Local services
In an interview at the PwC Business Forum, Janza Ákos said that the companies coming to the city have found their numbers. He believes Debrecen needs to be proactive in future economic cooperation.
International companies attended the PwC Business Forum, a business summit that took place in Debrecen. The American Chamber of Commerce was also present. Médiacentrum Debrecen asked President Ákos Janza why this was important.
“Debrecen and the region have created 19,000 new jobs in recent years and we have a lot of member companies operating here”, the President began, sensing a sense of openness from the participants at the Debrecen Business Forum.
“It is important to see that resources are still very much available here. There are still reserves here in the trinity of cost, knowledge and availability of resources,” Ákos Janza said.
He believes that it is of paramount importance for the region and the city that companies here move up the value chain, because industrial development brings with it business development that creates the long-term survival of a city.
As he said, “Debrecen has succeeded in creating an infrastructure network in which companies can find their place. Nevertheless, there will always be a need for development and new investment, be it in office buildings, industrial or cultural developments that will help people to live here.”
“The city is ready to welcome even more service centres with higher added value, as well as companies and factories,” he stressed.
In Hungary, roughly 800-1200 American companies employ a total of 100-110 thousand workers. The Chamber’s member companies cover half of that.
The President of the Chamber was also asked about the impact of the sanctions announced by Donald Trump on Hungary and Debrecen. According to Ákos Janza, this will also affect their member companies, especially those producing for export.
“To a large extent, this is about the automotive industry and the not insignificant supply chains connected to them,” he explained, adding that supply chains will change and he emphasised that what investment will come here in the future is a business question.
“If Hungary can convey that it is a good place to live, work, invest and learn, it will be easier for us,” the President said. He pointed out that we need an economic and legal framework where companies are welcome to come, where they can find the right workforce and where the government can provide state support to steer them in a direction where it is good to invest.
“This could be a good opportunity for Debrecen to attract such large companies to the city, but it needs to be proactive,” he added.
“The American Chamber of Commerce is in the vanguard of better showcasing the opportunities outside Budapest,” he concluded.
Source and photo credit: dehir.hu
