ECONOMY
Business etiquette
Formal attire is expected. Hungarian business people are friendly and visitors are often invited to dine in a restaurant. Business cards are used a lot; it is advisable to bring a sufficient amount with you with a Hungarian translation. The best time to travel on business is from September to May. Appointments should always be agreed in advance. Interpreters and translators can be booked through HNTO (see addresses).
Budapest
Budapesters love to do business with people they know and trust. This is especially true for the older generation, because the younger ones are more direct, get to the point and speak English much more often. So it pays to spend a little more time getting to know each other. The 20- and 30-year-olds occupy important positions, which representatives of the old school reject. The oral greeting is extremely important: first you shake hands (women offer their hands first), then you say your full name (first your surname). The?? How are you ??? is not a rhetorical question and requires an answer. Business cards (névjegy), which should be written in Hungarian if possible. You also shake hands when you say goodbye. Being on time is extremely important. Giving and receiving gifts is common, so keep promotional gifts on hand.
Hungarian is a difficult language, but not, as is often assumed, impossible to learn. Lack of knowledge of the language, the culture and the business environment are often interpreted as arrogance and can lead to social isolation. Employing a colleague as an interpreter (Tolmác) is often rejected as it is viewed as a sign of submission rather than an attempt to get by. Imposing additional paperwork is interpreted as a lack of trust.
Hospitality is especially important and dinners are very often formal affairs and appropriate attire is expected. One should never drink before the host raises the glass and possibly says a toast. When visiting a colleague at home, gifts are appropriate – wine or spirits for the host, flowers for the hostess, and chocolate for the children.
Business people should dress timelessly elegant. Cell phones are also an important part of personal appearance. People are very busy in companies, especially in spring and autumn. Business meetings can also take place outside of regular business hours, including weekends. The distinction between office and home numbers is far from clear, because staying connected is very important, and evening and weekend calls are quite common.
Opening hours
Business hours: Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-4.30 p.m., on Fridays the business hours can be shorter.
Economy
German-Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Lövöház u. 30, HU-1024 Budapest
Tel: (01) 345 76 00.
Internet: www.duihk.hu
Chamber of Commerce Switzerland-Hungary
Stampfenbachstrasse 85, CH-8035 Zurich.
Tel: (044) 365 52 86.
Internet: www.hsu-zuerich.ch
Magyar Kereskedelmi és Iparkamara (Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
Krisztina Krt 99, H-1016 Budapest
Tel: (01) 488 20 00.
Internet: www. bkik.hu
Business contacts
German-Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Lövöház u. 30, HU-1024 Budapest
Tel: (01) 345 76 00.
Internet: www.duihk.hu
Chamber of Commerce Switzerland-Hungary
Stampfenbachstrasse 85, CH-8035 Zurich.
Tel: (044) 365 52 86.
Internet: www.hsu-zuerich.ch
Magyar Kereskedelmi és Iparkamara (Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
Krisztina Krt 99, H-1016 Budapest
Tel: (01) 488 20 00.
Internet: www. bkik.hu
COMMUNICATION
Phone
The country code is 0036. Most public telephones can be used with phone cards that can be purchased in newsagents, kiosks or hotels. The regional code in Hungary is 06, followed by the area code of the desired location (in Budapest the 1). National information: 198.
Phone
The country code is 0036. Most public telephones can be used with phone cards that can be purchased in newsagents, kiosks or hotels. The regional code in Hungary is 06, followed by the area code of the desired location (in Budapest the 1). National information: 198.
Cellphone
GSM 900 and GSM 1800. Network operator: Ua T-Mobile (Internet: www.telekom.hu). International roaming contracts exist. Good transmission / reception area also in the metro.
International roaming can be used within the EU at the Euro tariff. Customers of all European mobile network operators automatically make all calls in and from other EU countries at the Euro rate. However, the Euro tariff does not apply to other mobile communications services such as SMS, MMS and data transmission.
Internet
Internet provider: Ua Telekom (Internet: www.telekom.hu). There are internet cafes in all major cities. Many hotels, Budapest Ferihegy Airport and the Budapest metropolitan area offer wireless internet access. Mobile surfing on the Internet is also made possible, among other things, by Goodspeed Wi-Fi hotspots (Internet: goodspeed.io/de/index.html).
Post Office
Airmail shipments within Europe take 3-7 days. In addition to the main post office, the post offices at the West and East Railway Station in Budapest are open until 9 p.m. Stamps are also available in tobacco shops. Post office opening times: Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Radio
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.