The Hungarian government projects 2.9% of GDP budget deficit for 2014 and over 3% economic growth for 2017 in its convergence program sent to the European Commission. The program was outlined to the press by Economics Minister Mihály Varga.

Supporting the spread of future generations’ institutions – at the national, sub-national and UN levels – was the call that attracted dozens of experts, policymakers and journalists to Hungary’s parliament building the last week-end in Budapest.

The European Commission is not suspending the payment of development funds for Hungary, but for now, Brussels will only pay the bills submitted by 15 April until every question about the country’s new tendering system is clarified.

The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ in the United States hosts the exhibition ‘Beyond Rubik’s Cube’ held at the 40th anniversary of the invention of the Rubik’s cube by Hungarian architect and toy designer Ernõ Rubik.

The Research Center for the Humanities of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the Holocaust Memorial Center organized an international conference ‘Crime, Responsibility – Memory’ on the 70th anniversary of the Hungarian Holocaust.

The GKI-Erste economic sentiment index, which has been rising spectacularly for 18 months according to seasonally-adjusted figures in Hungary, has gone up in April and expectations reached their highest in more than 15 years.

The Hungarian Ministry of National Development and the Hungarian Cyclists’ Club have launched their jointly organized campaign promoting cycling for the 13th time, starting on April 22, that is International Earth Day, this spring and finishing on May 30.

The Buda Castle hosted a three-day long celebration bringing alive old folk customs surrounding Easter: traditions, art, culture and gastronomy, featuring a handicraft and gastro fair, live folk music, dance performances and programs for kids.

Ferdinand Gross Hungary Ltd., a German company affiliate, the wholesaler of screws and fasteners, small mounting parts and supplies, has inaugurated its logistics base in the Tatabánya industrial park, west of Budapest.

Founded in 2004, Budapest-based Finnagora is one of the 17 culture and science institutes of Finland around the world. In its recent Finland focus, Diplomacy & Trade published an interview with the director of Finnagora, Leena Pasanen.

Hungary bought a 12,000-square-meter plot suitable for the purposes of Budapest's new convention center from a subsidiary of TriGránit, investor Sándor Demján's real estate development company, news site Napi.hu reported.

At FinPro, Finland’s national trade, internationalization and investment development organization, the main line of activity is partner searching. In the recent Finland Focus of Diplomacy & Trade, the head of FinPro in Hungary talked about the organization.

A record number of participants – over 20,000 people –, including members of the diplomatic corps, took part in the 29th Vivicittá running event on Budapest’s Margaret Island and the Pest embankment of the river Danube this Sunday.

As the leading article of its Finalnd focus earlier this year, Diplomacy & Trade carried an interview with the Finnish ambassador to Hungary, Pasi Tuominen who talks about the various aspects of bilateral relations and the spreading of Finnish values.

It is inconsistent with the regulations of the European Union that Hungary made it possible to distill 50 liters of pálinka (a fruit brandy) per year without the payment of excise duty. The Hungarian government tries to settle the issue with the EU.