William Penn Life, 2005 (40. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2005-11-01 / 11. szám
Magyar Matters Survey of business executives finds Budapest still lacking in certain areas from The Budapest Sun BUDAPEST — Budapest ranks 21 out of 30 European cities in the latest poll of executives asked for their opinions on "the best places to do business today," part of the annual "European Cities Monitor" survey conducted for real estate company Cushman and Wakefield Healy and Baker (C&W H&B). While the Hungarian capital has edged up two places on last year and is ahead of both Vienna and Moscow, it is behind regional rivals Warsaw, in 20th slot, and badly trails Prague, which holds the 13th position. Budapest's rating was hit by a number of negative factors, including the fact that only 30 percent of the 500 senior executives interviewed were familiar with the city as a business location, compared with 44 percent for both Prague and Vienna. Budapest ranked well in terms of cost of staff, where it came second only to Warsaw. It was third in terms of government efforts to create a good business climate, and held fourth slot in terms of "cities doing the most to improve themselves." However, viewed from afar, foreign opinions of the city's transport system, telecommunications andperhaps most surprising of all— from The Budapest Sun BUDAPEST — Hungary's coalition parties have agreed to curb state spending in order to meet the requirements to join the euro in 2010, Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány said Oct. 18. The move comes after pressure from both the junior coalition Free Democrats and leading industrialists to avoid any delays in adopting the common currency. Only the previous week, the prime minister was stressing the need to quality of life depressed Budapest to a lowly 28th slot in each case. However, these findings did not match reality, said Les Nemethy, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hungary. "There is no way that Budapest ranks second to Prague with respect to quality of life or quality of telecommunications....Telecoms in Hungary is definitely up there amongst the best in the region," Nemethy said. Jane Petrie, marketing associate at C&W H&B, defended the survey, saying it was accurate in terms of perceptions. "This is not objective analysis, it's market research into the opinions of 500 executives responsible for company relocation....This is completely subjective, but life is subjective. The facts, like poor telecommunications, are wrong, but perceptions are perceptions," she said. Based on these perceptions, misguided or otherwise, the Hungarian government could learn from cities like Barcelona and Madrid, which have undertaken extensive investment into transport facilities and education in recent years. The result is both have shot up the rankings in recent years to take fifth and seventh place respectively. prioritize expensive infrastructure and social developments at the expense, if necessary, of euro membership in 2010. While many economists doubt the ability of the government to rein in spending sufficiently, given the current spending structure and tight timetable, the Hungarian currency appeared to take heart from the news, recovering from lows of around 253 forints to the euro in early October to trade at 251.5 a week later against the common currency. _____In Brief Bird flu scare prompts ban BUDAPEST - With Avian Influenza now confirmed in Romania, Hungary has banned the import of poultry meat, livestock and all related products from the neighboring country. If the current vaccines prove effective, the government will offer free vaccinations against bird flu, Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány announced recently. Hungary had ordered enough medicine in February in case bird flu should reach the country and the spread from animals to humans, Gyurcsány, seeking to reassure public opinion, added. TV detective tops politicians TV detective Columbo is more familiar to Hungarians than any politician, according to a survey conducted for TV2. The most widely known Hungarian politician is Viktor Orbán, the head of the largest opposition party, Fidesz, but more people recognized the raincoat-clad investigator, Columbo. When researchers asked 500 Hungarians to name the figures they recognize from 60 different images, “Tévémaci,” an animated puppet bear that has been hosting evening tales on television for children for decades, was better known than the current Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány. Have news about the Hungarian community you want to share? Write to: John E. Lovász, William Penn Life, 709 Brighton Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15233. You may also call us at 1-800-848-7366, ext. 135, or send an email to: jlovasz@williampennassociation.org Agreement to curb spending designed to help Hungary join euro in 2010 William Penn Life, November 2005 13
