Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has held his 17th annual evaluation speech this Friday. He claimed that “our flag is flying high; everyone can see that. Everyone can see that we are a people’s party community, based on Christian-democratic foundations."

In its recent country focus on Switzerland, Diplomacy & Trade included a piece on the role, the objectives and achievements of the Swiss Contribution Program in Hungary. The main aim of the Program is to reduce economic and social disparities.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has paid a one-day official visit in Budapest. He was received by his Hungarian counterpart, Viktor Orbán as well as by Hungarian President János Áder, and attended a Turkish-Hungarian business forum.

Zoltán Kész, an independent candidate supported by the left-wing opposition, won a seat in Hungarian parliament in Sunday's by-election. It means that the ruling Fidesz party (along with its small satellite Christian Democrats) no longer have a two-thirds majority.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was criticized at his visit to Warsaw by his Polish counterpart, Ewa Kopacz for not supporting enough the unity of the European Union. Orbán was refused a meeting with one of his Polish allies for receiving Vladimir Putin.

Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a visit to Budapest on Tuesday, an event widely seen by analysts as a demonstration that - despite Russian aggression in Ukraine - he has found a NATO and EU member that is still willing to receive him.

One of the most popular and spectacular winter events, the Buso festival took place in Mohács, near the Serbian border this past week-end. According to estimates, some 80,000 people gathered in the town to attend the festival.

This year, the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Hungary (SwissCham) celebrates the 20th anniversary of its foundation. In the recent Swiss Focus of Diplomacy & Trade, the President of the organization talked about the past two decades and the years to come.

Aiming to spread the knowledge of social businesses and promote corporate responsibility, EuCham - European Chamber is hosting the Social Business Forum in Budapest. Attending and exhibiting are free of charge for accepted registrants.

Following a month-long investigation, Hungary’s National Tax and Customs Authority (NAV) has busted a huge illegal cigarette factory in co-operation with Europol (the European Police Office). In the February 2 raid, 22 tons of tobacco were seized.

The Hungarian government and UNICEF announced this week that they agreed in principle to establish UNICEF’s first-ever Global Shared Services Center in Budapest. It will conduct a broad range of UNICEF’s financial and human resources operations worldwide.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has announced that his government and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will seek to acquire 15-percent stakes in the Hungarian affiliate of Austria's Erste Bank.

Having arrived to Hungary over two years ago, the Swiss Ambassador to Hungary, Jean-François Paroz says in an interview in the January issue of Diplomacy & Trade that he is satisfied with the achievement of several goals he set at the beginning of his term.

Hungary’s ruling Fidesz-KDNP caucus has authorised the government to launch the national utility service provider in March, said Fidesz caucus chief Antal Rogán on Thursday. The company will first offer natural gas and later electricity services, as well.

U.S. Ambassador to Hungary Colleen Bell and Hungarian Minister of Human Capacities Zoltán Balog has signed an agreement in Budapest regulating social security issues between the two countries and avoiding a form of double taxation for people.