On October 16, AmCham Hungary, in partnership with HIPA, organized the 10th annual Business Meets Government Summit. This year's event focused on EU competitiveness, in light of Hungary's EU Presidency. More than 200 business leaders, experts and government officials gathered to discuss how the EU can restore its competitive position and attract investment to the region.
Starting the event, Írisz Lippai-Nagy, CEO of AmCham Hungary, Zoltán Szabó, President of AmCham Hungary, and István Joó, CEO of HIPA and Government Commissioner for Large Foreign Direct Investments, shared their perspectives on the critical role of competitiveness at both the national and EU levels, highlighting the Summit as a key advocacy forum to address these pressing challenges.
AmCham President Szabó emphasized that in today’s uncertain global environment, collective action is key to fostering a forward-thinking and competitive business landscape, while Mr. Joó pointed to the strength of transatlantic relations, noting that the EU and the U.S. share the most integrated economic partnership in the world. He also highlighted the significance of the American presence in Hungary, with the U.S. currently ranking as the country’s 4th largest investor. This presence is particularly impactful in knowledge-intensive sectors such as R&D, which are essential for advancing Hungary in the global supply chain, retaining talent, and boosting competitiveness. With continued government support, HIPA remains committed to guiding and assisting investors in Hungary – he added.
Keynote and panel discussion
In his keynote, international expert Fabian Zuleeg, Chief Executive and Chief Economist of the European Policy Centre introduced the EU’s priorities in the face of the present contested global landscape. He identified growing polarization, uncertainty, defense and security issues, and economic transition as the most urgent concerns. Zuleeg referenced two key reports, the Draghi Report and the Letta Report, as strategic roadmaps for improving European competitiveness and stressed the importance of translating these recommendations into concrete actions. He called for a shift from short-term solutions to long-term, strategic planning in both politics and business emphasizing that companies and think tanks must play a leading role in this transformation.
Fabian Zuleeg delivering his keynote speech on ‘Europe’s priorities in a contested and challenging landscape: how to deliver competitiveness, security and sustainability’
The event proceeded with a panel discussion that explored EU competitiveness from a transatlantic angle. Moderated by Susan Danger, CEO of AmCham EU, regional leaders engaged in insightful discussions on key issues, including the balancing act between advancing the Green Deal and fostering economic growth and Ukraine’s recovery. The panel highlighted the urgency of driving competitiveness and removing barriers to investment.
Panel discussion with Munir Nanji, Central Europe Sub-Cluster and Banking Head, Citi, Abhinav Kumar, Global Chief Marketing Officer, TATA CS, Mario Klesse, Vice President, Regional Commercial Strategy Lead, Johnson and Johnson Innovative Medicine, Nikolaas Baeckelmans, Vice President EU Affairs, ExxonMobil, Andrea Antoniou, VP Iron Mountain Central & Southern Europe, Susan Danger, CEO, AmCham EU (moderator)
Beakout Sessions
The four breakout sessions explored various aspects of business competitiveness. The Business Environment section delved into foreign direct investment (FDI) trends and government incentives, as well as investment opportunities in rural areas. The discussions also touched upon the phase-out of windfall taxes and EU-related tax directives.
Business Environment breakout with Botond Besesek, Deputy State Secretary for Tax Regulation and Accounting, Ministry of Finance, Máté Lóga, State Secretary for Economic Strategy, Industry, Financial Resources and Macroeconomic Analysis, Ministry for National Economy, István Joó, CEO, HIPA; Government Commissioner for the Implementation of Large Foreign Direct Investments; Zoltán Dapsy, Managing Director, Continental Budapest, László Szivi, Director for Network Operations, Hammel & Hochreiter, and Dorottya Prokaj, Tax Manager, Andersen (moderator)
In the Digital breakout, participants explored key trends driving digital transformation across industries, the role of artificial intelligence, and strategic considerations before implementing new technologies. The session also reviewed the priorities of the National Tax and Customs Administration’s AI Working Group and the potential impact of these trends on Hungary’s digital landscape.
Digital breakout with Theodore Boone, Member of the Faculty, Corvinus University of Budapest (moderator), Gergely Kiss, Co-Founder, Attrecto, Gábor Béla Magyar, Head, Artificial Intelligence Working Group, National Tax and Customs Administration; University Professor at Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME); Katalin Horváth, Partner, Technology, Media and Telecommunications, CMS; Veronika Spanarova, Managing Director and Country Head for Citi; and Szabolcs Szolnoki, Deputy State Secretary for Technology, Ministry for National Economy
In the Healthcare discussion, AmCham presented its Employee Health Benefits Survey and the new Healthcare Data Policy Paper. The importance of healthcare in strengthening Hungary’s competitiveness was a central theme, with emphasis on preventive care, digital health progress, and infrastructure enhancement.
Healthcare breakout with Mariusz Révész, State Secretary for an Active Hungary, Prime Minister’s Office, Béla Muzsik, Director, Directorate of Inpatient and Outpatient Specialized Care, National Hospital Directorate; Ádám Nagy, Deputy State Secretary for Industry Affairs, Ministry for National Economy; Judit Bidló, Deputy State Secretary for the Professional Coordination of Healthcare, Ministry of Interior Affairs; Krisztina Ujhelyi, Capital & Spine Business Leader, Medtronic (co-moderator); Vanda Galambos, Policy Center Lead, Roche & Chair, Healthcare Committee, AmCham (co-moderator)
The Workforce breakout offered a comprehensive discussion on how Hungary can strengthen its competitiveness within the EU labor market. Government representatives underlined efforts to boost employment by mobilizing untapped labor reserves, including young and senior populations. The session also addressed the employment of foreign workers from third countries and discussed the new immigration law, along with the formation of a new working group formed between the Ministry of National Economy and the National Directorate for Aliens Policing to refine related regulations.
Workforce breakout with László Szőcs, HR Director for GBS Europe & HR Business Partner for GBS Customer, bp; dr. Tamás Jázcku, Head of Department, Ministry for National Economy; Szilvia Balogh, Deputy State Secretary, Ministry for National Economy; Dávid Meretei, HR Manager, Howmet; László Róbel, Head of Department, Regional Directorate of Budapest and Pest County, National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing; and Andreas Köhler, Partner, CMS (moderator)
It was a fantastic day filled with insightful discussions that highlighted the crucial role of strong public-private partnerships in securing Hungary and the EU's competitiveness in an ever-changing global economy.To mark the 10th anniversary of the summit, we enjoyed a special cake, celebrating a decade of impactful discussions and collaboration with HIPA.
We would like to express our appreciation and thanks to our sponsors for contributing to the realization of the event: Andersen, Attrecto, Bp, BT, Citi, CMS Law Office, Continental Automotive Hungary, ExxonMobil, Howmet, Hammel & Hochreiter, Iron Mountain, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, Medtronic, Novartis, Roche, and TATA Consultancy Services.
You can find more photos in the gallery.