The Embassy recently had the opportunity to visit Kazincbarcika. A small city in northeastern Hungary, where the city government is actively working on attracting investors from all over the world.
Earlier this year the Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency (HIPA) organized a competition for countryside cities where they had to motivate why they are an attractive place for investments. Kazincbarcika won the competition, and the first prize was that HIPA organized a visit by a delegation of foreign diplomats. Ambassador Niclas Trouvé and trade policy officer Andreas Attorps participated form Swedish side.
Kazincbarcika is a fairly young city that was founded and industrialized during the 1950´s. Heavy industry and mining gave jobs to thousands of people from the whole region. The change to market economy during the 90’s was a difficult period for the city. Many of the old factories were closed down, unemployment was growing and many young people left the city. However, during the last ten years things seems to have turned to the better. Kazincbarcika is led by a young and dynamic team which sees opportunities for its city in the globalized world economy.
So far it is mainly Chinese investors that have discovered Kazincbarcika. The large chemical industry complex BorsodChem is since 2011 owned by the Chinese Wanhua Group and give jobs to approximately 2500 people. You can feel the Chinese presence in the city. Around 20 Chinese families live in the city, and the traditional Hungarian small city view is mixed with Chinese flags and art installations with colorful dragons. It is indeed its colorfulness the city is most proud of. Péter Szitka, the city’s Mayor since ten years, explains that his vision is that Kazincbarcika should be a modern, open and exciting city which people from all over the world will feel welcome to. Creative street art and many cultural programs give the city a young profile. Kazincbarcika has branded itself as ‘KolorCity’. The alternative spelling is another way for the city to highlight its unique character.
In addition to the chemical industry, Kazincbarcika has an industrial park with room for green filed investments and next year a start-up incubator is opening in the middle of the city. The city is working on getting more youths interested in studying science and they have a good cooperation with the university in Miskloc.
However, many challenges are still ahead. The Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén region where the city is located is still one of Hungary’s poorest regions with an unemployment rate that is substantially higher compared to the country average. But instead of looking backward, Kazincbarcika has chosen to embrace globalization and is open for change and new forms of cooperation.
The Embassy wants to thank Mayor Szitka and HIPA for an interesting and well organized program.