Our mission: „Budapest Chamber of Commerce and Industry for entrepreneurs”

Useful
informations

Budapest
Chamber of Commerce and Industry
H- 1016 Budapest, Krisztina krt. 99
Tel: +36/1/488-2000

www.bkik.hu

In this brossure we are providing You information about the services of Budapest Chamber of Commerce and Industry for supporting Hungarian Enterprises.

The most important task of our Chamber is: the improvement of entrepreneurial environment in competition for markets.  

Our goal is to help the role players of economy by analyses, trends,  studies, suggestions, authentical business contacts, legal- tax- and other consultations.

The longterm thinking respectable Chamber, on European level, rich in values is a compass in every stages of capital’s economic and social life. We participate in preparation of legal issues regarding economy, in creation of longterm enterprise development programs  and in their realisation.

At the same time we take an important role in market access of companies of Central Economic Region and in development of conditions of entrepreneurial environment to EU-level.

Our activity is featured by  transparency, truthworthyness and professionalism. BCCI is a trademark, guards and protects the ethic entrepreneurial behaviour.  

Our activity is based on interest representation of economic role players. Each Section and Class based on  different professions takes part in this work. The fields of trade, industry, services and handicraft are represented by wellknown experts who are the professional and intellectual forces of Chamber. A well skilled professional staff is always willing to serve entrepreneurs.

Kristóf Szatmáry
President of BCCI

Consultations
(personal meetings on previous appointment )
Phone: 488-2000/2423
Legal consultation
(Company and Civil Law regarding enterprises)
Consultant: dr.  Gabriella Karácsonyi
Legal consultation outside Headquarter:
(1055 Bp., Kossuth Lajos tér 6-8)
Consultant: dr.  Erzsébet Lantos
Phone: 474-7949 Fax: 311-1843

Consultation on taxes, accountancy and prices
Consultant: Péter Gábriel

Consultation on insurance and risk-management
Consultant: Balázs Berey
Phone/Fax: 340-4640
Mobil: 30-9-327-425
e-mail: mvk.kft@chello.hu

Liquidation, bankruptcy , and bankruptcy management
Consultant:  Zsolt Móricz
Free of charge green-line:
80-204-592

Starting an enterprise
5 years supervision of gas appliances
Jury of craft-products
Edit Éva Hegedűs
Phone:  488-2109 Fax: 488-2105
e-mail: szedit@bkik.hu

Consultation on financial sources
(credit, supports, tenders/applications)
Consultant:  Ottó Szabó
Phonel: 488-2183; Fax: 214-1795
e-mail: szabo.otto@bkik.hu

Services
EIDC
Personal consultations, publications, conferences, entreprenurial clubs
Erzsébet Gyúró Head of Intl.Dept. and EIDC
Phone: 488-2156; Fax: 488-2180
e-mail: zso@bkik.hu

Széchenyi-Card  administration
Consultant: Edit Hegedűs
Phone: 488-2187; Fax:214-1795
e-mail: hegedus.edit@bkik.hu

Master-exams
János Burányi coordinator
Tel: 488-2130 Fax: 375-0258
e-mail: buranyi.janos@bkik.hu

Vocational training, education
Ildikó Takács director
Phone: 488-2170; Fax: 488-2171
e-mail: locsai@bkik.hu

Onternational Fairs, business meetings
Erzsebet Gyúró corrdinator
Phone: 488-22165; Fax: 488-2180
e-mail: zso@bkik.hu

Ethic Committee
Tiborné Geszler coordinator
Phone: 488-2133 Fax: 488-2186
e-mail: etikai@bkik.hu

Conciliation Body
Tiborné  Geszler coordinator
Phone: 488-2131 Fax: 488-2186
e-mail: bekelteto.testulet@bkik.hu

Baross Trade Development Office
Business partner intermediation, addresslist, DM-service, home and foreign trade consultation, advices to start-up a company, branch meetings, organisation of trainings and visits of exhibitions/fairs.
dr. Valéria Szepesi Head of Office, Timea Benczik coordinator
Phone: 488-2047 Fax: 488-2048
e-mail.: kerfejlesztes@bkik.hu

Service Centre of Transport Information (KSZC)
Transport of goods and persons, forwarding, customs, diff. Licences, A0 certification)
Experts: Károly Berkó  (taxi); Tamás Bodnár (transport of goods, forwarding)
Phone: 30/20-06-180

European Union Entrepreneurial House
Rent of conference rooms and offices, development of events
Catering, technical/informatical supports, free of charge car parking, 24 hours guard services, climatised rooms.
Mónika Szarka coordinator
Phone: 488-2052; Fax: 488-2053
e-mail: szarka.monika@bkik.hu

Document authorization
ATA-CARNET; certificates of origin, certification of commercial invoices and other documents (proposals, warranties etc.)
Imréné Joó Head of Office
Phone: 474-7949; Fax:311-1843
e-mail: joo.imrene@bkik.hu
address: 1055 Budapest, Kossuth Lajos tér 6-8. I. em. 117-120 room

Interest representation:
Opinions on regulations, professional information, events, fairs, exhibitions, studies/publications
Section of Trade:
President: Zoltán  Házi
dr. Valéria Szepesi  Secretary of Section
Phone: 488-2145; Fax: 488-2048
e-mail.: szepesi.valeria@bkik.hu

Section of Industry:
President: Saslics Elemér
Tibor György Secretary of Section
Phone: 488-2151; Fax: 488-2172
e-mail: gyorgy.tibor@bkik.hu

Section of Services of Economy
President:  dr.  Zoltán Kiss
Veronika Grob Secretary of Section
Phone: 488-2158; Fax: 488-2188
e-mail: grob.veronika@bkik.hu

Section of Crafts/Artisans
President:  József Hefter
Gabriella Tengerdy Secretary of Section
Phone: 488-2129 Fax: 488-2105
e-mail: tenger@bkik.hu

Budapest, 23 district service-network
Andrea Nagy coordinator
Phone: 488-2000/2475; Fax: 356-9992
e-mail: nagy.andrea@bkik.hu

1850 The beginning . . . .The first Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Pest was founded in 1850 in Budapest, at that time called Pest. The bankers, merchants, and tradesmen of the town were convinced that the economy of the steadily growing capital city necessitated the establishment of an independent, self-organizing and permanent business center, which could take its place as a respected partner to the chambers of commerce being founded elsewhere in Europe at that time. Once the administrative framework of the chamber was set up, one year after the Peace Treaty,1868, a specific set of by-laws for the operation of the Hungarian chamber was drawn up. These by-laws were fully compatible with the chamber system already existing under the Monarchy. Among the chamber's first duties were the organization of the trade fairs of Pest, and the establishment of the system of education and training for master craftsmen. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Budapest (BCCI) played a major role in the founding of the Commodity and Stock Exchange of Pest and also in the creation of the first ever law in support of Hungarian industrial development. In 1896, when Hungary celebrated the Millennium, the 1000th anniversary of the Conquest, the leadership of the BCCI helped organizing the public events, and members participated prominently at all major establishments.

1896 The Golden Age of the Chamber . . . . The golden age of Budapest was at the turn of twentieth century. The BCCI was 50 years old at that time and was already playing a most significant role in the development of the economy of Budapest. As the strongest business federation in the economy, the BCCI shaped the business life of the capital. Its headquarters building, located at the corner of Szemere and Alkotmany streets, was built in 1905 with the help of the personal contributions of its leading members, and even today it can be admired for its architectural uniqueness and beauty. The chambers economic reference library was the largest of its kind in the entire country. Having survived the war, the chamber organized the Industrial Fair of Budapest, which has become one of the most outstanding events of its kind in the world. Between the world wars, the chamber played a most authoritative role in directing the economy of Budapest. The advice of the chamber's leaders was accepted by the Mayor of the Capital. Every merchant and business leader relied on the chamber for its expertise. In 1926, the BCCI organized the first Hungarian Economic Research Institute to facilitate access to its enormous knowledge base.

1945 Difficult time in the struggle for survival . . . . The Second World War and the Communist centralization temporarily caused the activities of the BCCI to cease. Communist ministries were built upon the foundations of the BCCI. In fact, the office of the Ministry of Commerce was situated in the old headquarters building of the BCCI. The communist government created a nationwide chamber organization, consisting of a network of regional chambers, where the Capital district chamber received much less attention. But the chambers of commerce and industry continued to function and even attracted the attention of their counterparts elsewhere in Europe and indeed around the world. This recognition by the international chamber movement can be cited as the only thing keeping the spirit of the Hungarian chambers alive. As time passed, and the Hungarian economy began to be reformed, it was the continued existence of the Hungarian chambers that provided the grounds for this reform.

1989 Chamber reborn . . . As Hungarian politics changed, the chambers of commerce and industry responded cautiously and on an individual basis. The Budapest Chamber of Commerce and Industry once again became the national leader and was the first to declare its reconstitution with approximately fifty enterprises as members. Ever since, the BCCI has played a leading role in the Hungarian economy, reminiscent of the role played for so long by the original Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Pest, under the leadership of Antal Valero J. In fact, the mission statement and philosophy of the new BCCI was modeled upon the profile of its historic inheritage. The character of its partnership in the reformed Hungarian Economic Chamber highlighted the values of the original chamber, most importantly a very clear reflection of the international chamber movement. The BCCI looks forward to taking its place once again as a key player not only in the Hungarian business world but in the international marketplace, just in time for the celebration of the 150th anniversary of its founding. The chamber lobbies intensely on the domestic level as well as on the international scene. The reputation of the Budapest chamber has always been high among other European chambers, as evidenced by the fact that Budapest was the only Central European chamber invited to attend the chamber summit in Amsterdam in 1991. It was at this forum where leaders of the European Union began to assess the prospects of Central European nations eventually being admitted to the European Union and participating in an integrated European market.

1994 The Hungarian Parliament declared the chambers as public bodies with obligatory membership. The chambers were rebuilt within four years having a full infrastructure and organization. They took positions in the Hungarian economy similar to those they had had at the turn of the twentieth century. The BCCI formed a large-scale service system and opened individual servicing offices in each district of Budapest. It joined the Trade Pont network and helped the preparation of the enterprises supports of the Capital for the Euroatlantic integration with an individual European Information and Service Center. It supports small and medium sized undertakings with training and consultance. The economy analyzing and researching unit took a start again and the chamber started taking part in the management of the International Fair of Budapest again. The BCCI is present at each forum of economic interest synchronizing, it has an important role in the evaluation of economic laws, and takes part in the area development of Budapest. It has had successes in case of the change in tax policies in order to reduce or seize regulations hindering the functioning of undertakings. It founded and is managing a constant relationship between the economy and professional training to ensure the right professional background of expert supply. It has an own financial fund to support development of industry, trade, and innovation. It formed the ethical codex of most branches as the rule of the fairness of undertakings and behavior of business life. It also helps to settle disputes. With the help of its efficiently working international relations all over the world, it has been supporting the expanding of its members abroad and the settlement of foreign investors in Budapest. The BCCI has built up and is managing the registration and controlling system of private undertakers and some special fields of business, with the connecting services.

2000 At the end of 1999, the third chamber law was passed on the 150 year-old chambers. The new law still recognizes the necessity of chambers as public bodies, but declares membership voluntary from the end of the year 2000 onwards, and frees the chambers from administrative tasks. The new law wishes to provide the strengthened chambers basically with the functions of trade services, lobby, and economic interest representing functions. The law wants the chambers to have an outstanding role in organizing fairs and to manage trade functions. Furthermore, it regards as an important task for the chambers to take part in the forming of industrial parks and undertaking areas. BBCI is preparing for the re-election of the officials and to reorganize the whole chamber institution on the basis of free market, using all of its existing successes and conclusions during the year 2000, the 150th anniversary of the Chamber. Safeguarding the values. Towards new perspectives, the Budapest Chamber of Commerce and Industry is prepared for the New Millennium.

Budapest The economic importance of Budapest is out of all proportion with the population of that city. Enterprises located in Budapest constitute 35 % of Hungary's national income. 56 % of all foreign capital invested in Hungary has come to Budapest. 50 % of the food industry and seventy per cent of agrarian trade is concentrated in the capital. All of Hungary's road, rail, water, and air transport junctions are located in Budapest, and the city is the main crossroad of Central Europe. At the turn of this century, there are fast 250 000 business enterprises in Budapest, one third of the enterprises in Hungary as a whole. Due to all of this, the economic growth of Budapest is many times greater than that of the country at large and the unemployment rate, 3.5 %, is the lowest of any of the regions by far and excels in comparison with the European average. The GDP per capital in Budapest is 90 % higher than the country's average. In the past ten years, Budapest has emerged as the financial and commercial center of Central Europe. There are 56 banks, mostly foreign owned, 20 insurance companies, and about 600 other financial service enterprises operating in Budapest. Brand new business centers, commercial developments, and entertainment sites have sprung up in recent years. Among them are the 55 billion MOM Park and the 45 billion Nyugati City Center. On the northern side of the city the Duna Plaza, an entirely new part of town is being built at the cost of 120 billion, right on the banks of the Danube. South of the capital, plans for Dunaland are proceeding and when complete will present the capital with a development similar to Paris La Defense. To the east of the capital an East City Center is being built in the area of East Railway Station and the Peoples Stadium. Along with these developments, new logistical and industrial complexes are being built in the suburbs, the most important of which is INFOPARK, near the Technical University, in a region soon to be called the silicone valley of Budapest. 

BCCI The ten departments of the BCCI constitute virtually every enterprise operating in the capital. That is the reason we have undertaken the publication of a list profiling the 1000 most outstanding enterprises at the turn of this new century. This publication will serve as a map to the most important enterprises in the capital and also as a guide to the most dynamic and influential of the departments of the chamber, which stands ready to assist any enterprise interested in developing a partnership with Budapest commerce and industry. BCCI section I, for industry, industrial services, industrial research and development, and industrial planning represents more that 10 % of the capitals enterprises. Construction industry, planning and maintenance is covered in BCCI section II and represents more than 5 % of the capitals enterprises. The largest section of the capitals enterprises belong to BCCI section III, representing companies working in the field of commerce and commercial services, where nearly 25 % of the enterprises work. Retailers and caterers are included in BCCI section IV and represent about 5 % of the capitals enterprises. The tourist trade, hotel and pension operators, and the entertainment and leisure industry are to be found in BCCI section V, representing about 5 % of the capitals enterprises. Transportation enterprises, freight forwarders, and logistics and infrastructures companies form BCCI section VI, representing another 5 % of the enterprises in the capital. BCCI section VII consists of communications and information technology, another 5 %. Public utility services are to be found in BCCI section VIII, representing 10 % of the capitals enterprises. BCCI section IX is the second strongest sector, comprising banking, insurance, and financial services, 20 % of the enterprises in Budapest. BCCI section X includes all others, including business and economic consultants, training, education, and research, real estate services, and health care. No less than 10 % of Budapest enterprises are in this category.