective through our Public Administration and private entrepreneurship, schools and universities, foundations and associations, museums and libraries, at a national and international level. The best strategy for economic and social growth is cooperation and cultural osmosis, worthy of being promoted without underestimating the originality of each individual contribution. With this sentiment, I wish everyone happy Republic Day. Long live the Republic, long live Italy!
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ITALIAN ART, LANDSCAPE AND CUISINE A UNIQUE BLENDING FOR AN EXCEPTIONAL TRAVELING EXPERIENCE BY ENIT – ITALY’S NATIONAL TOURIST BOARD
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In Italy, art, landscape and food form such a perfect combination to make a trip to our country an unforgettable experience. This year, we cannot celebrate the Republic Day as we would like, and so far, we couldn’t welcome visitors who visit Italy by the millions from all over the world. But this is about to change in a very short time. It is now possible to plan a journey, from June 3rd, that will allow you to enjoy the architecture, nature and the immense variety of regional dishes and recipes in Italy during the summer. The experience will open your senses and reveal a world of tastes that tempt your palate, eyes, and heart. Start from the Dolomites: the high mountains of incomparable beauty, with their snowy peaks, lakes and breathtaking views. In Ortisei, after a walking tour in the lovely center, you can taste dumplings in broth (bread dumplings stuffed with speck and eggs and served in broth or butter). While San Candido’s speciality is tirtlan, fried ravioli stuffed with sauerkraut or with ricotta and spinach. In the Veneto region, Venice rises like a dream from the sea and dazzles the visitor with its beauty. The Basilica of S. Marco, the Rialto bridge and the Ca' d'Oro are unmissable. The most typical Venetian dish might be the liver (beef or veal) cooked with onions, butter and oil, sometimes served with a little polenta. Otherwise, Hungarians are familiar with risi e bisi, a typical risotto with green peas. Stepping foot on the island of Torcello, the visitor will enjoy the sight of precious mosaics and will taste a typical dish of the lagoon, polenta seasoned with fried prawns. Nearby Chioggia, a miniature Venice appears, with its rich fish market and offers proudly a culinary masterpiece,
spaghetti with stewed clams and cuttlefish. In Lombardy, Bergamo, with the Contarini fountain, the Palazzo della Ragione, the civic tower, the vertical forest and the Colleoni chapel, is an architectural treasure chest. Its typical dishes are ravioli made with breadcrumbs, sausage and Parmigiano or buckwheat polenta. To the east of Bergamo stands the noble city of Brescia, proudly showing its basilica of S. Salvatore as well as the church of S. Giulia. In the city, it is possible to taste dumplings stuffed with cheese and pumpkin. Nearby the Garda Lake, stands the town of Sirmione where the evocative ruins of Grottoes of Catullus can be visited, so as, afterwards, to enjoy the excellent fried fish from the lake. In the Emilia-Romagna region, Parma is home of the world-famous, sweet drycured prosciutto, while in Reggio Emilia it is possible to enjoy the best selection of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. Modena, on the other hand, is the home of the pasta called tortellino and the famous balsamic vinegar. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, the Amalfi Coast, in the Campania region, is one of the most evocative stretches of the Italian coast. Amalfi has a splendid cathedral built with precious marbles. A typical dish is handmade pasta with clams. Positano and Ravello are the other gems along the coast, all of which provide a sweeping view of the sea. Finally comes Cetara, very famous for its exquisite anchovies. Catania opens the door to Sicily with its art and culinary treasures. The cathedral of Sant'Agata and the Palazzo degli Elefanti are unmissable as are the typical dishes of spaghetti with sea urchins, grilled fish, the arancini, cannoli and cassate sweets. The Bel Paese’s – the beautiful country – amazing local dishes are an integral component of the good life in Italy. To protect and safeguard this unique aspect of Italian culture and heritage, particularly against the urgencies of modern life, Carlo Petrini created the international non-profit organization of Slow Food in 1986. Now an international organization, it counts more than 100,000 members. Slow Food’s mission is the promotion of food education as the best defense of local cuisine and its traditional methods of production and preparation. Additionally, the organization acts to protect local plant and animal species from extinction, and guard against low-quality industrial foodstuffs and production scams. On this Republic Day, it has been a real pleasure to narrate some of the beauties and joys of our great country. Please, bear in mind that Italy, as beautiful as ever, is waiting to welcome back tourists from Hungary as well as from all over the world.
EMBASSY OF ITALY
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A CHAMBER WITH RESILIENCE
THE ORGANIZATION IS MORE EFFECTIVE AFTER RE-DESIGNING ACTIVITIES DUE TO THE LOCKDOWN
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EMBASSY OF ITALY, DÁVID HARANGOZÓ
BY FRANCESCO MARIA MARI, PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN HUNGARY
At this 74th anniversary of the Italian Republic, it is a pleasure for me to be part of this initiative organized by the Italian Embassy and Diplomacy&Trade. The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hungary (CCIU) is a private association counting almost 300 partners founded in Budapest in the early ‘90s and it has been promoting commercial relations between Italy and Hungary for almost 30 years. It is a point of reference of networking, integration and development of the ItalianHungarian business community, pivoting its action on two specific pillars: networking and information. The networking activity, has become extremely difficult due to the Coronavirus lockdown; therefore, the Association, had to completely redesign its working approach and it is now even more effective than before. In physics, ‘resilience’ is the ability of a substance to return to its usual shape after a physical shock; in economics, it is the policy-induced ability of an economy to withstand or recover from the effects of shocks. Only flexible and efficient organizations are able to grow, and possibly thrive, in uncertain, competitive and challenging environments. ‘Resilience’ is also the inspiring motive of our activity, through which we want to prove that it is possible to turn a problem into an opportunity. Italy is one of Hungary's most important business partners, with 25,000 employees and over 2,500 companies throughout Hungary’s territory. The Italian commercial and entrepreneurial sector offers an important contribution to the Hungarian economy. w w w . d t e u r o p e . c o m
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CCIU has a growing number of initiatives in the pipeline, among which: • realizing a survey concerning the Italian business presence in Hungary; • mapping of all Italian companies in Hungary; • providing a list of potential partners to Hungarian entrepreneurs in order to foster trade between Italy and Hungary; • establishing new commercial ties through a tailor-made B2B approach. The CCIU program includes numerous webinars aimed at making Members aware of all the fiscal and economic measures that the Hungarian government has implemented to relaunch the economy. Other virtual events, on the other hand, are organized to promote direct contacts between
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Italian and Hungarian companies in specific sectors, such as agri-food, mechanical industry, services, manufacturing industry and catering. From September on, meetings such as workshops concerning the introduction and functioning of the main Hungarian governmental institutions will be organized. Seminars on Italian products (such as food products from specific Italian regions), will take place as well. In addition to networking, the dissemination of information is the second pillar of the activities of the CCIU and, for this reason, we will be engaged in several presentations throughout the main Hungarian regions, in collaboration with several Hungarian regional chambers of commerce.
The severity of the economic consequences caused by the COVID-19 disease is undisputed, but we believe that a tighter commercial engagement between Italy and Hungary will foster a quicker economic recovery. The Italian Embassy is driving the presence of Italy in Hungary, altogether with the Italian Trade Agency, the Italian Cultural Institute, the National Italian Tourism Agency and the Italian Chamber of Commerce. Institutions with a long-standing tradition and professionalism deeply involved into the Hungarian society. They are deeply committed to the task of ensuring their contribution towards the fast recovery and the further growth of the Italian-Hungarian bilateral relations. I thank you all for sharing with us this important event. Viva l’Italia!
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budapest Váci utca (Váci Street) is one of the main pedestrian thoroughfares and perhaps the most famous street in downtown Budapest. It features many restaurants and shops catering primarily to the tourist market.
OUR WORLD –WITHOUT US BY RÉKA A. FRANCISCK
Before the pandemic hit the world, I was admiring the works of those photographers who made their career out of shooting empty spaces, neglected and vacant buildings and deteriorating sites, such as Romain Veillon or Brian ‘Preciousdecay.’ I found beauty in those haunting images. I never imagined that one day I will witness my own city turning into a ghost town… As most of us were practicing social distancing during the past few months, our beloved meeting places, cafés and restaurants, along with practically all public spaces in the city, emptied. Again, I saw haunting images, this time capturing Budapest’s famous landmarks, totally deserted, in which I saw no beauty at all. It felt uncomfortable to stare at a completely empty Andrássy Avenue, to see Fisherman’s Bastion without tourists. These photos depicting the absence of people reminded me of postapocalyptic movies (without the bomb or the aliens) which I’ve never fancied watching. Our world, without us, is not nice. Reconstructed in 2015-16, Széll Kálmán Square (known as Moszkva tér or Moscow Square between 1951 and 2011) is one of the city's busiest transport interchanges on the Buda side of the capital.
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DÁVID HARANGOZÓ
The outer section of Andrássy Avenue between Octogon and Heroes Square. Dating back to 1872, the road is lined with spectacular Neo-renaissance mansions and townhouses.
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budapest
Located in the heart of Budapest, Fashion Street, which defines itself as Middle-Eastern Europe's most prestigious shopping and lifestyle destination for Ladies&Gents, is full of visitors in non-pandemic times.
The Fisherman’s Bastion in the Buda Castle provides a spectacular view of the city. Its seven high-pitched stone towers symbolize the seven chieftains of the Hungarians who founded the country in 895.
photo by
DÁVID HARANGOZÓ
Sitting on the southern tip of the Castle Hill, the Buda Castle, first completed in 1265, has a lot to offer visitors. Next to the historic buildings, there are cozy alleys also worth discovering.
Erzsébet Square, downtown Budapest’s largest green area, bore the name of Stalin and Engels during the communist era. Renovated in 2006, the square is a popular meeting point - especially for young people. w w w . d t e u r o p e . c o m
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Designed by English engineer William Tierney Clark and built by Scottish engineer Adam Clark in the middle of the 19th century, the Chain Bridge was the first permanent bridge across the Danube in Hungary. J U N E
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culture
RAISING AWARENESS THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD WINNING PHOTOGRAPHER DOCUMENTS ARCTIC EXPEDITIONS
As we reported in our previous edition, Hungarian freelance photographer and photographer of the Alfred Wegener Institute, Esther Horvath was named 1st prize winner for single photos in the Environment category for her picture 'Polar Bear and her Cub' at the 2020 World Press Photo Contest. In this month’s Diplomacy&Trade, she talks about life during the months-long expeditions to the Arctic region and the story of her award-winning photograph.
The photographer is very much dedicated to the cause of climate protection. “One of my main documentary collections is called ‘Icebird’. It is scientific research focusing on ice thickness in the Arctic Ocean. Over the past almost 20 years, ice thickness in the Arctic Ocean has decreased by some 30%. In the Arctic region, the average air temperature increased 2-3 times more than anywhere else on Earth over this period. So, all the changes caused by global warming affect this environment strongly. This is one of the things that I have been learning from the researchers during the various expeditions I have been part of.” She says her aim is to contribute to forwarding the cause of climate protection by her own means. “It is very difficult to say but I really hope that with my work in magazines and other publications, I have
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managed to raise awareness and get the message through to people about the changes taking place in this environment.”
Expedition experience Esther Horvath has participated in 11 expeditions to the Arctic region. Outsiders may imagine life dull and gloomy during these trips but she says each expedition is totally different. “It is hard because of the fact that we are almost totally disconnected with the outside world, which is very challenging because we have very limited possibilities to communicate. On the other hand, the nicest part of the job is that I really enjoy following the scientific work and being in an environment which is so precious and so beautiful and is so difficult to reach. Every time I go on an expedition, I am really grateful that I can be there and document the extremely important work of these scientists,” she highlights. As a documentary photographer, Esther Horvath has been working for the best known print and online publications. She says that in her polar documentaries, she always focuses on the scientific work and the stories behind that work but also on what is life like at such remote locations. “That is what I always deliver for the readers of the magazines and newspapers.” She says that “yes, I am an expedition photographer but I am also a photographer and photo editor for the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research (AWI).” Her home is in Bremen, Germany.
Story of the award-winning photo “Caught in the glare of Polarstern’s spotlights, a curious mother polar bear and her cub explore the MOSAiC ice camp” – that is how the AWI website describes the photo that the the World Press Photo jury deemed best among the single photos in the Environment category. As Esther explains, “I took this picture during a one-year-long MOSAiC scientific expedition
ESTHER HORVATH
Raising awareness
as the Polarstern icebreaker drifted through the central Arctic Ocean with scientists on board conducting scientific research, atmospheric research, oceanographic research, eco-science, research of the local ecosystem, bio geochemistry and sea ice. On October 10, 2019, I spotted that this polar bear mum and her cub visited us at the vessel. We were all on board already. I had been asked to take pictures on the deck when I noticed the animals. I rushed to the prow of the ship and in the spotlight of the vessel, I took several pictures as the bears were sniffing around and were very curious about the flags and our ship.” She adds that she already had the idea of taking such pictures of polar bears “in a way that shows that we are visitors in their land. They get close to us, they check us out. They are on sea ice and there are pieces of scientific equipment around. I show a full picture: sea ice, equipment (in this case, the flags) next to the ship and also the polar bears. I was very happy when this happened, I felt it was a very important photograph in my life – I felt the importance of it.” For Esther Horvath, this award is like a dream come true. “I am extremely grateful that it happened. When I received this prize, it made me remember the journey, the hard work, which got me to this award. It brought to my mind again the very first assignment that took me to the Arctic Ocean and which completely changed my life,” she concludes.
photo by
Esther Horvath, who defines herself as a photographer raising awareness for the preservation of nature, has been documenting the work of Arctic researchers since 2015. An economist by original profession, she ended up in the cold north after being on photo jobs all over the world. “In 2012, I went to study at the International Center of Photography and three years later, I got my very first Arctic Ocean assignment. My job, commissioned by Audubon magazine, was to document scientific research aboard a US Coast Guard ship on which I spent two weeks,” she tells Diplomacy&Trade. During that time, she completely fell in love with “this beautiful and fragile environment and developed an extremely strong connection with it: for the beauty of the constantly changing landscape, the wind, the currents, the moving ice, the light of the sun. Through my photography, I want to raise awareness of this extremely fast changing environment, in fact, the fastest changing on the planet.”
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culture
THE POWER OF THE SOUL BY URBAN VERBUNK
A MESSAGE TO THE WORLD BY HUNGARIAN DANCERS Urban Verbunk, founded by one of the most acclaimed young dancers in Hungary, Moussa Ahmed, responded to the global viral situation with a soul-strengthening clip. The video shows a universal dance art piece built on traditional Hungarian folk dance elements for the adaptation of the Christian choral music Kyrie Eleison.
Urban Verbunk, which synthesizes various forms of the universal dance culture and also of Hungarian folk dance, responds to the current world situation in the language of movement. The video was recorded in a church before the national quarantine. “We pray with dance. The crisis encourages us to strengthen our soul,” Ahmed Moussa says, adding, “We want to reach out to everyone with the help of our new Hungarian dance style, in which traditional movements are made especially attractive and spectacular with extreme elements such as dancing in handstand positions.” Moussa, who has been awarded prestigious art awards, brings together
the most talented young dancers from Hungary and Hungarians living abroad in this art company. Urban Verbunk, which created a new Hungarian dance style, is not only a dance company but also a center responsible for the innovation and education of Hungarian folk art.
WATCH THE CLIP HERE
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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 THE LANDSCAPES OF THE SOUL... …BETWEEN POLAND AND HUNGARY BY THE AMBASSADOR OF POLAND, JERZY SNOPEK
These simple words contain a universal feeling of strong emotional bond with the native land. This feeling, called nostalgia after the ancient Greeks, has many varieties and shades. Basically, it is pain due to loss, distance both in space and time. People miss their country after leaving it. This is not a permanent feeling, but usually one view, musical theme, verse of a poem, smell of a flower (or perfume) is enough to make your heart twitch. This feeling is most beautifully expressed by poets. In Polish poetry, we can find many examples, especially in the works of those poets who were forced to live abroad. Today, after nearly two hundred years, we feel the nostalgia of our great romantic poets, who, living in beautiful France, missed their homeland or ‘little homeland’, meaning the land of childhood, the place of birth. The feeling of loss spurred idealization. Cyprian Kamil Norwid longed for "a country where a crumble of bread / was
Emotional bonds Even today, this emotional attachment to the place of birth, landscapes of childhood and youth is deep inside us, even though the world is becoming a "global village" at an accelerated pace, that we can move quickly from country to country, from continent to continent. The most elementary feelings and emotions do not globalize easily. The great Hungarian poet Sándor Petőfi used the apt words "I admire but I don't love" in a similar context. You can admire beautiful foreign countries, their wonderful landscapes, but the greatest sentiment is one’s homeland. This is the case with me, for example. There are cases, however, in which a special emotional bond also connects us with another country, usually when we are connected with it by the most personal feelings and memories associated with them. They extrapolate to
and the Tisza, the lively sounds of Czardas and the longing tones of the Csángó songs, the wonderful Hungarian cities headed by the capital and unique villages surrounded by sunflower and corn fields, wine hills and bathing beaches, the charm of the landscapes of southern Hungary and the breathtaking views of the Transylvanian land shrouded in the myth of "Paradise lost." Stanisław Vincenz, our great writer and polyhistor, who spent the years of World War II in the hospitable Hungarian land, wrote about it: "Probably distant tribes settled centuries ago, maybe somewhere near the Urals, there was news about this blessed valley, because they were breaking through one after the other through immeasurable steppes, forests and mountains." Fascinated by the "sunny side of the Carpathians," Vincenz tried to read in Hungarian landscapes, shaping the space enriched with human works – as nature intertwines with culture in various ways – the secrets of the Magyars' soul. For the landscape, saturated with meanings and feelings, is – as the eminent poet of Transylvania, Lajos Áprily put it – "invisible writing." Read with reason and all senses ...
landscapes, to sounds, images, colors and smells characteristic for this selected country. And this is also my case. And my emotional relationship with the country, which in my early youth became strongly associated with my love for the woman who also gave birth to my children. With Hungary, of course ... Personal ties, the most elementary, melted the sense of alienation. What was dear to my nearest beings became equally dear to me. In such situations, a special form of dual nostalgia appears which is also experienced by my wife, a Hungarian, who misses Hungary in Poland, and Poland in Hungary.
Hungarian landscapes And for me, even if "the song from the Vistula River and the sand of Mazovia", Masurian lakes, the Baltic coast, Koszalin forests or mountain landscapes of the Tatra and Karkonosze Mountains are "dearer to the heart", Hungarian landscapes have become extremely close to me. Not only do I admire, but I also love the northern shore of Lake Balaton, the picturesque Hortobágy, the majestic simplicity of the Great Hungarian Plain Alföld, the banks of the Danube
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EMBASSY OF POLAND, DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM
Maybe verdure is more luxuriant elsewhere And the birds in the branches are singing more merrily Perhaps, perhaps, but dearer to the heart is A song from the Vistula River and the sands of Mazovia.
lifted from the earth by respect / for the gifts of heaven", and Chopin's music took his soul to Poland. Another giant of our literature, Juliusz Słowacki, felt nostalgia even at the sight of flying storks, which were an inseparable attribute of the native landscape. And who among the Poles does not know the nostalgic words of Adam Mickiewicz about "home river” and native trees? Such motifs can be found in his great epic poem Pan Tadeusz.
photo by
I remember from my childhood a charming school rhyme:
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what's on DÜRER - BLACK AND WHITE
ONLINE, HUNGARIAN FINE ARTS MUSEUM
BODIES 2.0 - THE UNIVERSE WITHIN UNTIL THE END OF JUNE, BÁLNA
This is a scientific, educational exhibit comprised of appr. 200 specimens including whole body specimens that have been preserved using a method known as polymer impregnation. Bodies 2.0 literally as well as figuratively goes ‘under the skin,’ revealing the complexity of the human body and allowing visitors an up-close, 3-dimensional look at their inner make-up. Rather than using models of the human body, this exhibition uses real human bodies to provide the general public a look at what normally only doctors and scientists can see first-hand. The goal of the exhibition is for visitors to leave with a deeper understanding of their own body’s form and function and a stronger appreciation for staying fit and healthy. www.bodies-kiallitas.hu
Due to the public health emergency caused by Covid-19, the Museum of Fine Arts Budapest is closed for an indefinite period of time (just as all museums in Hungary). To please art fans, the institution invites them on several virtual tours, sharing its digital content with the public. Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528), the most significant painter and graphic artist of the German Renaissance was often compared to the influential artist of Greek antiquity, Apelles, in that the exceptional descriptive power and richness of detail of his engravings and woodcuts were praised. Desiderius Erasmus, the humanist scholar, pointed out that Dürer even transcended Apelles in greatness, since the latter required colors to achieve what Dürer could do with black lines alone. Dürer’s father was a goldsmith, who had left Ajtós, a town close to Gyula, Hungary, to settle in Nuremberg in 1455. Albrecht was born here, as the third child of his parents, in 1471. He started his training as a goldsmith in his father’s workshop, then in 1486 he was apprenticed to Michael Wolgemut (1434–1519) in Nuremberg for three years, where he learned the techniques of painting as well as woodcut printing. In 1490, he departed Nuremberg, and on his journeys, he visited the Upper Rhineland and presumably the Netherlands, too. Returning to his native Nuremberg, Dürer worked as an independent artist, mostly publishing his own works himself. He probably undertook his first journey to Venice in the autumn of 1494, where he studied Italian Renaissance works. On his return to Nuremberg in 1495, he became acquainted with humanist themes through his academic friends, such as Willibald Pirckheimer. These themes, besides his religious and mythological imagery, also appeared in his prints. In 1505 he travelled to Italy for the second time and returned home in 1507. Apart from his undistinguished sojourns, Dürer lived and worked in Nuremberg. It was Albrecht Dürer who elevated the techniques of woodcut and engraving to the status of painting and sculpture in Europe, where they had emerged in the late 14th and mid-15th centuries, respectively, due to the cheap mass production of paper. In contrast with his great ancestors, Dürer created something new in both woodcut and engraving, while he also experimented with drypoint and etching. As a result of his exceptionally prolific life, he bequeathed a significant oeuvre of paintings, 970 drawings, 105 intaglio prints (engravings, etchings, drypoints) and 346 woodcuts. There are some 250 engravings in the rich collection of the Museum of Fine Arts. A selection of the most beautiful ones of this collection can be seen in the institution’s website. www.on-line.szepmuveszeti.hu
SIMPLY RED: BLUE EYED TOUR
NOVEMBER 23, BUDAPEST ARENA
Simply Red is an English soul-pop band from Manchester, currently consisting of frontman and songwriter Mick Hucknall, alongside Ian Kirkham, Dave Clayton, Kenji Suzuki, Kevin Robinson, Steve Lewinson and Pete Lewinson. Formed in 1985, the band is known for songs such as Angel, Fairground, Holding Back The Years, If You Don’t Know Me By Now, and The Air That I Breathe, among many others. They've sold over 50 million albums worldwide and picked up many an award, including two consecutive BRITs for Best British Group. After a brief hiatus, Simply Red returned in 2019 with a new album, 'Blue Eyed Soul'. www.livenation.hu
B MY LAKE
AUGUST 19-22, ZAMÁRDI (110 KM FROM BUDAPEST) ‘B my Lake’ might be one of those very few festivals that will not be canceled this year due to the pandemic. Traditionally organized every year at the end of August, this underground-electronic music fest would celebrate its 8th anniversary in 2020, bringing exciting programs and an insane line-up to the shore of Lake Balaton, such as Adana Twins, Adriatique, Afriqua, ANNA, Bawrut, Carl Cox, Charlotte de Witte, Denes Toth, FJAAK Live, Gabor Kraft, Glowal, HOT X, Jaffa Surfa, James Cole, John Digweed, Julian Perez, Kobosil, Maceo Plex, Marco Bailey, Mateo & Spirit, Matthias Meyer, Philipp Straub, Polarize, Poli, Rebekah, Re.You, Richie Hawtin, Sanfranciscobeat, Secret Factory, Sikztah, Solomun, Sweely live, Toto Chiavetta, Traumer and many more! www.bmylake.hu
ALANIS MORISSETTE CONCERT OCTOBER 12, BUDAPEST ARENA
BODIES, LIVE NATION, BROADWAY.HU, B MY LAKE, ALBRECHT DÜRER, DEAN CHALKLEY
Seven-time GRAMMY® Award-winner and multi-platinum singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette just recently announced the much anticipated European Leg of her 2020 World Tour celebrating 25 years of Jagged Little Pill and her brand new album ‘Such Pretty Forks In The Road’, released on May 1. The run will see the Canadian-American singer, perform in 13 cities across Europe, kicking off in Copenhagen and stopping in Budapest for one night. Famous for her emotive mezzo-soprano voice, Alanis Morissette will be joined by Liz Phair on stage. www.livenation.hu
HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS: PUSHING THE LIMITS SEPTEMBER 29, BUDAPEST ARENA
photo by
The Harlem Globetrotters are legendary worldwide, synonymous with one-of-a-kind family entertainment and great basketball skills for the past 93 years. Throughout their history, the Original Harlem Globetrotters have showcased their iconic talents in 124 countries and territories on six continents, often breaking down cultural and societal barriers while providing fans with their first-ever basketball experience. Proud inductees of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Globetrotters have entertained hundreds of millions of fans – among them popes, kings, queens, and presidents – over nine thrilling decades. They are currently preparing for their 94th year of touring with the 'Pushing the Limits' World Tour, during which the team will play in more than 250 North American markets, as well as more than 30 countries worldwide, including Hungary. The tour will feature high-flying dunks, hilarious stunts, a new record-breaking attempt and unforgettable family moments. www.broadway.hu
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gastronomy SEZLONY CAFÉ
THE SUBURBAN JEWELRY BOX
The Sezlony Café is a brand new all-day brunch & café, offering a wide selection of breakfast dishes, brunch, heavenly ice cream and desserts. The coffee they serve is worth the travel to Törökbálint! Caffé Vergnano, a brand that is not widely known in Hungary, has a long and prestigious history, making premium coffee since 1882. Sezlony Café is a family business, you can find the owners and their very close friends working there, creating a welcoming, home-like milieu. The design is simple, but elegant and cosy, featuring gold, grey, black and white colors with a splash of blue. The café has 7 indoor tables and 3 terrace tables, to seat up to 25 people. In the kitchen, everything is freshly made, cooked and served. The orange juice is freshly squeezed. Those with sweet teeth will love the authentic Italian La Veneta ice-creams and the ice-cream infused desserts. On Friday and Saturday evenings, the café is open till 11PM, allowing guests to celebrate weekends with drinks such as premium proseccos, champagnes, wines and spirits. Törökbálint can be reached in less than 15-25 minutes from Budapest, and it is only a 5 minute detour on the way to Lake Balaton.
BACK ON TRACK It is our utmost pleasure to announce that ÉS Bisztró, Blue Fox The Bar and Nobu Budapest welcome you again with full services. We have made it our top priority to protect the health of our guests. The recently launched ‘Kempinski White Glove Service’ covers all areas of the hotel, keeping in line with the regional safety and health regulations. Whatever the reason for your visit is, you will feel safe and well taken care of while enjoying our personalised services.
See you soon at Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest! 1051 Budapest, Erzsébet tér 7-8. kempinski.com/budapest, (361) 429 3777
Treat yourself with the magnificent view and experience a little bit of freedom during an enjoyable breakfast, lunch, dinner or simply with a refreshing drink in your hand.
photo by
1052 Budapest, Duna-korzó | + 36 1 737 7377 www.dnbbudapest.com | @dnbbudapest
SEZLONY CAFÉ
THE NEW DNB BUDAPEST TERRACE AWAITS YOU!
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wine
SPARKLING SOUTH BALATON ENJOY THE SUNSET WITH BUBBLES IN THE BOTTLE
South Balaton sparkling wines are on the rise both in quality and recognition. Making sparkling wines in the region has a long tradition: excellent bubblies were produced in Balatonboglár, well before the fall of communism.
exported to the Soviet Union in large quantities. Ferenc Bujdosó wrote his graduate thesis on sparkling wines and completed his postgraduate training period working for a German sparkling
instead of Chardonnay. For traditional sparklers we believe in extended ageing on lees for a period of 24-36 months is optimal. We are curious to see how Királyleányka responds to such long ageing, what is the potential of the wine, as there is no precedent yet, unlike with Pinot Noir, there is no experience one could rely on. Getting the base wine right is really important: of course one has to be careful with alcohol levels, but the tricky part is to get the fruit ripe, while retaining a bright but not raw acidity. The key to achieving this goal is to pinpoint the right moment to pick and also to carefully control yields in the vineyards. In the first vintage, 5000 bottles were made and step by step 500-1000 bottle batches were disgorged at various intervals. Armed with this first-hand experience, we felt more liberated to experiment with recent vintages. The time has come to see how bottle size influences ageing as we couldn’t resist the temptation and bottled some magnums. One thing we know for sure, our bubbly is an excellent companion to sunset sailing. Mind you, in our family it’s an all-round favorite regardless of the occasion.”
photo by
BUJDOSÓ WINERY, FERENC DANCSECS
Bujdosó Vineyards and Winery owns vineyards on the south shore of Lake Balaton, spanning no less than 90 hectares through the Somogy hills. Led by Ferenc Bujdosó, the winery, based in Balatonlelle, is one of the major players of the region, with three generations working together in the vineyards. 2016 marked a new milestone in the winery’s history: that’s when their first traditional method sparkling wine was launched. The Bujdosó family has a special fondness for bubblies, and so has the region, featuring the neighboring Balatonboglár Winery (BB), which was established in 1956 as a State Farm, and which produced sparkling wine so popular that it was
wine producer, as back in 1989 he aspired to become the cellar master of BB. With the sudden changes in politics, however, his original plans flew out of the window: BB was sold, market targets were reconsidered, and eventually, the Bujdosós decided to make the family business their top priority. This also meant the shelving of any plans to produce sparkling wines for a good while. The ensuing period was about the gradual development of the family estate with significant contribution from Ferenc Bujdosó Sr. whose 50-year experience in the field proved to be an invaluable asset when it came to matching varieties and plots in the process of planting new vineyards and reconstructing older ones. Sparkling and bubbles never completely disappeared from their plans; it was the Bujdosós who made the first semisparkling wines at Lake Balaton. Today there are three different semi-sparklers in their product line. They never gave up on their dream of producing traditional method sparkling wines either. Eventually the first Bujdosó traditional method sparkling wine was made in the cellars of Garamvári, one of the pioneers of sparkling wine production in Hungary. “I had a very clear idea as to what kind of sparkling wine I wanted to make,” Ferenc says. “Our style is characterized by fruit; it is the world of more serious Proseccos that we feel attached to, so this is what we are aiming for. Brut nature is not our cup of tea. The 8-9 g/l dosage of sugar in our sparkling wines enhances the fruit and this is our own South Balaton style traditional method sparkling wine was born. Champagne is not our point of reference, it wouldn’t make any sense to compare ourselves to them. This is why at the moment we are working with Királyleányka
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TAKENAKA EUROPE GmbH HUNGARY BRANCH OFFICE Architecture / Engineering / Construction www.takenaka.eu info@takenaka.hu
ASPIRING TO FINE FORM
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