Upcoming German-Hungarian Business Forum at Kecskemét

One of the year’s most prominent professional events outside Budapest, the forum will bring together renowned domestic and international speakers.

The forum is being organized by the German-Hungarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DUIHK) and is its highlight of the fall season. The event focuses on future business opportunities, new partnerships, greater value creation, and stronger competitiveness. Following a successful launch event in Debrecen last year, the 2026 forum moves to another significant city for German investment into the Hungarian economy: Kecskemét, home to Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing Hungary.

With significant capacity expansions, the factory has further solidified the city’s role as one of Hungary’s most important industrial centers. Mercedes-Benz’s Kecskemét factory now produces A-Class compact hatchbacks, the GLB compact SUV (including fully electric and plug-in hybrid versions), and the new all-electric C-Class.

Global changes present major challenges for companies but also open new opportunities for collaboration and growth. The D-H Forum aims to highlight ways forward: How can German companies and Hungarian SMEs work together to increase value creation, innovation, and competitiveness? What concrete steps are needed to achieve this at the corporate and economic policy levels?

‘Reboot the Economy’

“The motto for the D-H Forum is ‘Reboot the Economy,’ which has also been a campaign theme for us since July, translating the multi-faceted demands from our membership to give the economy much-needed new growth momentum through the regulatory framework,” György Demjén, head of communications at the DUIHK, tells the Budapest Business Journal.

“One focal point of the event will be the more strategic integration of Hungarian SMEs into European value chains, a topic that is also aligned with the government’s proclaimed goals,” he notes.

Renowned experts from Germany and Hungary will provide insights into the future of German-Hungarian economic relations and highlight the opportunities that arise from them. The event will also provide opportunities for networking and scheduled B2B talks, Demjén adds.

The forum will be hosted at the Four Points by Sheraton Kecskemet Hotel and Conference Center, at Izsáki út 6. The detailed conference program is available on the DUIHK website, where guests can also register for the event. The conference language will be German and Hungarian, with simultaneous translation also in English. Tickets cost HUF 55,000 plus VAT per person for chamber members, or HUF 80,000 plus VAT/person for non-members.

This article was first published in the Budapest Business Journal print issue of October 19, 2026.