In recent years Zalaegerszeg and its surrounding area have seen several high value‑added industrial and technological investments. The ZalaZONE Vehicle Testing Track and its associated industrial‑technology park expanded local capacity for vehicle testing, validation and R&D, and companies such as Rheinmetall, Bosch and AVL have established a presence in the region. While these developments open opportunities for local businesses, they do not automatically translate into growth for small and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs).
To connect to the evolving industrial ecosystem, SMEs face higher quality, technological and financing requirements. Supplier readiness, stable operations, predictable financing and skilled labour are needed. Companies must also plan ahead: invest, digitize, shift to more efficient operations and secure funding for development in time.
Széchenyi Kártya Roadshow: practical guidance on concessional financing
The KAVOSZ and Portfolio national free event series held its Zalaegerszeg stop on 9 June 2026 at the Willis Hotel Business & Wellness****, focusing on practical financing options and strategic responses for SMEs. The event aimed to give business leaders first‑hand information about supported loans, concessional funds and combined instruments that can help stabilise daily operations, prepare investments, expand capacity and improve competitiveness.
Key topics at the event included:
- Economic outlook in Hungary
- Financing options for the SME sector
- Stability and renewal in business operations
- Technological adaptation and digitalisation
- Practical use of AI tools in SMEs
- Regional training and business development collaborations
- Management experiences in crisis handling and competitiveness
The event was free thanks to supporters but required registration. The next stop on the roadshow was scheduled for Budapest on 17 June 2026.
What this means for SMEs in Zala County
Industrial and technological expansion in the region creates jobs, capacities and supplier opportunities, but the challenge for local companies is to be prepared and to make use of available financial instruments. The Széchenyi Kártya Program and other concessional instruments can lower the threshold between waiting and investing: for many firms, supported financing is the tool that enables investment and capacity expansion.
In practice SMEs need to focus on several areas simultaneously:
- financial planning and mapping concessional loan options,
- integrating digitalisation measures and AI tools into operations,
- workforce training and building regional cooperation,
- stabilising internal processes to meet supplier requirements.
Speakers and practical insights at the roadshow
Speakers at the Zalaegerszeg event included industry and local business representatives:
- Balogh Ádám, president, VOSZ Zala Vármegyei Szervezete
- Kovács Dezső, president, Zala Vármegyei Kereskedelmi és Iparkamara
- Végh Richárd, CEO, KAVOSZ Zrt.
- Korsósné Maku Márta, business director, KAVOSZ Vállalkozásfejlesztési Zrt.
- Beke Károly, analyst, Portfolio
- P. Tóth András, technology director, STRT
- Fehérvölgyi Beáta, associate professor, dean, Pannon Egyetem
- Horváth Ferenc, managing director, FA‑FERI
- Horváth Gyula, managing director, Pacsai Fémhordógyártó
- ifj. Nagy Zoltán, managing director, 3B Hungária
- Tornyos Péter, managing director, Tornyos és Társa
- Óvári László, managing director, Zalaclean
Presenters shared practical advice and managerial experience on preserving competitiveness during crises and prioritising actions for upcoming investments.
Conclusion
The industrial and technological investments around Zalaegerszeg offer long‑term growth potential for the local economy, but the success of SMEs depends on aligning several factors: access to finance, technological readiness, digital transformation and availability of trained labour. Practical events such as the Széchenyi Kártya Roadshow can help local businesses identify and use available support and training opportunities.
