Hungary
General
Information & Brief Economic Summary
Standards
Government
Contacts in Hungary
Trade and Industry
Associations
Hungarian
Government Offices
U.S. Government
Contacts
Trade Show
Schedule
General Information & Brief
Economic Summary
Hungary is a robust, fully functioning market economy, ready
to become part of the European Union (EU) in May 2004. Since
the mid-1990s Hungary has experienced rapid growth, a product
of strong foreign investment, and export-led economy and
constantly increasing trade openness. (Hungary was the first
country in Central Europe to privatize extensively its
state-owned industries and companies.) Unemployment is below
that of neighboring countries and inflation has been brought
under control. Labor costs have been lower than West European
averages, while labor productivity is higher than its Central
and East European Neighbors.
Back to Top
Standards
The Hungarian Standards Board is responsible for
implementation of European and international standards as well
as national standards. The Board has exclusive rights to issue
and/or withdraw national standards, including development,
reconciliation and publication of Hungarian national standards.
Hugary was a signatory to the GATT Agreement on Technical
Barriers to Trade (Standards Code) and is a signatory to its
successor, the WTO. Hungary is also a participant in the
International Standardization Organization (ISO) and the
International Electro-technical Commission (IEC). Hungary will
become part of the European Union (EU) in May 2004. U.S.
Products with the CE-mark will be able to enter the Hungarian
market "as easily" and circulate as freely as they currently
enter any EU member country.
Back to Top
Government Contacts in the
Hungary
U.S. Embassy Personnel
American Embassy Budapest
Ambassador designate: George Herbert Walker III
Charge d'Affaires: Janet E. Garvey - Deputy Chief of
Mission
Economic Counselor: Jeffrey Miotke
Commercial Counselor: Scott Bozek
Consul General: Debra HeienSzabadsag ter 12
H-1054 Budapest
Tel: (36 1) 475-4400
Fax: (36 1) 475-4764
Web Address: www.usembassy.hu
U.S. Commercial Service
Senior Commercial Officer: Scott Bozek
Commercial Officer: David Knuti
Bank Center Granite Tower
Szabadsag ter 7-9
H-1054 Budapest
Tel: (36 1) 475-4090
Fax: (36 1) 475-4676
Email: Budapest.office.box@mail.doc.gov
Web Address: www.usatrade.gov
American Chamber of Commerce in Hungary
President: Peter Hegedus Executive Director: Peter Fath
Deak Ferenc utca 10
H-1051 Budapest
Tel: (36 1) 266-9880
Fax: (36-1) 266-9888
Web Address: www.amcham.hu
Back to Top
Trade and Industry Associations
Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
President: Dr. Laszlo Parragh
Vice President: Dr. Zoltan Vereczkey
Kossuth Lajos ter 6-8
H-1055 Budapest
Tel: (36 1) 474-5100
Fax: (36 1) 474-5105
Web Address: www.mkik.hu
Email:
mkil@mail.mkik.hu
Federation of Hungarian Industrialist
President: Gabor Szeles
Secretary General: Istvan Wimmer
1055 Budapest - Kossuth Lajos ter 6-8
Phone: (36-1) 474-2041
Fax: (36-1) 474-2065
Web: www.mgyosz.hu
Email:
mgyosz@mgyosz.hu
Back to Top
Hungarian Government Offices
Embassy of the Republic of Hungary
Dr. Andras Simonyi - Ambassador
Mr. Peter Horvath - Commercial Counselor
Mr. Laszlo Bagi - Chief Consul
Mr. Andras DeKany - Political Counselor
3910 Shoemaker Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
Tel: (202) 362-6730
Fax: (202) 966-8135
Email:
office@huembwas.org
Web Address: www.hungaryemb.org
Government of the Hungarian Republic:
www.miniszteralnok.hu
Ministry of Economic Affairs: www.gkm.hu
Ministry of Foreign Affairs: www.mfa.gov.hu
Hungarian Export-Import Bank Rt.:
www.eximbank.hu
The Hungarian Investment and Trade Development Agency
CEO: Mr. Vilmos Skulteti
1051 Budapest
Dorottya u. 4
Tel: (36 1) 318-0051
Fax: (36 1) 318-3732
Email: itd@itd.hu
Web Address: www.itd.hu
Customs Headquarters Central Hungary Regional
Directorate
Hungaria Krt. 112-114.
H-1143 Budapest, Hungary
Lt. Kornel Kiss
Tel: (36 1) 470-4121
Fax: (36 1) 470-4120
email:
vam.info@mail.vpop.hu
Standards - CE Marking
The "Notified Bodies" in Hungary are:
For machinery:
TUV Rheinland Hungary
Mr. Gergely Hidas, Director
Paulay Ede u. 52
1061 Budapest
Tel: (36 1) 461-1100
Fax: (36 1) 461-1199
Email:
tuvhung@mail.datanet.hu
Web address: www.tuv.com
Magyar Elektrotechnikai
Ellenorzo Intezet (MEEI)
Hungarian Institute for Testing & Certification of
Electrical Equipment
Mr. Lajos Lazur, Director
Mr. Andras Vincze, Head of Certification Department
Vaci ut 48/a-b.
1132 Budapest
Tel: (36 1) 350-2312/18
Fax: (36 1) 329-0684
Email:
certif@meei.hu,
a.vincze@meei.hu
Web Address:
www.meei.hu
National Association of Packaging and Material
Handling
Mr. Miklos Galli, President
Dr. Bela Kertesz, Secretary General
Rio U.3. H-1085, Budapest
Tel: (36-1) 313-7034
Fax: (36-1) 333-8170
Email:
csaosz@mail.interware.hu
Back to Top
U.S. Government Contacts
Export-Import Bank of the United States Business Development
Officers: Paul Timminia & Cheryl Conlin 811 Vermont Avenue,
N.W. Washington, D.C. 20571 Tel: 202-565-3413 Fax: 202-565-3628
Fax: 202-565-3955
Web: www.exim.gov
Email:
paul.tumminia@exim.bank
Trade Information Center
U.S. Department of Commerce
Washington, DC 20230
Tel: 1-800-USA-Trade
Fax: (202) 482-4473
Email:
tic@ita.doc.gov
Web Address: www.ita.doc.gov
U.S. Department of Commerce
Market Access & Compliance (MAC)
14th & Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20230
Jay Burgess, Office Director, Central & Eastern
Europe
Tel: (202) 482-4195
Fax: (202) 482-4473
Hungary Desk Officer: Jonathan Kimball
Tel: (202) 482-4915
Fax: (202) 482-4473
Email:
jay_burgess@ita.doc.go
Web Address: www.ita.doc.gov
U.S. Department of Commerce
The Central and Eastern Europe Business Information
Center
(CEEBIC)
Sean Timmins, Hungary Trade Specialist
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
USA Trade Center
Suite 800 (Mezzanine Level)
Tel: (202) 482-2645
Fax: (202) 482-3898
Email:
sean_timmons@ita.doc.gov
Web Address: www.export.gov/ceebic
U.S. Department of State
Hungary Desk Officer: Jane Messenger
EUR/NCE Room 5228
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520
Tel: (202)647-3238
Fax: (202) 736-4853
Office of the Coordinator for Business Affairs
Tel: 202-647-1625
Fax: 202-647-3953
U.S. Trade & Development Agency
Country Managers: Scott Greenip & Ned Cabot
1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1600
Arlington, VA 22209-3901
Tel: (703) 875-4357
Fax: (703) 875-4009
Email: info@tda.gov or
acrowe@tda.gov
Web Address: www.tda.gov
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
Deputy U.S. Trade Representative: Cathy Novelli
Executive Office of the President
Washington, DC 20506
Tel: 202-395-3204
Fax: 202-395-3911
Web Address: www.ustr.gov
Back to Top
Trade Show Schedule
TLS CEE Budapest
May 4-6th, 2004
Call: +357 22 849307
Web Address: www.tlsexpo.com
Back to Top
Source: US Information Service and Material Handling
Industry.
*This guide is not a complete list of trade associations or
publications. We welcome any additions to this document. The
Material Handling Industry does not assume a legal liability or
responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of
the information contained herein. The listing of information
here does not reflect an endorsement of any of the particular
information by the Material Handling Industry.