The Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce continued its “Country Days” series with Hungary Country Day, organised to strengthen its members’ access to global markets and create new opportunities for international cooperation.

HUNGARY COUNTRY DAY HELD AT GAZIANTEP CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Yıldırım: Hungary is not merely a market for us; it is a strategic partner

The Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce (GCC) continued its “Country Days” series with Hungary Country Day, organised to strengthen its members’ access to global markets and create new opportunities for international cooperation.

The “Hungary Country Day” meeting was organised within the framework of the Enterprise Europe Network through the cooperation of GTO and HEPA Türkiye, the Hungarian Export Promotion Agency, with the support of the Embassy of Hungary in Ankara. The event was attended by Tuncay Yıldırım, Chairman of the Board of the Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce; Máté Szabados, Trade Attaché at the Embassy of Hungary in Ankara; Yalçın Orhon, General Manager of HEPA Türkiye; Emre Cihad Sönmez, Country Manager of HEPA Türkiye; and members of GCC.

The meeting focused on the Hungarian market, the country’s trade and investment opportunities, and potential areas of cooperation for the Gaziantep business community. Participants discussed investment opportunities in Hungary, the structure of the Hungarian economy, sector-specific prospects, and measures that could contribute to the further development of bilateral trade.

Yıldırım: Gaziantep is one of Türkiye’s most dynamic gateway to the world

Speaking at the opening of the programme, Tuncay Yıldırım, Chairman of the Board of GCC, stated that relations between Türkiye and Hungary extend beyond commercial ties and are based on a strong historical, cultural and strategic friendship.

Emphasising Gaziantep’s manufacturing strength, export capacity and entrepreneurial spirit, Yıldırım said:

“Today, we are turning our attention to Hungary, which is located at the heart of Europe and stands out with its strong logistics capabilities, well-developed industrial infrastructure and innovation potential. Hungary serves as an important bridge between the Turkic world and Europe. For us, Hungary is not merely a market; it is a strategic partner.”

Yıldırım: We are ready to grow together in the European market

Yıldırım stated that trade should not be viewed solely in terms of figures and underlined that sustainable success depends on joint investments, technology transfer and partnerships built on mutual trust.

He continued:

“True success lies in joint investments, technology transfer and relationships of trust established on the basis of a win-win approach. We are ready to develop partnerships with our Hungarian counterparts in a wide range of sectors, including the automotive supply industry, food, textiles, chemicals and digital transformation, and to grow together in the European market. I believe that the steps we take today will further strengthen our position in global trade in the future.”

Orhon: We serve as a commercial bridge between Türkiye and Hungary

Yalçın Orhon, General Manager of HEPA Türkiye, provided information about the organisation’s activities and stated that HEPA Türkiye serves as a commercial bridge between Türkiye and Hungary.

Orhon explained that HEPA Türkiye works to facilitate appropriate business matches between companies, identify new market opportunities and support the establishment of long-term commercial partnerships.

“As the official office of the Hungarian Export Promotion Agency responsible for Türkiye and Greece, we aim to contribute to the development of mutual trade between our countries. We support the business community in a broad range of areas, including market research, business matchmaking, supplier connections, trade fairs and promotional activities,” he said.

Noting that Gaziantep possesses significant production and export potential, Orhon stated that Hungary Country Day would create new commercial contacts and pave the way for sustainable business partnerships for companies based in Gaziantep.

Szabados: Türkiye-Hungary relations provide a strong foundation for the business community

Máté Szabados, Trade Attaché at the Embassy of Hungary in Ankara, expressed his satisfaction that the meeting was being held in Gaziantep, a city recognised for its strong manufacturing and export capacity, and thanked GCC and HEPA Türkiye for their contributions to the organisation of the event.

Recalling that Türkiye and Hungary have maintained diplomatic relations for more than a century, Szabados stated that bilateral relations were elevated to the level of an Enhanced Strategic Partnership in December 2023. He noted that this environment of political trust also provides a solid foundation for cooperation between the business communities of the two countries.

“The value of an economic partnership is not determined solely by the meetings held or the agreements signed. What truly matters is that companies are able to find the right partners, value chains and supply chains become more deeply integrated, knowledge flows in both directions, and investments establish a lasting presence in both countries,” he said.

Szabados stated that the bilateral trade volume between Türkiye and Hungary had exceeded USD 5 billion and described the economic relationship as sustainable, industry-based and complementary.

He also emphasised that Hungary should be considered not only as a target market, but also as a strategic and logistical hub offering access to the wider European market. He added that Turkish companies investing in Hungary are among the clearest examples of this potential.

Trade and investment opportunities in Hungary presented

Following the opening speeches, Máté Szabados, Trade Attaché at the Embassy of Hungary in Ankara, delivered a presentation entitled “Investment Opportunities in Hungary”.

The presentation provided participants with information on the Hungarian economy, the country’s investment environment, industrial infrastructure, logistical advantages, and the incentives and opportunities available to foreign investors.

As part of the programme, Emre Cihad Sönmez, Country Manager of HEPA Türkiye, delivered a presentation entitled “Introduction to Hungary and Trade Opportunities”.

His presentation addressed the general structure of the Hungarian market, bilateral trade relations between Türkiye and Hungary, sector-specific opportunities, and potential areas of cooperation that could be evaluated by companies based in Gaziantep.