The common, tri-border regions of the Central European countries
(Ukraine, Slovakia and Hungary) have similar geographical and economical features.
The distance from the capital cities resulted in the local population seeking relations
more intensely in all possible areas of life -economic, cultural, education, artistic. Making
new economic relations was caused by the fact new borders were introduced following
the World War I. National minorities were striving to maintain or re-build connections
with their national states, since the secular traditions of economical and commercial
collaboration were broken off.
Entrepreneurial initiatives in the area were typically self-supportive,
missing all types of central monetary backing or management that could have led to
developments of a higher nature. It was not, therefore, accidental that in the early
1990's there were organizations coming to life with the aim of stimulating and enlivening
business enterprises that took the interests of the local communities into consideration
as well, working as foundations on non-profit basis:
- Zemplén Local Enterprise Development Foundation,
Sátoraljaújhely, (Hungary) 1991,
- Nagykapos Regional Enterprise Agency,
Vel'ke Kapusany, (Slovakia) 1992,
- Carpathian Society of Hungarian Intellectual
Workers, Uzhgorod, (Ukraine) 1993.
The Carpathian Border Region Economic Development Association was
established in 1994 by economic and business promoting branches mentioned above and that
were already functioning in Hungary, Slovakia and Ukraine, with the purpose of fostering
the recovery of the region's economy. Beyond providing direct assistance for the enterprises
run in the bordering area of the founding countries. The CBED have been working on to
draw western investments, upholding the admission of the "free market" principles among
the economic participants of the countries involved.
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It were enterprise development organizations that have undertaken to
initiate communication with regions over the border, and by this to co-ordinate economic
and region development programmes and even to elaborate complex development proposals.
Rationale of the project:
Springing from the features mentioned above, the CBED's entrepreneurs
and regional development programs aim to promote the international collaboration among
undertakings working within the countries involved by way of realization of distinctly
outlined objectives.
The most important aim, which makes up part of the Tri-border Economic
Development Strategic Program, is to provide local enterprises with up-to-date information
as well as to constantly convey alterations of laws controlling business activity to firms
and individuals.
A database, which is being continually updated, is set up to assist the administration
of the potential clientele. It is available to enter in it for free of charge and on
voluntary basis. The service is run with concrete demand for partner search by submitting
uniformly designed registration forms to our offices.
To achieve our programs we operate an office network, with a computerized database being
at the disposal of enterprises searching for business partners. This is where we gather
and disseminate all the current economic information that is considered crucial for making
and maintaining external trading relations.
Regularly organized international exhibitions and markets guarantee
a wide range of opportunities to shape definite business relations and to locate further
markets. In businessmen's meetings held simultaneously with the exhibitions, current
information about economic regulations, legal and customs conditions is publicized for
businessmen who come to attend these events.
By he statements conveyed in the professional study entitled
"Tri-border Region Economic Cooperation and Development", which was elaborated by
the CBED, the economic cooperation among these border regions is restricted not
only by differences in jurisdiction processes and rules but by several physical obstacles
as well. The crossing points along the affected borders have greatly limited transport
capacity, and in certain naturally adjoining areas they are not even built properly,
thus being unsuitable for international transportation. The organizations joining CBED
and the Council pursue explicit lobbying activity on appropriate governmental level and
at governmental offices to coordinate and settle problems regarding transportation across
the border.
Organizing and integrating these closely related bordering business zones a
s soon as possible can only accomplish the development of the tri-border regions, as
they are to ensure the necessary sphere for achieving the economic union of enterprises
and companies in the area. Enterprise zones have already been designated in
Hungary - Zemplén and Záhony - and in Ukraine.
Main elements of the program:
Having been elaborated by CBED, its main objectives focus on concrete
strategic sub-areas, which are meant to serve the development of the tri-border economic
co-operation system in a co-ordinated way.
- To operate information offices in each of the three countries.
a három országban. To provide entrepreneurs interested with up-to-date information in
the Carpathian tri-border regions: business proposals, supply and demand intercession,
and information provision on law.
- To organize entrepreneurial exhibitions, markets and
international businessmen's meetings to foster the shaping and development of partnerships
as well as to set up potential markets and export-possibilities.
Locations of the exhibitions, markets and international businessmen's meetings:
- Hegyalja Farmers' Days - International exhibition and fair, and
businessmen's meeting, Szerencs, Hungary
- Zemplén Entrepreneurs Days - International Investment Conference,
Sátoraljaújhely, Hungary
- EXPO UZHGOROD - International businessmen's meeting and fair,
Uzhgorod, Ukraine
- COPUS EXPO - International exhibition and fair, and
businessmen's meeting, Vel'ke Kapusany, Slovakia
- To publish quarterly a multi-language newsletter containing economic
and business information to make partner searching more effective. To broadcast a television
programme with current economic information in each of the three regions monthly.

- To create homogeneous, consistent, entrepreneurial zones in the tri-border
areas, harmonizing with the judicial forms, which are elaborated at varying levels for the
time being. To proceed infrastructure and other region development programmes, to initiate the
inauguration of further crossing stations, as well as informing local, county, governing and
ministerial bodies of the absolute necessity of making those already existing crossings suitable
for international transportation.
- To compile a unitary promotion publication in order to introduce the entire
economic potential of the border regions, offering them for potential investors. Coordinated
PR activity, to organize investment meetings.
Implementation of the project:
The Carpathian Border Region Economic Development Association has been
performing its job, since its establishment in 1994, based on constant coordination between
leaders of the founding organizations and Committee members. The schedules elaborated by the
leaders of economic development foundations and centres for one-year periods are introduced
to the Committee for consent. Besides the leaders of the founding economic development organizations,
there are dedicated mayors and entrepreneurs from the region who take part in the Committee's
job of designing and executing the outlined projects. Members also make attempts to gain support
for the Association in their own countries, which means, first of all, providing information
about the Association and its programs, taking advantage of their respective relations.
To carry out the projects, there are regional offices collaborating in
each of the three countries, where managing clerks and contributors are working on certain
tasks. The mutual objectives are done jointly and are in accordance with the scheduled programme
of the Association.
Organizations participating of the CBED:
The Zemplén Local Enterprise Foundation signed a contract with the Nagykapos
Regional Enterprise Development Establishment (Slovakia) and with the Carpathian Society of
Hungarian Intellectual Workers, on 4 November, 1994. In the framework of this agreement, we
founded the Carpathian Border Region Economic Development Association to coordinate the region
and economic development concepts in the three countries.
There were several foreign organizations taking part in the process of
establishing the Association and in elaborating its programs (U.S. Peace Corps, CESO ).
We were given remarkable help from the small business development volunteers of the American
Peace Corps working in Hungary, who have been actively participating in the work of the
Zemplén Local Enterprise Foundation's assistance in accomplishing the program and in seeking
possibilities for funding of the Association from September, 1993 until June, 1997. Raymond
Patrick Becker provided daily practical assistance in implementing the program and in seeking
for application opportunities from September, 1993 till September, 1995.
Finacial support was provided by the CIPE (Centre for International Private
Enterprises), the USAID and the EU Phare Program to start implementing our international
regional programme.
The possibility of making the Association as a model of interregional economic
cooperation available for other organizations concerned in similar collaborating relationships
was already dealt with at the time it was established. We also wanted to share the acquired
experiences with interested organizations and local governments.
Description and access to the Tri-border Region Economic Cooperation Strategic
Programme provides opportunity for other border regions to elaborate their own development
conceptions not only in Hungary, but also in other regions having similar conditions in
Central-Eastern Europe.
Access of CBED Information Offices:
Data of Hungarian Program managers: |
ZEMPLÉN LOCAL
ENTERPRISE FOUNDATION
H-3980 Sátoraljaújhely, Rákóczi u. 18.,Po Box.: 8.
Hungary
Phone: +36-47/ 523-080
Fax: +36-47/ 322-919
E-mail: zrva@t-online.hu
Website: www.zrva.hu
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Chairman: István Juhász
Program director: Zoltán Ogár
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Data of Slovakian Program managers: |
REGIONAL ENTERPRISE AGENCY
VEL'KE KAPUSANY
SK-079 01 Vel'ké Kapusany,
Hlavná ul. 22.
Phone/Fax: +421-56/ 638-29-95.
E-mail: rvsz@nextra.sk
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Office manager: Gábor Mihók
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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF KRÁLOVSKY CHLMEC
SK-077 01 Královsky Chlmec
ul. L.Kossutha 102.
Phone: +421-56/ 628-1210
Fax: +421-56/ 628-1211
E-mail: rra@rrakch.sk
Website: www.rrakch.sk
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Office manager: Károly Horváth |
Data of Ukrainian Program managers: |
SUB-CARPATHIAN
REGIONAL ENTERPRISE AGENCY
UA-294000 Uzhgorod,
Tolsztoj u. 5/a.
Phone/Fax: +380-312/644-661
E-mail: kvk@e-ctn.net
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Office manager: Dupka György |
Document of the CBED:
Deed of foundation of the CBED (pdf)
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