Debrecen4U
November 28, 2025
Debrecen Business Fest addressed the pressing issue of professional and IT expert shortages in the region
The Debrecen Business Fest was held in Debrecen, at the Kölcsey Center, on November 27. At the event, the experts also sought answers to the most significant labor market challenges of the county.
Johannes Trauth, Vice President of BMW Group Plant Debrecen, was among the participants at the event. Recruitment is currently underway at the Debrecen plant, which has already begun series production of the iX3 model. The vice president of the high‑tech facility addressed labor market challenges, noting that the influx of numerous investments in Debrecen has made the situation more complex—particularly for highly qualified technicians. He highlighted the importance of the dual vocational training program, which now involves 300 students.
“We must place far greater emphasis on the technical skills that will be increasingly vital in the future. Just consider: thousands of robots will be operating in the factory, and they must be managed. This demands a highly skilled workforce and well‑prepared technicians,” he explained.
The Business Fest was organized for the second time in Debrecen. The main topic of the event was the challenges of the labor market, as well as IT and logistics. “Debrecen, the most dynamic region” served as the motto of the event. “I think that Debrecen is one of the strongest beating hearts of the country. I feel that the energy is here, the innovation is here, and all this can happen because the city is very united and wants something together—and that is fantastic,” Gergely Tóth, Founder of the Business Fest, said.
The situation and challenges of the logistics sector were also discussed at the business conference. The railway container terminal to be established in the Northwest Economic Zone, as well as the logistics and truck terminal, will serve to relieve the city and its road network of the logistics traffic of enterprises. Tamás Fábián, Strategic and Business Development Director of Ghibli Kft., stated that with the launch of larger factories, as many as 500 trucks per day could pass through the city. “Ghibli Kft. started its work in Debrecen three years ago. At that time, we operated on 3,000 square meters of warehouse space. Now we operate on 55,000 square meters. This means that there is enormous growth potential, only in terms of warehouse logistics, road transportation, and rail transportation, given that a significant number of these companies have not even started production yet,” he said.
Deputy Mayor Lajos Barcsa highlighted at the event that an increasing number of business conferences are being held in Debrecen—an important indicator of the city’s economic development. He noted that the total revenue of Debrecen‑based companies was around HUF 2,000 billion in 2020, and by last year had already risen to well over HUF 3,000 billion. “The growth of Debrecen’s economy has far outpaced the national average,” he explained.
In addition to professional presentations and meetings, exhibitors welcomed visitors at the Kölcsey Center, where more than a thousand participants attended the event.
Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu
