The event was jointly organized by the Csongrád-Csanád County Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Embassy of Vietnam in Budapest, the Hungarian-Vietnamese Business Council, and the South Great Plain regional office of the Enterprise Europe Network, with the aim of strengthening the development of economic and business relations between the two countries, and enabling Hungarian enterprises, especially those from Csongrád-Csanád County, to familiarize themselves with the Vietnamese business environment and establish direct contact with Vietnamese partners.


The event was opened by Dr. Attila Kőkuti, President of the Chamber, H.E. Bui Le Thai, Ambassador of Vietnam to Budapest, and Róbert Forintos, President of the Hungarian-Vietnamese Business Council.


During the program, Tran Ngoc Ha, Head of the Commercial Office of the Vietnamese Embassy, presented opportunities for expanding trade relations between the two countries, while László Páris, Head of the Relationship Department at HEPA (Hungarian Export Promotion Agency), gave a presentation on export services and foreign market prospects for the South Great Plain region.


Potential Areas for Cooperation and Market Entry


The value of the Cluster's participation primarily stemmed from the following sectors, which were prominently featured in the Vietnamese delegation:



  • Transport and Infrastructure (Metal Industry Section):


    • The Hanoi Transport Engineering Design Corporation (TEDI HANOI CORP) sought Hungarian partners for Vietnamese railway development projects in consultancy, design, supervision, and equipment supply.

    • The member companies of the Archenerg-Metal Cluster, which provide metalworking, design, and engineering services, could directly apply for supplier or consultant roles in these projects, thereby opening up opportunities to enter the Vietnamese infrastructure market.


  • Energy and Electrical Equipment:


    • 3anhem Co., Ltd. looked for Hungarian partners to supply equipment—such as transformer controllers, switchgear, protection devices, and surge arresters—for high-voltage transformer substations (22, 35, 110, 220 kV).

    • This area is directly related to energy infrastructure and mechanical/electrical manufacturing, which is a core profile for many Cluster members. This discussion point represented a concrete business opportunityfor the export of high-tech equipment.


  • Automotive and Defense Industry (Metal Section):


    • DKT Comercial Ltd. represented the automotive and defense industries. This segment can offer lasting, high value-added export opportunities for the metalworking and machinery manufacturing cluster members in terms of components, technologies, or defense solutions.


  • IT and Digital Transformation (Connection to FPT Corporation):


    • While not a primary focus, learning about the successes of the FPT Corporation (IT: software services, AI, IoT, automation) and connecting with them could inspire Cluster members regarding the digital transformation of their own business processes and the adoption of Industry 4.0 solutions.



The Cluster's Role and Advantages


The collective action provided by the Cluster and its presence at the event increased the international visibility and credibility of individual enterprises.



  • Networking: The forum's B2B meetings enabled Cluster members to negotiate directly with the leaders of Vietnamese companies interested in railway development, energy infrastructure, and metal industry supply.

  • Knowledge Sharing: Presentations on the Vietnamese business environment, export services, and best practices(e.g., FPT Corporation's digital developments, HEPA's export support) provided the Cluster with valuable market intelligence for successful entry into the Vietnamese market.


Summary


The participation of the Archenerg-Metal Cluster at the Vietnam Business Forum in Szeged was therefore a strategically important step towards international expansion. The forum did not only provide information but also offered concrete negotiation opportunities with Vietnamese partners whose profile aligns with the engineering, metalworking, energy, and infrastructural competencies of the Cluster members. Through networking, Cluster member companies can establish long-term, mutually beneficial business partnerships, thereby fostering the economic development and export performance of the South Great Plain region.

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