On September 29, Portfolio will hold a half-day business forum in Szeged focused on practical steps to improve the competitiveness of Hungarian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The regional event series aims to equip local company leaders and decision-makers with up-to-date, immediately applicable tools for productivity and growth.
What will be discussed?
The program opens with a macroeconomic overview: invited experts will review the expected trajectory of the Hungarian economy from the second half of 2026, the interest rate environment, inflation expectations, and investment prospects. The sessions will also cover the financing sources, credit programs and EU funds that can support firms’ development projects.
The afternoon agenda turns to daily operational challenges for companies. Key topics include:
- optimizing energy procurement and energy use as a competitiveness factor;
- practical applications of artificial intelligence: how AI can support customer acquisition, marketing, agriculture, addressing labour shortages, and improving profitability;
- succession and modern company building: how experience-based leadership can meet digitalisation and data-driven decision-making.
Who should attend?
The forum is aimed at SME owners, company executives, leaders of development and investment projects, financial professionals, consultants and municipal decision-makers who want not only to survive in an uncertain economic environment but to find new growth directions and concrete, practical solutions.
Logistics and participation
The event takes place in Szeged on September 29 as part of Portfolio’s regional series; the series also visits Kecskemét in September. The program is half-day and requires registration. Organisers note that the event is nearly sold out, and interested parties are advised to register for the remaining places.
Speakers (name and role at first mention)
- Dr. Kőkuti Attila, President, Csongrád‑Csanád Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Madár István, Lead Analyst, Portfolio Group
- Szilágyi Péter, Head of Risk Management, Coface
- Janó Ádám, Managing Director, SME Business, UniCredit Bank
- Dr. Jójárt Ferenc, Founder and CEO, Goodwill Pharma
- Szőke Ramon, Business Development Manager, Goodwill Consulting
- Szalai Sándor, SME Sales Lead, E.ON Energiamegoldások
- Szeder Péter, Digital Strategy Director, Initiative Media
- Dr. Mikó Edit, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Szeged
- Dr. Bilicki Vilmos, Associate Professor, Department of Software Development, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged
- Csiha Márk, CEO and Founder, Csiha Innovációs és Technológiai Zrt.
- Fehérvári Krisztina, Managing Director, Poliext
- Olajos Márk, Managing Director, Four Creation
- Virág Nikolett, Managing Director, VND Research
- Dobó Gábor, Managing Director, Quantrax Kft.
- Dr. Illés István, Partner and Board Member, Apelso Trust
This roster reflects the forum’s broad professional coverage: participants will receive practical guidance from macro-level outlooks through energy management and AI use cases to challenges of succession and digital transformation.
Why it matters
The event’s practical focus matters because SME competitiveness directly affects local economies and employment. Reducing energy costs, deploying digital tools and data-driven decision-making, and accessing suitable financing can all contribute to higher productivity and laying the foundations for sustained growth.
Registration details and further information are available through Portfolio’s event channels; organisers warn that only a limited number of places remain.
