Business Development Mission to Hungary

Hall Booth Smith, P.C. international business attorney John Parkerson led a Georgia delegation to Hungary from December 3-8 that promoted HBS’s international business expertise and its presence in the Central and Eastern European (“CEE”) region, and sought to foster ties between Georgian and Hungarian companies. Parkerson also is Honorary Consul General and Economic Counselor of Hungary for Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee.

During the mission, Parkerson met approximately 25 Hungarian information communications technology (“ICT”) companies that want to explore partnerships and other opportunities in Georgia. As in Georgia, ICT is booming in Hungary. In addition, he met in Budapest with the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the AMCHAM-Hungary, and the Technology Association of Hungary. HBS sponsored a reception, attended by approximately 14 Hungarian ICT companies at which Parkerson welcomed guests and delivered a brief overview of HBS and how the firm can assist incoming foreign businesses. He gave a presentation on “Doing Business in the US/State of Georgia” to 15 companies at an Association for the Digital Economy (Hungarian equivalent organization to the Technology Association of Georgia).

HBS’s TELFA counterpart in Hungary, Agnes Balassa, Partner, Bihari & Balassa Law, led an international business legal round-table discussion on “The Hungarian Legal Landscape.” HBS collaborates with the Budapest-based firm on Hungarian legal matters for Georgia-based clients. Additionally, Parkerson met with the head of the Hungarian Court of Arbitration and toured its facilities, collocated with the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Other notable sessions included the US Embassy-Budapest, which presented an analysis of the Hungarian business climate and bilateral relations; a “Business Roundtable” with participants from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade, the Hungarian National Trading House, and the Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency; and presentation to the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade a Resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives recognizing Hungary-State of Georgia Business Day.

In the photos, John Parkerson welcomes Hungarian company representatives at the HBS reception; and the Hungarian Arbitration Court’s Head of Secretariat Dr. Annamaria Lukacs in one of the court’s chambers.