In July 2015, the volume of exports and imports was up by 6% and 3.4%, respectively, year-on-year. Thus, foreign trade surplus rose to EUR 646 million in the month of July 2015, while the surplus accumulated in the period January-July 2015 reached EUR 4.9 bn.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is granting EUR 500 million, the first tranche of an approved loan amount of EUR 1.5 billion, to Hungary to -as the government claims - co-finance priority projects receiving support from EU funds.

The Government of Hungary does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so, says the U.S. Department of State in its annual Trafficking in Persons Report, published in July.

In September 2015, Hungary’s GKI-Erste economic sentiment index adjusted for seasonal effects reached this year’s peak, and the degree of optimism was only slightly lower than at the end of last year, which corresponded to a 17-year high.

Local shops are still top choice for consumers despite online and out-of-town competition. In smaller towns people do their shopping in small shops rather then big centers.

Singapore is famous for its steady growth rate of GDP and a booming foreign trade. The country, often called "young tiger" has managed to evolve its exports from labor-intensive to high value-added products.

As a demonstration of further expansion into the American market, Hungary opened a trade house in New York in the early days of May. It will serve as a new gateway for Hungarian companies in the United States. Officials consider more offices to set up elsewhere in the country.

Nearly half of all family businesses in the CEE region plan changes in ownership within the next 5 years. But most of them don’t have clear processes in place for this turnover and require restructuring to be competitive in the future.

Hungary's public debt has never been over HUF 25,000 billion - until now. According to the Hungarian Debt Management Center, a recent increase of 1,377 bn brought it over the 25,000 bn level. Government officials cliam the increase is only temporary.

A recent report suggests that the typical amount sent by migrant workers back to their home country ranges from USD 1,500 to USD 3,200 annually. In 2014, Hungarians transferred to their families back home some USD 4.5 billion.

The Belgian Business Club in Hungary Association (Belgabiz) was officially presented on Thursday in Budapest, aiming to provide information-gathering services for companies interested in the development of Hungarian-Belgian economic relations.

The Hungary-Japan Economic Club (MJGK) was founded in 1971 to assist with information, events and contacts (companies and individuals) interested in economic co-operation between Hungary and Japan and to aid in the improvement of those relations.

European Chamber’s Competitiveness Index lists the countries based on the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) improvement from the global financial crisis in 2008 to the present. Switzerland, Germany and Scandinavian countries are competitively dominant in Europe, Macedonia and Bulgaria are far behind.

As a result of the amendment of legislation on the advertising tax, this levy is to generate more revenues than what the cabinet had previously estimated, the financial website portfolio.hu quotes local daily newspaper Népszabadság.

A mild recovery is forecast for 2015, with growth set to reach 1% in 2016, spurred by EU-funded investments. Fiscal consolidation needs and limited structural reforms, however, continue to hold back potential growth. Employment is still expected to stagnate in 2015 - according to the analysis and forecast of the European Commission.