Record Economic Growth in Debrecen
Debrecen, Hungary, has experienced significant economic success in recent years, positioning itself as one of the countryâs leading economic hubs. Several factors contribute to Debrecenâs economic prosperity.
Overall, Debrecenâs proactive economic policies, investment-friendly environment, skilled workforce, and strategic location have propelled its economic success, making it a key contributor to Hungaryâs economic development.
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BusinessIndustrial l development
Debrecen has attracted substantial investment in various industries, including automotive, electronics, and IT. The city hosts industrial parks and business zones that accommodate multinational corporations and local businesses, fostering innovation and economic growth.
Infrastructure development
The city has invested in modern infrastructure, including transportation networks, utilities, and communication systems, to support business activities and enhance connectivity with other regions.
Strategic location
Situated in eastern Hungary, Debrecen serves as a vital transportation hub with access to major highways and railway lines, facilitating trade and commerce both domestically and internationally.
Educational institutions
Debrecen is home to prestigious universities and research institutions, such as the University of Debrecen. These institutions provide a skilled workforce and support research and development activities, attracting further investment and driving economic advancement.
Over the past few years, Debrecen has been recognised in the FDI Intelligence Awards.
The FDI Intelligence Awards, organized by fDi Intelligence, a division of the Financial Times, recognize excellence in various aspects of foreign direct investment (FDI) and economic development. These awards highlight achievements by cities, regions, and countries in attracting and retaining foreign investment, promoting economic growth, fostering innovation, and creating favorable business environments.
2018
Debrecen was recognised in four categories at the fDi Location Awards
- fDi Strategy Awards 2018 – Special Award – Education, Skills and Training
- fDi Strategy Awards 2018 – Special Award â Incentives
- fDi Strategy Awards 2018 – Special Award – Employee Training and Performance Management
- fDi Strategy Awards 2018 – Editorial Special Award
2018/2019
Debrecen ranked first in top 10 Small European Cities for FDI Strategy in the fDi Cities and Regions of the Future rankings
Mayor of Debrecen LÃĄszlÃģ Papp received the Financial Times FDI Strategy magazine’s award for the “Best Capital Attraction Strategy in Small Cities” on the 13th of March 2018 in Cannes, France. The award entitles Debrecen to the title of European City of the Future in 2018-2019.
2020/2021
Debrecen ranked second in top 10 Small European Cities for FDI Strategy in the fDi Cities and Regions of the Future rankings
While the Financial Times ranked Debrecen as the city with the best investment promotion strategy among small European cities in 2018, Debrecen was ranked second in the category “Small European Cities of the Future 2020/21″in 2020. The Financial Times analyses small European cities based on their investment promotion strategy. Since the 2018 decision, Debrecen’s economy has grown significantly, thanks in part to the fDi award. Perhaps the most important event was the BMW Group’s decision in summer 2018 to build its new factory in Debrecen, the biggest investment decision of the year in Europe in 2018.
2021/2022
Debrecen has been included in the top 10 list of the world's most attractive cities for investment in 2021â
The Financial Times has published its list of the world’s top investment destinations for 2021. Debrecen has been ranked in the top ten, alongside cities such as New York, Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Berlin. The city’s industrial park network is one of the key foundations of our visible performance in the international economic arena, the mayor said, adding that there are 1,000 hectares of industrial land available in the city, a good part of which has investors. The arrival of BMW has given a major boost to economic development in Debrecen, the real estate market has also been positively affected, while Debrecen International Airport is a major strength and will ensure that the city can achieve and maintain its leading position in the region. The city’s development ambitions are also supported by a broad education system and a forward-looking city strategy, as reflected in the Debrecen2030 programme.
2022/2023
Debrecen voted for the third time as one of the European cities of the Future
Debrecen has been ranked in the top 10 among smaller cities in Europe’s cities of the future by fDi Intelligence, the international capital flows and investment unit of the Financial Times. Debrecen was ranked eighth for its investment promotion strategy and was placed in the top ten with cities such as Middlesbrough and Doncaster in England, Cork in Ireland, Braga in Portugal and Lublin and Gdynia in Poland.
2024
Debrecen is among the top 10 small European cities of the future
fDi Intelligence has ranked Debrecen among the top 10 small European cities of the future. Debrecen was ranked fourth in the “fDi’s Small European Cities of the Future 2024 – FDI Strategy” category.
HIPA Awardsâ - Every year, the Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency (HIPA) awards prizes to the outstanding investors and investments of the year.
2017
HIPA Award 2017 - The Largest Greenfield Investment of the Year: thyssenkrupp Components Technology Hungary Kft.
After the German group’s development centre in Budapest and the chassis factory in GyÅr, production is set to start in 2018 in two new units: steering systems and camshafts integrated into cylinder heads in JÃĄszfÃĐnyszaru, while springs and stabilisers will be produced in an 18,000 square metre plant in Debrecen.
2018
HIPA Award 2018 - The Largest Greenfield Investment of the Year: BMW Manufacturing Hungary Kft.
The newest unit of the BMW Group’s future European factory network will be the 21st century plant to be built on a 400-hectare site near Debrecen, which will be constructed as part of a greenfield project. The new plant will have a flexible production system that will enable both conventional combustion engine and electric-powered premium cars to be produced on the same production line, with around 150, 000 units per year. The EUR1 billion investment is expected to create more than 1,000 new jobs. The investment will make a significant contribution to further growth of the Hungarian economy and to the employment and infrastructure development of the region and Debrecen.
2020
HIPA Award 2020 - Investor of the Year: SEMCORP Hungary
Semcorp, a developer and manufacturer of lithium-ion battery separators, is setting up its first separator film manufacturing unit outside China in Debrecen. The company’s 97,000 sqm greenfield plant is scheduled to start operations in early 2023 in Debrecen’s DÃĐli Industrial Park The investment, worth more than EUR 183 million, is expected to create 440 new jobs. The separator film produced in Hungary will be used primarily in batteries for electric and hybrid cars.
2021
HIPA Award 2021 - Industrial Park of the Year: Debrecen, Southern Economic Zone
The city of Debrecen, the focus of increasing international investor interest, is welcoming investors to four industrial parks covering an area of around 1,400 hectares, the largest of which is the 710-hectare Southern Economic Zone. Since 2016, companies located in the industrial park in the south of Debrecen have announced working capital investments of nearly EUR 1,300 million, creating around 3,200 jobs. Highlights for the year 2021 include the start of construction of SemCorp Group’s first separator film factory outside China, worth EUR 183 million, and the announcement by Vitesco Technologies of a further EUR 120 million expansion of its existing factory in the industrial park.
2022
HIPA Award 2022 - Strategic Investment of the Year: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL)
CATL is a global new energy technology leader. The company’s EUR 7.3 billion project in Debrecen is the largest greenfield working capital investment in Hungary and one of the top five largest foreign working capital investments in the European Union in the last decade. After its plant in Germany, CATL has chosen Hungary as the location for its second European factory, where it plans to create thousands of jobs. The proximity of the Debrecen plant to its key automotive partners will enable the Chinese company to better meet the European market’s demand for batteries, contribute to accelerating e-mobility and the energy transition in Europe, and support Hungary’s commitment to carbon neutrality.
Other awards:
- Rank 1 - World Bank Group Doing Business Report 2017
- Rank 1 (Emerging City of the Year by CEE) - CEE Shared Services & Outsourcing Awards 2017
- Rank 3 - City Foreign Direct Investment Strategy of 2019 by Emerging Europe
- Cycling Friendly City Award 2019
- Rank 3 - Emerging City of the Year - CEE by CEE Business Services Award 2021
- Rank 3 - Local Authority Support 2021 by Emerging Europe
- Rank 3 - Economic Potential 2021 by Emerging Europe
