conference

International conference at ESSCA in Budapest about the “greenest” Olympic Games

International conference in Budapest Olympic Games ESSCA

Paris will host the most important competition series of the year, the 33rd Summer Olympic Games. In the spirit of sustainability, this will be the first venue where 95% of the infrastructure already existed prior to the events. 1,000 km of new bicycle paths, approximately 3,000 bikes will be at the disposal of 15,000 athletes, 45 million volunteers and 15 million visitors. For the occasion, 200,000 new trees will be planted and 700 drinking fountains will be installed in the French capital.

Compliance with the requirements of sustainable development also plays a central role in the coordination of processes at the Hungarian Campus of the French ESSCA School of Management International, a holding a distinguished place on the Financial Times’ list as being among the best management courses worldwide and recognized with the “Triple Crown” designation, the highest qualification of the profession. This time, the university organized a roundtable discussion on May 15th, 2024, in cooperation with the French Institute of Budapest, in relation to the “greenest” Olympic Games.

International conference in Budapest Olympic Games ESSCA
Source: press release ESSCA

In addition to sustainability and environmental protection, the importance of the role of sport is also a determining and mutual aspect to the festive games according to the values of the business school. The central topic of the roundtable discussion was also related to this, during which the distinguished panelists of the event elaborated on their point of view on the role of sports in the development of leadership skills. In addition to the foreign and domestic management of ESSCA, the leading directors of Accace Hungary and Morgan Stanley Hungary also shared their experiences at the international conference.

A similar mentality ties us together

According to a 2020 survey, 102 out of 102 leaders interviewed played sports. Young competitors state that exercise provides them with continuous development, a sense of purpose, faith, humility, perseverance and teamwork. These skills often pave the path to management positions later in one’s professional careers.

International conference in Budapest Olympic Games ESSCA
Dr. Jean Charroin. Source: press release ESSCA

Teammates-turned-colleagues typically think alike. And regular exercise is an excellent remedy for dealing with professional standstills and stress.

“For me sports help to reduce stress, divert my attention from problems at work, and give me energy for new challenges. We also used sports activity within the company to build teams and accelerate teamwork within departments.” – emphasized István Nemecz, Managing Director of Accace Hungary.

Green Olympics – Sustainable university

An outstanding aspect of the strategy of the ESSCA School of Management, which was founded 115 years ago and has a strong set of values, is the development of management skills in addition to quality education. The university places great emphasis on combining its values, cultural diversity, vibrant student life, professionalism, commitment to sustainability, and sports events in its everyday life. It supports the development of a sports mindset, i.e. a leadership attitude, through movement and the joy of playing together with many of its programs. Its annual sports day focuses on introducing environmentally friendly alternatives as well.

“At ESSCA, we are exploring how sports can be a catalyst for the training of committed and responsible leaders who are aware of their own social impact. We integrate the matter of social responsibility into our management influenced by sports in such a way to inspire change in society.” – said Dr. Jean Charroin, the CEO and Dean of ESSCA School of Management.

International conference in Budapest Olympic Games ESSCA
Source: press release ESSCA

“The ESSCA School of Management has always been a trendsetter in analysing, pointing to and sharing professional questions and scientific findings in order to help students and alumni better understand and apply their management skills in their own field. This year for the first time a global series of conferences on Artificial Intelligence has been launched at the Budapest Campus and now in honor of the Olympic Games organised in Paris ESSCA organises, in collaboration with the French Institute in Budapest, an exciting and inspiring roundtable discussion on how sports influence our leadership skills and approaches.” – highlighted Dr. Zsuzsa Deli-Gray, the Campus Director of ESSCA Budapest.

“The French Institute in Budapest is delighted to organise the roundtable discussion titled “How sports influence leadership skills” in partnership with ESSCA, which has been a key partner of the French Institute of Budapest for over 30 years in strengthening Franco-Hungarian relations and promoting French excellence in the region. As France is welcoming the Olympic Games this year, we wanted to do our share and highlight the role of sports in developing leadership skills from a Franco-Hungarian perspective.” – emphasized Gianmarco Gallott, Scientific and Interuniversity Cooperation Attaché of the French Institute.

Long live sport, which develops leadership attitudes!

For the first time in the history of the Olympic pentathlon games, a marathon mass run will also be held. Determined amateurs can also try this out at the event.

International conference in Budapest Olympic Games ESSCA
Source: press release ESSCA

“Many parallels have been drawn between the sports and corporate world. By focusing on professional sport, they fail to take into account the specificity of sport as a leisure activity for the masses.” – warned Dr. David Ranc, Professor at ESSCA.

Dr. Julien Jouny-Rivier, Associate Professor at ESSCA, believes that there is a risk in highlighting a single individual among others during the marketing campaign built around team sports. This may jeopardize the understanding of the values conveyed by the campaign, as well as the impact on the stakeholders in terms of their professional future.

Sports prepare you for a career

A research conducted among men holding senior management positions showed that 86% of them were involved in sports in their youth. This has accelerated their career development, which contributed towards the positive evaluation during the selection process of candidates by taking into account one’s athletic past. Sports offer vision, dreams, courage and strategic thinking.

 

“Game theory suggests that martial arts significantly enhance social interactions. Becoming a warrior is about learning to face failure. The life of a martial instructor is about controlling space and striving for a (mostly) positive impact.” – pointed out Dr. Balázs Vaszkun, alumnus and Managing Director of Galloman Translation and Interpreting Agency.

“This is not only an Olympic year but also the year Budapest will host the FIDE Chess Olympiad, providing a unique opportunity to reflect on how sports, and in particular, chess, can shape business success. Chess nurtures strategic thinking, pattern recognition, adaptability and decision-making under pressure, skills that align with the demands of the business world. The many amateur and competitive chess players at Morgan Stanley recognize the power of chess to build resilience, creativity, and innovation, helping us excel in today’s complex business landscape.” – stated Norbert Fogarasi, Head of Morgan Stanley’s Budapest office, FIDE Candidate Master chess player.

The professional well-being of managers and employees contributes to the successful operation of an organization, and sports play a significant role in this. Physical exercise develops endurance and a goal oriented mindset in one’s career from the beginning to the end.

About ESSCA

  • The institution was founded in Angers, France in 1909.
  • The Budapest campus of ESSCA was founded in 1993, and welcomes 750 students from 30 different countries annually.
  • The university has been a member of Conférence des Grandes Écoles since 1977.
  • Uniquely among Hungarian universities it received accreditations from EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA, otherwise known as „the Triple Crown”.
  • The Financial Times has ranked its institution among the best business schools worldwide.
  • The university which has multiple international accreditations, has launched a bachelor’s degree in English in Budapest as well, where Hungarian students are also welcome to apply.

Further information:

Read also:

  • Ryanair announces direct flights from Budapest to Italy, France
  • ESSCA head: French students enjoy their time in Budapest – read our INTERVIEW HERE

Minister Kudratov: Tashkent International Investment Forum, starting in two days, is a milestone for the region – Interview

taskhent uzbekistan

The Tashkent International Investment Forum, considered by many to be the largest investment conference in Central Asia, is about to begin. We had the chance to interview Laziz Kudratov, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade, about the event:

Daily News Hungary: The Tashkent International Investment Forum will take place on 2-3 May in Uzbekistan. Can you tell us why this is an unmissable event for decision-makers in the business sector?

Minister Kudratov: The Tashkent International Investment Forum is a milestone event for the region. As the biggest conference in Central Asia, it is a key vehicle in identifying and sourcing investment opportunities across a number of key sectors including: renewable energy, infrastructure, agriculture, tourism, mining and the digital economy.

The Forum provides foreign investors a gateway into New Uzbekistan: the big country with big opportunities. Its objective is to accelerate Uzbekistan’s growth and development, aligned with the “Uzbekistan 2030” strategy, which includes increasing Uzbekistan’s GDP to $160 billion and attracting $250 billion investment into the country. 

Since the inaugural event in 2022, The Forum has contributed to the transformation of Uzbekistan’s economic prospects and progress, with foreign direct investment and development finance both increasing, along with marked growth in clean energy investment and landmark international debt market success. 

Daily News Hungary: Who will be the key speakers at the event? 

Minister Kudratov: The Forum will be opened by President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Dignitaries from across the world are due to attend, with keynote speakers including Mikayil Jabbarov, Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan; Serik Zhumangarin, Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan; Muhammetgeldi Serdarov, Minister of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan; Ibraev Taalaibek Omukeevich, Minister of Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic; Almassadam Satkaliyev, Minister of Energy of the Republic Kazakhstan; Daler Juma, Minister of Energy and Water Resources of the Republic of Tajikistan; Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef; Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion of Oman; Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri Minister of Economy, UAE and the Mihály Varga, Minister of Finance, Hungary.

A discussion on the development of fintech in Uzbekistan, one of the fastest growing and most innovative segments of the Uzbek economy, features guest speakers Djasur Djumaev, CEO, Uzum – the first tech unicorn from Uzbekistan, Nicolas Kurdiani, CEO, TBC Bank and others. Another debate on investing in green energy will include contributions from Marco Arcelli, CEO, ACWA Power; Seifi Ghasemi, CEO, Air Products; Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO, Masdar.

Daily News Hungary: Could you also give us figures on how many countries will be represented, how many participants are expected and what investment amounts could be decided even during the Forum?

Minister Kudratov: We are expecting to better the attendance from last year’s event with over 2,500 delegates registered to attend The Forum. We also have over 100 international speakers and 84 countries represented.

In 2022, The Forum was attended by over 2,000 major investors and high-ranking officials from 56 countries worldwide with contracts and investment agreements worth $7.8 billion were signed. 

2023 was even bigger. As a result, 164 contracts were signed representing $11 billion in value. We’re confident that these figures will be better during this year’s event. Get more information on the official site.

Daily News Hungary: How does Uzbekistan offer an exceptional opportunity? In which sectors are investors expected?

Minister Kudratov: Uzbekistan has undergone significant economic reforms making it an attractive destination for foreign investors. We have improved process and governance as we aimed to create more opportunities for investors and increased transparency in the investment process. 

In recent years, Uzbekistan has recorded 6% GDP growth and a 25% increase in foreign trade in 2023, plus an increase in the private sector’s share of the economy to 85%. Showcasing a flourishing business environment. The region also has many opportunities across various sectors, including manufacturing, renewable energy, IT and communications, mining and transportation. 

Read also:

MEPs turn to EP president over NatCon shutdown

National Conservatism Conference brussels NatCon

A group of conservative MEPs have turned to the president of the European Parliament over the move by three district mayors in Brussels last week to shut down the National Conservatism Conference (NatCon), saying: “We cannot ignore the brutal attempt to silence conservative politicians in Brussels!”

In their joint letter to Roberta Metsola, Kinga Gál, the head of Hungary’s Fidesz EP group, and MEPs who addressed the conference said the participants of the event organised by the Edmund Burke Foundation “were the subject of an insult unprecedented in the democratic world”.

They noted that the original NatCon venue, the Concert Noble, had canceled the event under pressure from Mayor Philippe Close just one day before its scheduled date. Then, the second venue, Sofitel Brussels Europe, also backed out of the event, citing public safety concerns. The organisers were then able to book the Claridge Events Centre, which was “raided by police” shortly after the conference began. The MEPs said this came after “the mayor of the district of Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, Emir Kir, had decided to ban NatCon on absurd and biased political grounds reminiscent of totalitarian dictatorships.”

The ruling on banning the event “reproaches its participants for their national conservatism, defence of national sovereignty, Euroscepticism and traditionalism, and accuses them of homophobia, Islamophobia and violation of human and minority rights”, they said. Details here: Police officers put an end to Orbán’s convervatism conference in Brussels

They added,

“This procedure, in addition to being unworthy of a Member State of the European Union, was a serious violation of the speakers’ freedom of thought and conscience, their right to freedom of expression and information, and their freedom of assembly, as guaranteed by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.”

The MEPs said the obstruction of politicians’ and public personalities’ fundamental rights “by such brutal means” in “the very city that claims to be a model of European democracy, tolerance and diversity” could not go unanswered.

The signatories called on Metsola to publicly condemn the conference shutdown at the EP’s next plenary session.

The letter was signed by Hungarian Fidesz MEPs Kinga Gál and Enikő Győri, Polish MEPs Ryszard Legutko and Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, Dutch MEP Robert Roos, Spanish MEP Hermann Tertsch and Belgian MEP Tom Vandendriessche.

Orbán’s MEP talks about leaving Europe!

Orbán's MEP talks about leaving Europe

“There is a good chance to leave this kind of dictator Europe behind us,” Enikő Győri, MEP of Hungary’s ruling Fidesz, said in a panel discussion at the NatCon conference in Brussels on Wednesday.

Changes brought about by the upcoming European parliamentary elections could make it possible that “we work in the spirit and on basis of the original EU treaties, work to improve the community’s competitiveness to make Europe a work-based society again and retain its living standards that are so attractive for many millions of people,” Győri said.

In her presentation, entitled “Back to normalcy”, she said she was “dreaming about a Europe that could leave behind the last, detrimental five years … when such things were forced on us that we did not need and which the EU treaties could not even have made possible”.

Concerning the war in Ukraine, the MEP urged “the earliest possible peace” but noted that “there are more and more wanting Europe to be a warring party”.

On the subject of migration, she said member states refusing to accommodate illegal migrants would be fined. “We are now where we were nine years ago … the formula did not work at that time and it will not work now,” she said.

Read also:

  • Wealthiest Hungarian, university professor: Huxit possible, we have 5-10 years – Read more HERE
  • World’s richest Hungarian shares when Huxit is most probable – Details in THIS article

Police officers put an end to Orbán’s convervatism conference in Brussels 🔄

brussels

Change is needed in Brussels because the EU “is no longer the capital of freedom but a tool of left-progressive-liberal oppression”, the prime minister’s political director said in Brussels on Tuesday.

On the sidelines of the National Conservatism Conference, Balázs Orbán told Hungarian journalists that national conservative forces were “fed up with the Brussels super-state” and the “failed policies of the Brussels leadership,” which had sent Europe into a downward spiral.

National conservatives, he said, rejected pro-migration positions and wanted to live in a Europe of freedom and nations in which the bloc could also protect its own borders. He added that the EU should be a “peace project again” rather than a “war project.”

The political director said “the authorities and violent far-left antifa groups” had made it impossible to hold the conference in several locations, which he said was “astounding”.

“The sovereigntist, anti-immigration and pro-peace forces cannot be silenced,”

he added. He said the European Parliament elections on June 9 could bring about the change, and candidates of the Hungarian government side would “fight for the country’s interests” and make Hungarian voices heard in Brussels.

As we wrote before, according to leaked documents, an Orbán-close company bought Euronews, a European television news network headquartered in Brussels, by ultimately using Hungarian taxpayers’ money, details HERE.

🔄 Political director: Brussels left acted ‘shamefully’ by stymying National Conservatism Conference

The left wing in Brussels “acted shamefully” by attempting to stymie the peaceful National Conservatism Conference organised with the participation of professors, researchers and MEPs, the political director of the Prime Minister’s Office said late on Tuesday. Balázs Orbán said in Brussels that the left wing had “lost all moral grounds on which to preach” about constitutionality, human rights and democracy.

He said it was important that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had been able to address the event. “We were able to express our opinion and say that no matter how they pressurise or try to suppress us, we will not give up our policies,” he said. “They also gave proof of why a different type of institutional leadership is needed in Brussels, because the current lot are incapable of achieving outcomes that would satisfy the demands of European voters,” he added.

UPDATE from Brussels

MEPs turn to EP president over NatCon shutdown

5th Budapest LNG Summit: ideologies are not important when it comes to the energy business, says minister

Budapest LNG Summit 2024

Péter Szijjártó, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, said at the 5th Budapest LNG Summit on Tuesday that security of supply and price are the sole factors determining the government’s energy policy. “We don’t take political or ideological considerations into account,” he said.

The crises of recent years could well have spurred “a return to common sense, but we have seen just the opposite”, he said, adding that treating energy as a political issue jeopardised the security of supplies, which should be based on “physical realities rather than political ideology”.

“We are not ready to give up any partnership that has proven reliable in terms of energy supplies, and we will not terminate any contracts that we benefit from,” Szijjártó said.

The minister highlighted the importance of diversification, explaining that the government’s interpretation of the term centred on “securing new resources rather than excluding existing ones”.

Given Hungary’s geographical location, the country depends heavily on the region’s infrastructure, so developing the regional network “is crucial, even if European politicians often disregard the fact that gas cannot be transported in a bag or backpack,” he said. “The infrastructure determines the energy mix and impacts on relevant decisions. Boosting capacities is of vital importance… For us there is no such thing as a redundant gas pipeline,” he added.

He called construction of the TurkStream pipeline “a success story”, and said Hungary would contend with severe difficulties without it. He highlighted Hungary was the first country apart from Türkiye’s neighbours to import Turkish natural gas. Read our latest news: gas supplies from Türkiye to Hungary to start in April.

He also mentioned achievements of the Slovak-Hungarian interconnector, enhanced pipeline capacity between Hungary and Romania, a supply deal with Shell on LNG, and cooperation with Azerbaijan in the area of gas supplies.

Szijjártó regretted that “Western partners” had “abandoned” Romania’s LNG project, adding that Romania would hopefully start production in the future and Hungary would be among potential purchasers of its LNG.

The minister accused the European Union of reducing aid for energy infrastructure developments in south-east Europe, insisting those projects were critical for diversification. He slammed the European Commission, saying its position was that “developing the network was unnecessary because natural gas had no future and it would not be in the energy mix in 15 years.”

“Even if that were true … what about supplies for the next 15 years? Hungary continues to reject aggressively and artificially removing natural gas from the energy mix… We consider this economic suicide and don’t want to compromise the competitiveness of the EU further,” Szijjártó said.

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Hungarian minister threatens foreign companies, shares he drank away his first salary

Hungarian minister János Lázár

The issue of sovereignty “is a priority for the political community leading Hungary”, the minister of construction and transport said on Thursday. But he attended another conference yesterday, the National Administrative Professionals’ Day, during which he shared details concerning his first salary and the beginning of his career with the audience.

János Lázár said that the salary is not attractive enough in the Hungarian public service. Therefore, employees should be humble and committed to serve the country or their local community. He said he started his career in the mayor’s office in Hódmezővásárhely at the age of 20. However, his wage was so low that they drank the entire sum with his friends in a weekend, telex.hu wrote.

Car industry important

Meanwhile, János Lázár told the Portfolio Construction 2024 conference that the government’s interpretation of sovereignty was that in the 21st century “nobody should decide about Hungarians without the say of Hungarians”.

Before 2010, the Socialist and Liberal governments of Hungary worked as if they had been country managers of a large company, sacrificing the aspects of sovereignty to the interests of large multinationals.

“We think in a very different way,” he added. “The problem is not with capital and the markets but when multinationals want to rule the country,” he added.

János Lázár
Photo: FB/János Lázár

The government’s goal, he said, was to make Hungary a key state in the upcoming decades, meaning that Hungary should be the strongest country in the region. When in comes to Hungary and countries to the south and east, this should apply also in terms of specific logistics, he added.

Instead of developing all industries steadily, it has been decided that certain industries should be highlighted, he said, citing the car industry as the first and foremost. The car industry plays such an important role in industrial output and the GDP “that you could safely say that Hungary is and will remain a car-industry country”, he added.

Lázár threatened Spar

He also highlighted the importance of the defence and food industries, adding that construction was an industry in which Hungarian ownership could be maintained in the long term. The years from 2024 to 2027 will be dedicated to factory building, with 15-20 billion euros annual capital investment arriving in Hungary, he said.

Commenting on supermarket chain Spar’s complaint to the European Union concerning a special tax imposed by the Hungarian government, he said his message to all foreign businesses investing in Hungary was that they must respect their buyers, respect the country that hosts them, and respect Hungarian consumers that help them generate extra profits.

spar retail chain
Source: spar.hu

“Those foreign companies that do not respect Hungarians cannot stay in the country in the long term,” he said.

“The Austrian grocer’s baseless and unfair accusations against Hungary, based on utter lies, will only result in the company having to pay the price for its actions now and in the upcoming period,” Lázár said.

“We in Fidesz have learnt to swim against the current, govern without money, and now we will be able to swim against Spar; nobody should have any doubts about that,” he added.

Lázár said he had advised the prime minister that “now that the Austrians have lied, saying that the government wants to buy into Spar, this should be treated as a good idea and the whole company should be bought out.”

PM Orbán invited by President Erdogan to share his thoughts on international forum

Orbán Erdogan NATO Sweden

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán will participate in the Antalya Diplomatic Forum (ADF) at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday, according to information from the PM’s press office.

The forum, to be held between 1 and 3 March, will be attended by heads of state and government, as well as government members, diplomats, business leaders, scientists, and the media.

Orbán is scheduled to address the event early on Friday evening.

This year’s ADF is dedicated to the topic of finding peaceful solutions to current challenges including wars, terrorism, illegal migration, xenophobia and islamophobia, as well as risks posed by AI, climate change, natural disasters, pandemics, and the growing gaps in the economy and in society.

Read also:

  • Powerful findings: Hungary’s diplomacy shines in global survey – Read more HERE
  • Hungarian Wizz Air launches six new flights from Budapest!

Budapest international conference on the future of education in February

MCC education conference Budapest (Copy)

Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC) will organise an international conference on the most pressing issues and trends in the future of education at the end of the month.

Speakers at the conference to be held on 27-28 February in Budapest will include leading experts from around the world, such as British historian and writer Nicholas Tate, Brazil’s former state secretary for family affairs Angela Gandra and former Paraguayan culture minister Fernando Griffith, MCC said in a statement.

The MCC Budapest Summit on Education will focus on finding the reasons behind the perceived decline in the education systems of Western countries as well as the most pressing issues in education, the statement said.

Read also:

  • Hungary’s largest private education institution MCC purchases top private university in Austria – Read more HERE
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Polish-Hungarian friendship resurrected in Budapest?

Polish-Hungarian friendship resurrected in Budapest

Balázs Hidvéghi, an MEP of Hungary’s ruling Fidesz, told a Hungarian-Polish political forum in Budapest on Friday that the main priority was the strongest possible representation of conservative and Christian values in European politics.

Addressing the event organised by the Center for Fundamental Rights think-tank, Hidvéghi said Brussels had become an “Orwellian world” where “words now mean their own exact opposites”.

He said those who portrayed themselves as liberals and “the representatives of the rule of law” were actually “the biggest opponents of freedom”. Hidvéghi said they actually depicted “a caricature of liberalism” and did not accept opposing views. He said this was illustrated by developments in Poland, with liberals “systematically tearing down” the rule of law since Donald Tusk took office.

Hidvéghi said European conservative forces had to unite and find the political strategy that would help protect their shared values. European parties and groupings, he added, were only a means to an end, and not the goal themselves. Conservative forces therefore did not necessarily have to establish a party at the European level, he said, but instead had to cooperate on issues important to them.

Judit Varga, the head of the Hungarian parliament’s European affairs committee, said Europe could only remain European “if we fight for our values, Christianity, for our families and our national identity”.

Kinga Gál, Fidesz deputy leader and MEP, said a long-term geopolitical situation in which Budapest and Warsaw did not share the same fate and interests was “unfathomable”. She said the freedom of thought and expression were once again under threat in Europe. Hungarians and Poles agree that fundamental changes are needed in Europe’s migration policy, she said, adding that both nations rejected “gender ideology and the LGBTQ lobby”.

Hungarians, Poles alternative to the “Brussels deep state”

Ryszard Czarnecki, an MEP of Poland’s Law and Justice (PiS) party, said that the voices of those who wanted to build a Europe of nations, traditional values and a Christian heritage were growing increasingly louder. He said the left was “headed for ruin” and was “amputating the roots of our culture”. He added that there was no alternative to cooperation, adding that Poles strongly supported Hungary’s upcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of this year.

Janusz Kowalski, a representative of Suwerenna Polska in the Sejm, said the new government in Poland was testing the model for “democracy without law”. He said the EU could not become a single state, and had to remain an alliance of sovereign states. Kowalski said the EU was headed for collapse, and it was necessary that it return to its roots.

He thanked the Hungarian government for its establishment of the Sovereignty Protection Office, which he said served as an example for other European countries.

Miklós Szánthó, the head of the Center for Fundamental Rights said Polish-Hungarian friendship was history’s oldest and strongest friendship. Polish-Hungarian cooperation is what gives central Europe its strength, he said, adding that both Eastern and Western major powers were aware of this, and that was why they were attempting to “pit us against each other”.

Szánthó said Poles and Hungarians could demonstrate that there was an alternative to the “Brussels deep state”.

Read also:

  • PM Orbán behind closed doors about dangerous US-plan in Europe – Read more HERE
  • Hungarian forint hit another historic low yesterday

From Bucharest to New York, the 120th anniversary of János Neumann is being celebrated

Neumann conference commemoration

On the occasion of the 120th anniversary of the birth of John von Neumann, the namesake and inventor of the operating principle of today’s computers, the John von Neumann Computer Society is participating in prestigious events organized in the United States, the Netherlands, Serbia, and Romania.

Budapest, November 24, 2023. In addition to numerous domestic programs in the #neumann120 memorial year in 2023, significant events are being celebrated beyond the borders at the end of November in honor of the 120th anniversary of the birth of the world-renowned mathematician John von Neumann.

Celebratory conference and gala in New York

As part of the American series of events, a reception was held at the Hungarian Consulate in New York on November 8, where, in recognition of decades of work and, in particular, for preserving Neumann’s scientific legacy, Professor Péter Dávid Lax, an Abel Prize laureate who had previously worked under Neumann’s direction in the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos, was awarded the Commander’s Cross with Star of the Hungarian Order of Merit by the decision of the President of the Republic. This year, due to his age, the 97-year-old Péter Lax was represented by his son, James D. Lax, who received the award on his behalf.

The following day, a full-day interdisciplinary conference based on John von Neumann’s scientific achievements took place at New York University. The panel discussions and presentations covered questions related to the future development of artificial intelligence, the possibilities of artificial intelligence in medicine, the physical sciences, economics, and social sciences. A gala dinner was held at the prestigious National Museum of Mathematics after the conference, where Ananyo Bhattacharya, the author of the book ’The Man from the Future: The Visionary Ideas of John von Neumann’ which was also published in Hungarian this year, delivered a keynote address. The event was addressed by Tamás Novák, scientific and technological attaché, John Overdeck, founder of the National Museum of Mathematics, and David Nirenberg, the newly appointed director of the Institute of Advanced Study.

For the participants from Hungary, Tamás Novák, the scientific and technological attaché, organized a visit to Princeton on November 10, during which the participants visited the graves of John von Neumann and physicist Eugene Wigner.

Neumann Memorial Conference in Subotica (Szabadka), Serbia

On the occasion of the Hungarian Science Festival on November 6, the Vojvodina Hungarian Academy Council organized a Neumann Memorial Conference in Subotica for the #neumann120 memorial year. During the full-day program organized at the Hungarian-language Teacher Training College, participants heard lectures on John von Neumann’s life and scientific achievements in the fields of computer science, game theory, economic-mathematical applications, and artificial intelligence. Representing the Neumann Society, Gábor Képes presented the stages of the polymath Neumann’s career.

The event was realized with the joint support of the Vojvodina Hungarian Academy Council, the Hungarian Teacher Training College of the University of Novi Sad, Óbuda University, and the Hungarian Fuzzy Society, operating as a section of the Neumann Society.

Neumann Symposium in the Netherlands

On November 27, the Embassy of Hungary in the Netherlands is organizing a Neumann Symposium in Delft: András Kocsis, the Hungarian ambassador in The Hague, will deliver a welcome address, and Ananyo Bhattacharya, who wrote the biography of the genius, will give the opening lecture on the life of John von Neumann.

Eric van Damme, professor of economics at Tilburg University, will speak on game theory, Gábor Elek, mathematician and scientific advisor of the MTA Rényi Alfréd Mathematical Research Institute, will deliver a lecture titled “The Neumann Dimension,” and Professor Georgi Gaydadjiev, computer architecture professor at Tilburg University, will summarize the history of post-Neumann era computing.

In Bucharest, Neumann, the polymath, will be presented

On November 28, John von Neumann will be presented as the polymath by János Varga, a Neumann researcher, at the Liszt Institute Hungarian Cultural Center in Bucharest. On the occasion of the anniversary, the institute will hold a scientific and educational presentation, which is partly addressed to the professional audience and partly to the students and teachers of the Ady Endre Theoretical High School in Bucharest.

For students, learning about John von Neumann’s outstanding contributions to the logical design of electronic computers can be fascinating. The close relationship of today’s younger generations with computers can provide a good foundation for understanding where it all started. The event will also showcase the digital display created by the Neumann Society and HUN-REN SZTAKI about Neumann’s life.

The Neumann Society, celebrating its 55th anniversary this year, has dedicated the entire year of 2023 to the Neumann 120 jubilee year. The neumann120.hu celebration site presents videos, photos, publications, and other interesting materials related to John von Neumann’s life and career, alongside domestic and foreign events.

About the Neumann Society

The John von Neumann Computer Society is the oldest and most prestigious national information technology organization. Since its founding in 1968, it has played a prominent role in creating digital equality. Among its activities, it emphasizes IT talent development, serving as the main organizer of the Nemes Tihamér Competitions and the National Graphic Programming Competition for decades, and preparing teams for student Olympiads (IOI, CEOI, EGOI, eJOI, IIOT). It is the introducer and operator of the ICDL exam system, which provides an international certificate. It is the founder and maintainer of the Information Technology Historical Museum in the Szent-Györgyi Albert Agora in Szeged. The society’s goal is to serve as the digital world’s GPS, helping navigate the information society.

Budapest mayor slammed Orbán government, government hostile

Budapest mayor Gergely Karácsony domestic violence social issue

Community endows Budapest with its strength, not the city’s administration alone, Gergely Karácsony, the city’s mayor, said on Saturday, summing up the municipality’s past years and future plans in a speech.

“Budapest is extremely strong … because the city is a community,” he said. “To move forward, the city leadership must harness the power of the community.”

The people of Budapest, he said, were “boss”, and his administration would not forget that if they won a new mandate from Budapesters to lead the city again.

Referring to the “crises” of the past few years such as the pandemic, the energy crisis and “government cuts”, he said it was “a hugely serious political achievement that we are sitting here now”, able to plan ahead and operate the capital in tough circumstances.

The mayor insisted that the capital had managed the pandemic well and that Budapest had been ahead of the government in managing Covid, adding that the death rate in facilities such as care homes operated by the capital was 50 percent below that in those run by the state. Also, measures to protect the homeless “were among the best” in Europe, he added.

Regarding energy, the “Budapest model”, he said, was “working”, and the budget had saved 70 billion forints by buying energy at the daily spot rate.

“Government austerity”, Karácsony said, was “the third crisis”, insisting that the government had stripped Budapest of 227 billion forints in four years in an attempt to “bring the capital to its knees”.

Altogether, the various crises had cost Budapest 358 billion forints, he said.

Mayor proud on bicycle lanes

On the topic of protected bicycle lanes in the capital, he said disputes on the subject were political in nature, adding that he was “proud” to have made travel safer in Budapest.

The metropolitan leadership’s safety strategy goal is to ensure that no one dies in a traffic accident in Budapest by 2050. Further, the Budapest Mobility Plan adopted in 2019 aims for motor vehicle traffic to be halved in 15 years while increasing bicycle traffic fivefold. The idea, he added, was to reduce traffic not eliminate it.

Karácsony said the most extensive programme to replace public transport vehicles was under way, with 285 new buses introduced to the capital in the past year alone.

Also, the third metro line has been renovated, which he termed a “joint success of the country as a whole, of the previous and current city administration, the government and the European Union.”

Noting an EU study, the mayor said there were now fewer traffic jams in Budapest than in 2019.

Fully 33,000 new trees have been planted in the city, he said, adding however that Budapest’s resilience to climate change must be strengthened.

Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople visited Hungary

Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople visited Hungary

Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén and Bartholomew I, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, addressed an international ecumenical conference in Pannonhalma, in western Hungary, on Friday, and spoke about reconciliation and various forms of peace.

Whereas achieving conciliation is possible in politics as well, finding reconciliation is possible only in one’s spirit in which churches play an essential role and “we pay great attention to that process with respect to the churches”, Semjén said in his address.

Addressing the conference, the Bartholomew said finding peace with nature is intertwined with finding peace with one another. Social justice presupposes finding peace with God, he said. Peace, Bartholomew I said, was another word for the existence of the Christian church, adding that the orthodox church was praying for peace administered “from above”, for peace in the whole world.

The patriarch is paying a six-day visit to Hungary at the invitation of the Pannonhalma Archabbey. The focus of his visit is ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, as well as peace-building.

Read also:

Budapest Demographic Summit this month: will Elon Musk come?

Elon Musk Budapest summit

The Italian prime minister and the presidents of Serbia and Bulgaria will attend and address the Budapest Demographic Summit this month, the President’s office said on its website on Saturday.

Organised for the fifth time, “the most important international strategic forum featuring pro-family advocates” will be held on September 14-15, the office said in a statement. The summit will be also addressed by eminent international personalities including clinical psychologist Jordan B. Peterson from Canada, Nobel Prize Laureate in Economics James J. Heckman from the United States and evangelist Nick Vujicic from Australia.

This year, 60 heads of state and government, church leaders, opinion leaders, media personalities, thinkers and NGO leaders from four continents will share their thoughts on how to create a secure and predictable future for families and future generations, according to the event’s website.

For programme details visit THIS website.

Katalin Novák, Hungary’s President, invited Elon Musk to the summit. Here is their Twitter conversation:

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Climate protection youth conference will be held in Budapest

UNICEF conference climate change

UNICEF Hungary is organising the Climate Heroes conference in Budapest on Oct. 7, with the aim of giving young people access to “authentic information about climate change”, the organisation said in a statement on Tuesday. The interactive event involving experts, business representatives, media personalities and opinion leaders will take place at the Eotvos 10 Culture Centre.

The conference will focus on solutions such as new technologies and employing everyday household practices for laying the foundation for a livable and long-term sustainable future, the statement said. Energy and resource management will take place in the “fire room”, while topics related to water, human well-being and health will held be in the “water room”, it added.

Last summer, UNICEF Hungary asked young Hungarians about their attitudes to climate change, and 90 percent reported feelings of anxiety and a lack of access to authentic information about it, while they also felt left out of the discourse concerning their future, the statement said. At the same time, three-quarters expressed willingness to take action, even at the cost of making personal sacrifices in order to address climate change, it added.

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Featured image: illustration

Italian prime minister will give keynote speech at important Budapest summit

Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will be one of the keynote speakers at the fifth Budapest Demographic Summit, President Katalin Novák said on Facebook on Tuesday.

Novák thanked Meloni for accepting the invitation to one of the largest conferences in Hungary, to be held between September 14 and 16 in Budapest.

 

A bejegyzés megtekintése az Instagramon

 

Giorgia Meloni (@giorgiameloni) által megosztott bejegyzés

International conference of research libraries to be held in Budapest

LIBER, Europe’s largest organisation of specialised and research libraries, will hold its annual conference in Budapest between July 5 and 7, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences Library and Information Centre (MTA KIK), which is organising the event, said on Thursday.

The conference, held for the 52nd time, will be dedicated to subjects such as future challenges for libraries, the preservation and development of public collections, open access to and management of research data, new user services and scientific networking, MTA KIK said in its statement.

“Situated at the junction of information and knowledge, research libraries function as reliable nodes linking communities, the main objective of the Open Access and Open Science initiatives,” the statement quoted Julien Rochet, the head of LIBER, as saying.

The conference will be held in Hungary for the second time.

Here’s what you need to know about Astana International Forum this week

Astana International Forum

The bustling Kazakh capital is set to host the highly anticipated Astana International Forum (AIF) this week, bringing together world leaders, policymakers, and prominent figures from various fields to engage in an inspiring dialogue aimed at shaping the future of humanity.

The forum, scheduled to commence on June 8, promises to be a melting pot of innovative ideas, critical discussions, and collaborative initiatives. Delegates from over 100 countries are expected to attend the two-day forum, The Astana Times said.

With a theme centered around Tackling Challenges Through Dialogue: Towards Cooperation, Development, and Progress, the AIF aims to provide a platform to exchange insights, explore emerging technologies, and deliberate on ways to address pressing global issues across four key topics – economy and finance, energy and climate change, international development and sustainability and foreign policy and international security.

Announcing the initiative in February, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said it is meant to “respond to global challenges.”

“In the face of global challenges, we remain committed to global cooperation by championing dialogue, trade, multilateralism, and the exchange of ideas. We will continue to defend international law and to pursue constructive engagement with nations across the world. In this context, we have launched the Astana International Forum, a new international conference that will be a tool for rebuilding a culture of multilateralism on a global level. Most importantly, the Forum will also provide new means to amplify voices that are often minimized,” he wrote in an exclusive OP-ED for The Astana Times on Feb. 7.

Who will be attending

A lineup of speakers includes heads of state, international organizations, leading scholars, and policymakers, including Emir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Zhaparov, Chairwoman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željka Cvijanović, Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Audrey Azoulay, and Under-Secretary General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, and Assistant Secretary-General of the UN Ivana Živković.

Some of them are expected to deliver keynote addresses along with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Astana International Forum
Astana International Forum 2023.

Economy and finance

The sessions on economy and finance will address economic recovery and resilience-building measures, creative economy for promoting sustained and inclusive growth, advancing women’s leadership, strengthening Eurasian connectivity, digitalization and AI.

“By bringing together top CEOs and some of the world’s most successful females, this session will explore how women’s leadership benefits the corporate and political world and our globally interconnected economies. The discussion will focus on how female leadership brings innovation, diversity, and inclusivity to companies, leading to greater competitiveness and sustainability. The panelists will share their experiences and insights on the challenges and opportunities of promoting gender diversity in leadership positions, the strategies for overcoming barriers to women’s leadership, and the impact of gender-inclusive leadership on organizational culture and performance in some of the most competitive markets around the world,” said Charlotte Kan, former Bloomberg journalist, who will moderate the session on promoting women’s leadership.

Energy and climate change

The sessions will explore global energy transition, climate change mitigation, and sustainable practices. The green transition will be at the center of discussions.

Kazakhstan embarked on a green transition path in 2013 when it adopted the concept of transitioning to a green economy. In 2020, the nation pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, and the strategy toward this goal was adopted in February.

Yet, many challenges remain both for Kazakhstan and countries alike on this path.

“The discussion will identify specific investment opportunities and needs related to green energy, as well as support measures for local and regional projects to transition to environmentally friendly energy. The session will also examine the impact of the transition to green energy on employment, trade, and international relations, as well as possible risks and benefits for the economy and the environment,” said Ariel Cohen, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center, who will moderate the session on green energy transition.

International development and sustainability

The sessions will delve into the impact of geopolitical tensions on global development, the impact of global supply chain disruption on food security, global health preparedness, disinformation and the power of algorithms and education for all.

One of the sessions will focus on global preparedness for future epidemics and pandemics, just one month after the World Health Organization announced the end of the COVI9-19 pandemic that killed millions of people worldwide.

“Panelists will discuss the challenges and lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic to improve global preparedness for the future. Various aspects of global preparedness will be considered, including vulnerability assessments of different countries and regions, funding of preparatory measures, strengthening healthcare systems, increasing developments in medicine, as well as funding and research of new technologies. The discussion will also seek to explore ways to improve the performance of international organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), in preparing for global epidemics and pandemics,” said Afaf Saoudi, Executive Producer for Europe Region at Aljazeera Network, who will moderate the session.

Foreign policy and international security

From the future of multilateralism to the role of the UN in the current global order, the sessions will feature such speakers as Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and Americas in the UN Department of Political Affairs, José Manuel Barroso, former President of the European Commission and Non-Executive Chairman of Goldman Sachs International, and Thomas Greminger, Swiss diplomat and former Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Secretary-General.

One of the highlights of the forum is the presentation of the book “The New Kazakhstan: Steering the Steppe Amid a Global Storm” on June 9, written by prominent American economist Nouriel Roubini, known as Dr. Doom for predicting the 2008 global financial crisis, on June 9.

By Assel Satubaldina in Astana International Forum, The Astana Times