Introduction

The Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hungary was established in Budapest on October 27th, 1995. The initiative was taken by a number of Swedish companies in Hungary together with the Swedish Trade Council and the Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken in response to the expanding economic and commercial relations between Sweden and Hungary.

The Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hungary is a well known, respected and very active non-profit, non-political organisation, a leading voice of the Swedish businesses in Hungary. Since its establishment the membership of our Chamber has grown rapidly; currently we have 60 ordinary members, 9 associated members and 7 honorary members, we employ directly close to 12,000 people, and have throughout the last 12 – 14 years invested in Hungary more than 1 billion euros. The annual turnover of these companies exceeds 2 billion euros. Swedish direct investments during the last five years exceeded 190 million Euros, and totalled to around 600 million since 1990. And the basic concept is that this development shall continue.

The general purpose of the Chamber is to promote and contribute to the development of trade and business relations and business related initiatives and activities between the Republic of Hungary and Sweden and to support the business interests of its members. Our task is to support mutual co-operation and friendship between Hungary and Sweden, to encourage trade investments and economic developments and to help our member’s monitor, understand and influence events within the Hungarian business community.
The Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hungary is a forum for the establishment and development of professional and social contacts between its members, both companies and individuals.

We provide relevant information to our members primarily through our web site (www.swedishchamber.hu). We organize and co-ordinate programmes and business events with invited guest speakers. We traditionally host outstanding speakers from business and political life at our business luncheons held on a regular basis, and on our Annual General Meetings held twice a year.

We co-operate with other Chambers of Commerce in areas of common interest. In 1998 the Chamber joined "The Permanent Commission of EU-Chambers in Hungary", where today we are an active member and a co-organiser of the EU-Boat, an event celebrating Hungary’s accretion to the EU. We intend to continue with the event, from this year commemorating the accession and “monitoring” and helping the successful integration.

And needless to say we are proud of our co-operation with the Embassy of Sweden. The Swedish Chamber of Commerce is actively taking part in the “Svédületes! Svéd-magyar randevúk” (Svédületes! Swedish-Hungarian Rendezvous) an intense collaboration program between Hungary and Sweden in the fields of political dialogue, culture, regional cooperation and business promotion.
No doubt about it, the highlight of the Swedish-Hungarian year 2004 was the visit of Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria and Minister Leif Pagrotsky on October 18-19 as part of “Svédületes! Swedish-Hungarian Rendezvous” program. Many of us will remember forever this event and the business luncheon offered by the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hungary.
The Swedish-Hungarian year 2004 is over, but under the label “Svédületes! Svéd-magyar randevúk” events will be organised in Hungary during 2005 and onwards.

As active players of the Hungarian economy and society and good corporate citizens both the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hungary and its members devote significant resources for charity purposes every year. Recently – with contributions from the Swedish Embassy and the Chamber – we have established the “Wallenberg Fund” with the purpose to support students from the “Raoul Wallenberg vocational and secondary grammar school for human studies” in Budapest.

And the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hungary – last but not least – is a forum for Swedes and Hungarians to have fun together, whether in Hencse at a golf tournament, in Villány or Tokaj at a wine tasting, or celebrating together the Lucia Day. Every year, on December 13th the whole Sweden celebrates Sancta Lucia. This tradition is a way to introduce light, friendship and hospitality in the midst of the December darkness. Our Chamber revives this tradition every year, on December 13th celebrating with our members, families and friends.

This year the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hungary is 10 years old, a great “excuse” to celebrate again; and we will do so in order to commemorate the successful past and commit ourselves to a successful future. A better future for Sweden, for Hungary, for the European Union, for all of us! A better future in a global, competitive world!





János Takács
President, SCCH