Hungarian companies explore Canada export opportunities at Budapest business event

Nearly 50 Hungarian companies took part in a business event in Budapest focused on export opportunities in Canada and the practical steps needed for successful market entry into Canada.

The event, titled “Let’s go to Canada! – export strategies and business networking opportunities”, was organised jointly by the Budapest Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BKIK) and the Embassy of Canada in Hungary. Daily News Hungary was also present at the event.

The main message of the conference was clear: Canada offers real opportunities for Hungarian exporters, but entering the Canadian market requires preparation, local knowledge, patience and strong business partnerships.

Hungary–Canada economic cooperation was a central topic

The event was opened by Dr Viktória Bódi, Secretary General of BKIK, who spoke about the importance of strengthening Hungary–Canada economic relations.

François Lafrenière, Canada’s Ambassador to Hungary, also addressed participants and highlighted the future potential of bilateral cooperation. He pointed to opportunities for Hungarian companies, especially in high-value sectors and innovation-driven industries.

CETA can help Hungarian exporters enter the Canadian market

A market overview was presented by Danielle Sabourin, Trade Commissioner at the Embassy of Canada covering Hungary, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

She explained the advantages of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the European Union and Canada. According to the presentation, CETA reduces trade barriers and improves conditions for European and Hungarian companies that want to do business in Canada.

At the same time, the speakers stressed that CETA alone is not enough for success. Companies still need a strong export strategy, local adaptation and a long-term commitment to the market.

Canada is not one single market, speakers said

One of the most important conclusions of the roundtable discussion was that Canada should not be treated as a single, uniform market.

Participants said Canada is a highly decentralised country, where many decisions are made at the municipal or regional level. This means Hungarian companies often need different strategies for different cities and provinces.

Kirill Degtyarev, Business Development Manager at Kuube Hungary, said companies entering Canada must prepare for local-level decision-making and a more complex business environment than many first expect.

Hungarian companies shared practical Canada market entry lessons

Several Hungarian business representatives shared first-hand experience about selling products and services in Canada.

László Regőczi, Managing Director of Bonaventura Gold Kft., said even basic compliance can be challenging. He mentioned mandatory bilingual labelling in English and French as one example. He also said higher logistics costs pushed the company to look for more efficient solutions, including the joint export of multiple Hungarian products.

Róbert Bíró, CEO of Chameleon Smart Home Nyrt., spoke about the importance of adapting products to local Canadian demand. He said companies should often focus on major urban markets such as Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal, where business opportunities may be stronger and market access more realistic.

Local partners are often essential for success in Canada

A recurring point throughout the discussion was that local partners can play a decisive role in entering the Canadian market.
Speakers said Hungarian companies often need:

• a reliable local business partner,
• reference projects,
• sufficient financial capacity,
• and patience.

Nicholas Sárvári, President of the Canadian Hungarian Chamber of Commerce, said Canadian companies are often larger than Hungarian firms, while legal, operational and market-entry costs are also higher than many businesses initially expect.

He also noted that the current economic environment may create new opportunities, because Canada is showing growing openness toward European partners.

Canada can also be a gateway to the US market

Another important point raised during the event was that Canada can serve as a gateway to the United States.

Speakers said some regulatory frameworks and certification requirements overlap between Canada and the US. Because of this, Hungarian companies that gain experience and references in Canada may improve their position for future expansion across North America.

For some exporters, Canada may therefore be more than just a destination market. It can also be a strategic first step toward the US market.

Networking and relationship-building remained important

The event ended with a networking session, where participants continued discussions and explored new business contacts.

The closing atmosphere reinforced one of the wider lessons of the conference: even in an age shaped by digital business tools and AI, personal relationships, trust and local business knowledge remain essential in international trade.

Why this matters

The Budapest event showed that Canada is a promising export market for Hungarian companies, but it is not an easy one. The key lessons from the conference were clear:

• CETA creates opportunities
• Canada is regionally diverse and decentralised
• localisation is essential
• costs and compliance can be significant
• local partners and patience matter
• and Canada can be a useful entry point to the wider North American market

For Hungarian exporters, success in Canada depends not only on product quality, but also on strategy, adaptation and long-term commitment.

If you missed it:

• Good news: direct flight from Budapest to Canada has been announced!