1. Information System and Network
In our opinion, one of the greatest impediments to starting, managing and successfully
establishing an enterprise in the region is lack of up-to-date market information.
Our Foundation's first task was to provide this information service free to establish
and future potential entrepreneurs. We have delivered this service since opening our
central office in Sátoraljaújhely. We have begun a satellite office network as an
extended service, because the region is so large and divided.
Currently we operate nine information offices in Zemplén regional settlements with
the help of local governments in Tokaj, Szerencs, Sárospatak, Monok, Cigánd, Ricse,
Pálháza, Bodroghalom and Kenézlo. The offices have been equipped with a phone line
and fax machines when opening them. Also, a computerized client database and network
was installed in the offices in 1995. Furthermore, nowadays all the Zemplén Local
Enterprise Agency's offices have an access to Internet services.
All the sub-offices are linked to the central office through modem that makes the
quick and direct information exchange among them.
In addition to the basic entrepreneurial issues, interested parties are informed
about the available support, grant and loan sources, as well as the application
process and up-to-date business offers.
We provide information about our programs and entrepreneurial news in the regional
and local newspapers and advertising newsletters and journals on an ongoing basis.
We organize regular meetings for the interested small and medium entrepreneurs
within the Zemplén Entrepreneurs'Club. We provide daily information and offer p
rofessional knowledge through the presentations and seminars of invited experts.
During the years passed our services were extended by information provision on
the European Union as well.
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2. Regional and Small Area Development Program
One of the basic principles for our successful work is to provide optimal conditions for
entrepreneurial and investment activity, so we consider the active participation in the
regional development programs essential.
We have designed the following regional development programs:
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Complex Development Program of Zemplén Small Region (State Employment Fund)
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Development Program of the Bodrogköz Agriculture (Ministry of Agriculture)
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Development Plan of the Tourism of B.A.Z. County (B.A.Z. County Bureau of Tourism)
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CESO /Canada/ Tourism Development Program (Zempléni RVA)
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IESC /USA/ Establishment of a Truck Transit Station in the Region (ZRVA)
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VOCA /USA/ Establishment of an Agricultural Co-operative in the Bodrogköz (ZRVA)
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Establishment of Agromarketing network in Bodrogköz, (B.A.Z. County Regional
Enterprise Agency)
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Possibilities of the Interregional Crossborder Co-operation (U.S. Peace Corps; CESO,)
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Establishment of the Special Economic Zones and Improvement of the Crossings on
the Borders /Slovakia, Ukraine, Hungary/ (ZRVA)
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B.A.Z. County Structural Reorganization and Crisis Management Program
(B.A.Z. County Development Agency)
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Establishment of the Network of Entrepreneurial Incubator Houses
(B.A.Z.County Regional Enterprise Agency)
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Development of the Regional Phone Network /MATÁV/ and the System of the
Mobile Phones /Westel 450 Hz and 900 Hz/ (ZRVA)
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Introduction and Establishment of the "AIRR" Sewage System /USA/ in
the Small Settlements of the Region (ZRVA)
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Program of the Carpathian Border Region Economic Development
Association (ZRVA)
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U.S. AID, VOCA/ACDI - Program of small-sized businesses of the
Tri-Border Region and of Development of Bodrogköz and Hegyköz Region
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Establishment of the Zemplén Enterprise Zone (ZRVA)
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Completing, having accepted and providing information on economic
development programme of the Zemplén Enterprise Zone (ZRVA)
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Zemplén PR and marketing Program (ZRVA)
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Zemplén Region Tourism Development Program (ZRVA)
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Zemplén Tourism Program (ZRVA)
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"Establishment of the Industrial Park Sátoraljaújhely, awarding
the title of "Industrial Park", starting building up
complex infrastructure (ZRVA)
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Supplier's Objective Program (Ministry of Economics)
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Up-Dating Region Development Program of the Zemplén Enterprise Zone (ZRVA), 2000
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Program of Development Conception of Sárospatak Small Region (ZRVA), 2000
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Unit of programs entitled "Zemplén on the threshold of EU accession" (ZRVA), 2000
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Managing establishment of economic integrations in the territory
of the Zemplén Enterprise Zone (ZRVA), 2000
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Zemplen tourism publication package (ZRVA), 2000
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"About European integration for enterpreneurs" education note (ZRVA), 2000
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"About European integration for gipsies" education note (ZRVA), 2000
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"The Europe of citizens, without borders" arrangement of professional
training programme for helping of European Union connection (ZRVA), 2001
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"Europe in Zemplen, Zemplen in Europe" European Union preparing programme-series
in Zemplen region (ZRVA), 2002-2005
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"Shipping in North-Hungary's rivers" titled realizable study (ZRVA), 2002- continuous
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"We are going to EU" education programme (ZRVA), from 2002- continuous
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"Open for Europe" or learning without age limit - titled education programme-series (ZRVA), 2003
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"The Fűzér Castle in XVII. century" (ZRVA), 2003
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"How can we successful in Europe?" - complex programme for helping
of European Unios's connection with trade specific teaching (ZRVA), 2003
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"How can we successful in Europe?" - Zemplen project writer seminarium's
education syllabus (ZRVA), 2004
Since November 1st, 1996 we have been operating a Region and Rural Development Office.
It means that a program manager has been being employed to organize region development
programs as well as to provide assistance in activities implemented by Region Development
Associations.
Program of the Zemplén Enterprise Zone has been elaborated as a result of co-operation
between the Region Development Associations of statistical districts No. 507, 508 as well
as by local governments in the Zemplén region. It was our task to organize the management
of the Zemplén Enterprise Zone and even to establish an organization to have it operated.
The Zemplén Enterprise Zone was designated for 10 years period, effective from
January 1st, 1998 by the Hungarian Government. Moreover, the Industrial Park-Sátoraljaújhely
has been formed including a joint venture established to have it managed. It was the
Zempléni RVA that implemented PR and marketing program of the Zemplén region and even a
regional tourism development plan.
There has been a video film introducing the Zemplén region from historical, cultural
and economic aspects and in three (Hungarian, English, German) languages made each
lasting for 30' minutes.
We have completed a tri-lingual installation and folding screen material introducing
the region and to be displayed during exhibitions.
We re-published the so-called four-lingual "Tourism Brochure on Zemplén "
in 4,000 copies.
There have been promotion materials made on investment facilities in the region including
information on both the Zemplén Enterprise Zone and the Industrial Park-Sátoraljaújhely in
Hungarian and English languages. Both materials were published in 2,000 copies. The website
of the Zemplén Enterprise Zone was updated and is accessible on the Internet under the
following address: www.zemplen.hu.
Moreover, a CD room including the homepage of the Zemplén Enterprise Zone and multilingual
video film material (English, German) on the region has been completed. It is to help
activities relating to PR and marketing services.
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3.
Consultation
The Enterprise Agency has been providing free consultation service since its inception
with our staff, experts and outside specialists. The Sátoraljaújhely Center provides
this service for clients during working hours on an ongoing basis and provides free
legal consultation by an outside expert for half a day once a week.
We serve our clients to a certain extent at no charge, but also direct our clients
to the required outside experts. We have built up a consultants' network together
with B.A.Z. County Enterprise Development Agency. Specialists from all the professional
fields can be found in this network. We also give assistance to the clients in selecting
the right expert.
By involvement of outside experts and to reduce its fees we operate a so called professional
consultation program, which is financed by Phare.
This support service has two types:
1.) Occasional consultation
2.) on-going consultation- and can be applied for by regional entrepreneurs.
We have provided this service through applications for 46 clients in amount of 2.2 million
HUF since 1992. As an extension of our consultation program, we mediate and organize the
foreign consultants' work with utilization of our international relationships.
Consultants from the U.S. Peace Corps have worked at our Foundation for 4 years and the
entrepreneurs of the region have been able to employ, free of charge or at a reduced price,
consultants from BB Foundation, Peace Corps, IESC (USA), CESO (Canada), VOCA (USA) ACDI (USA).
We attended the so-called Supplier's Objective Program issued in 1998 in co-operation by the
Ministry of Economics and the Hungarian Enterprise Development Foundation.
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4. Entrepreneurial Education, Training Program
Our Foundation provides four levels of entrepreneur training:
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"Entrepreneurial Ideas" course for potential entrepreneurs, unemployed,
young people starting a career and for those with business ideas.
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"Beginner Entrepreneurial" course for inexperienced private or small
businessmen; within this we also organize a special agricultural course for agro-entrepreneurs
and smallholders.
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"Advanced Course" training course for established entrepreneurs who
have development concepts.
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"Managers' Course" specialized training for managers of
medium sized companies.
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Special entrepreneurial training course on the European Union.
From September, 2000 we organize special courses to provide information on
the European Union for government workers, civil servants and representatives of SMEs working
in the region. There was a special publication entitled "To entrepreneurs on European
integration" as a syllabus completed by the courses in 1,000 copies. The publication was
supported by the Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County Region Development Council.
During the previous four years of operation we have organized 108 courses
with the participation of 1025 entrepreneurs who could attend the courses either for free or
at a reduced fee. The Foundation has expended more than 20 million HUF to facilitate the
entrepreneurs' training program.
On the basis of regional needs, we have organized German and English courses at beginners'
and at advanced levels. We arranged an intensive English language course including 600 lessons
for the unemployed and entrepreneurs.
It resulted in several students being able to take National State Exams. Furthermore, we
organized English language courses on elementary level for local entrepreneurs and employees
working for companies with international interest.
Our training programs include further trainings, which are on preparing
Hungary's accession to the EU, co-ordinated and arranged by the Phare Office (entrepreneurial
training on the EU, Roma program).
Within our training programs we have training for our own staff experts on an ongoing basis
and we organize trainings four times a year for our colleagues working in the information
satellite offices. There four colleagues working for the agency attending post-graduate or
further training courses.
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5. Credit Program: Credit Provision
and Management
Our organization is involved in distributing information on both national
and international loans and contribution opportunities issued towards entrepreneurs. We
provide them with information on recent call for proposals and their conditions and even
give assistance in completing the proposal or the request for the loan. Moreover, we mediate
information either towards the bank or the institution involved in the bidding procedure.
By managing the whole proposal process entrepreneurs are able to get such sources/aids with
more successful results.
It is the so-called micro-credit program, which has been operated by our organization.
Objective of the program is to finance investments made by SMEs by providing them with a
credit having preferential interest rate.
The program has been co-ordinated from three different sources: MVA (Hungarian Foundation
for Enterprise Development) and the Hungarian-American Fund.
The program is co-ordinated by the Hungarian Foundation for Enterprise Development via the
national network of Local Enterprise Agencies (LEAs). Financial source of the program is
covered by the Phare Program of the European Union to which a supplementary source is
guaranteed from the Hungarian Government.
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6. Zemplén European Information Office
Our Enterprise Agency has been actively involved in both the elaboration
and the implementation of EU programs for 9 years now.
(Phare Partnership, Phare Credo, Leonardo Da Vinci).
Based on the result of our previous projects and condition system we issued initiatives
during 1999, which are all to prepare inhabitants living in the Zemplén region, in broader
sense in the tri-border region of Hungary-Slovakia and Ukraine, for the EU accession.
Our Enterprise Agency undertakes co-ordinating duties in preparations
made in the region and Getting support of the Delegation of the European Commission to
Hungary and the B.-A.-Z. County Region Development Council there has been a European
Union Information Office (Zemplén European Union Information Office) and Professional
Library established in the premises of the Enterprise Agency. Primary objective of the
office is to provide access to information on the EU and even to call for proposals
issued by the European Union.
Operation of our European Union Information Office is guaranteed
by professional assistance given by our thirteen national EU partner organizations
we have signed collaboration agreements with.
Furthermore, we are in daily contact not only with the Delegation of the European
Commission to Hungary, but also with several EU partners in Belgium and Northern
Ireland (U.K.).
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7.
Entrepreneurial Incubator House Program
The first stage of our Foundation's incubator program is the
establishment of the Entrepreneurs' House in Sátoraljaújhely.
The facility houses 12 enterprises at a reduced rental fee for a maximum of a
three-year period. The total useful area (almost 1000 sq. meters) has been converted
and renovated at the Foundation's cost with the help of the local businesses and
other sponsors. In addition to the office space, the entrepreneurs get basic
infrastructural services from the Enterprise Agency at cost price (copying, fax service,
conference room, etc.) The incubator House has been operating successfully for 11 years now.
The Enterprise Agency is located in the building and ensures the operation of the House and
the services for clients, too.
A managers' office in the Entrepreneurs' House is being furnished with the
renovation of an entrepreneurial yard (in the area behind the Entrepreneurs' House), where
we plan to provide space for temporary/periodic exhibitions and product shows for the regional
entrepreneurs. The first temporary exhibition - called Zemplén '97 was organized in
August 15-20, 1997. It was an opportunity for regional entrepreneurs to exhibit their products
in the field of sport, tourism and healthy way of life. Proceeding the tradition we organized
the exhibition and fair, called Zemplén '99 in 1999 with the participation of 30 exhibitors,
primarily of regional enterprises.
Currently there are 36 businesses operating in the Incubator House, its utilization is 100%.
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8. Interregional Program
Utilizing our beneficial geographic situation, we have started to build up
our contacts with Slovakian and Ukrainian partners since the beginning of the Enterprise Agency's
operation in order to co-ordinate the economic development of the tri-border region.
As a result of the previous years' successful jointly organized entrepreneurial events
(shows and fairs, business meetings, training programs), on November 4, 1994, we formally
established the Carpathian Border Region Economic Development Association (CBED) with the
participation of Slovakian and Ukrainian counterpart organizations in the border region.
And also established the Zemplén Euroregion and the Carpathian Incarrier Network with our
partners in 2004.
The Association started its work on the basis of the jointly developed
and announced program in 1995.
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We opened regional offices in Vel'ké Kapuany and Královsky Chelmec,
Slovakia and Uzhgorod, Ukraine; equipping them with technical equipment so our information
office network has been extended.
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We established a consistent tri-lingual unique entrepreneurial
database providing entrepreneurs with assistance in business partner-search.
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We organize international exhibitions and fairs, business
meetings in all the three countries.
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As for experience of previous years 50 regional entrepreneurs
could exhibit their products in the fairs for advantageous price including 350-400
participants attending our businessmen's meeting.
- Szerencs, Hegyaljai Gazdanapok;
- Ungvár, EXPO UZHGOROD;
- Nagykapos COPUS EXPO;
There has been a complex study made about the tri-border regional
entrepreneurial special zones and on border-crossing opportunities.
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We publish the Carpathian Business Review, an informational newsletter of CBED.
Quarterly in four languages (Hungarian, Slovakian, Ukrainian and English).
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The Reference, an economic TV program is broadcast 10 times a year and arranged by
the Zemplén TV Broadcasting Public Corporation.
As a result of our constantly broadening international relationships,
we have co-operative contacts with European countries such as Czech Republic, Romania,
Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, the United States, Northern Ireland, Belgium, P
ortugal, and Moldavia.
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9. Other Services
There are several other services available at the Enterprise
Agency for the clientele:
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provision of space for business talks, conferences and
other events at favourable prices,
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office services, faxing, copying,
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collecting entrepreneurial advertisements for
regional advertising papers,
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information on entrepreneurial real estate,
spaces for rent or sale,
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partner research, communication about goods
supply and demand.
According to our own assessment, the regional need for our services
and programs is substantial. Unfortunately, many of the foreign aid programs are gradually
decreasing in their size and scope; some of them are close to being stopped.
Our free or preferential services, if ended are not able to pay for by regional businesses.
On one hand local foundation sources have totally ended. On the other hand regional local
governments and businesses are not able to provide our foundation with significant donations.
Currently we have been financing our programs from both national and international proposals
and even from our modest entrepreneurial income.
Statistics about the client volume show approximately 38 thousand visits
of clients in our central office and satellite offices during the past 14 years. In addition
to this figure of registered clients, we have to add thousands of phone calls, and several
hundred informal talks and discussions with clients on the occasion of entrepreneurial events.
In spite of the depressed economic situation, the results of our work can be felt in the
region. Most of our clients became able to establish a business, employing themselves and
sometimes even their family members or could survive for a couple of years and did not go
bankrupt. Our own statistics say that more than 3,500 jobs have been created with direct or
indirect help from the Enterprise Agency in the Zemplén region. As a result of the development
of the regional businesses, an increase in the number of jobs can be predicted.
The Foundation is public and opened both domestic and foreign organizations legal entities,
companies without legal personality can join it through contributions in kind and property
donations.
Sátoraljaújhely, 15th July, 2005.
István Juhász
managing director
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