Hungary and Türkiye have maintained strong cultural and political ties throughout history. In recent years, however, these ties have been increasingly complemented by robust economic cooperation. At the heart of this partnership lies the Hungarian Export Promotion Agency’s Türkiye office, HEPA Türkiye. Acting as a bridge between Hungarian exporters and the Turkish business community, HEPA Türkiye aims to combine the potential of both countries to advance trade and technological cooperation.

We spoke with Yalçın Orhon, General Manager of HEPA Türkiye, about this process and their future plans.

When asked about HEPA Türkiye’s founding purpose, Orhon clearly summarizes the institution’s vision:

“Our primary goal is to increase Hungary’s exports while offering innovative solutions to the Turkish business world. But we don’t reduce this to numbers alone. Our real aim is to build long-term, sustainable partnerships based on knowledge, technology, and trust.”

In line with this mission, HEPA Türkiye serves as a commercial bridge, bringing Turkish companies and Hungarian manufacturers to the same table. Through this cooperation, Hungarian firms gain a stronger foothold in Türkiye, while Turkish companies gain easier access to the European Union market.

“Four sectors at the heart of cooperation”

So, which areas hold the greatest potential for bilateral trade? Orhon points to four priority sectors:

Agriculture and Food Technologies: “From organic production to processing machinery, Hungary is a strong player in agriculture and food technologies. Combined with Türkiye’s rapidly growing food sector, this creates significant synergy.”

Automotive Supply Industry: “Hungarian manufacturers have strong competitiveness in electric vehicle components and spare parts. This can add real value to Türkiye’s production capacity.”

Green Energy: “Solar panel equipment, energy storage systems, and smart grid solutions align perfectly with Türkiye’s energy transition goals.”

Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare Products: “Hungary’s pharmaceutical sector is innovative and meets high standards. We can be a strategic supplier for Türkiye’s expanding healthcare investments.”

“A new route to Europe for Turkish companies”

For Hungarian exporters, Türkiye is not only a market but also a strategic trade route to the European Union.

“Türkiye is an important trade partner for us. At the same time, Turkish companies gain easier access to the European market through Hungary. This is not only about product exports; it also includes joint investments, technology transfer, and R&D collaborations.”

“From B2B to trade fairs, we will continue to be the bridge”

Looking ahead, HEPA Türkiye plans a series of events to further deepen these partnerships. Orhon concludes our interview with the following remarks: “With B2B meetings, sectoral trade delegations, and joint fair organizations, we will continue to bring companies together directly. Our aim is to take trade beyond numbers and unite the innovation and production power of both nations.”

Source: uptrink.com