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 MAGYAR KERESKEDELMI ES IPARKAMARA
Kossuth Lajos ter 6-8, Cod postal: 1055, BUDAPEST, Ungaria
Tel.: +36 66 324976
mkik@mkik.hu; www.mkik.hu |
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Brief history
In Hungary the first decree concerning the establishment of chambers of commerce and industry was the royal letter-patent of 18 March 1850. The first Hungarian Chamber Act was promulgated in 1868 and remained in force until 1934. This Act imposed compulsory membership on all traders, craftsmen, and trading and industrial companies in Hungary.
After the Second World War, a government decree abolished the chambers of commerce and industry. There were no legal successors and the assets of the chambers were transferred to the Treasury.
Later - in 1948 - the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce, a body closely aligned to the state, was established. In 1985 this institution was renamed the Hungarian Chamber of Economy. It was charged with the task of reconciling and representing the interests of the entire Hungarian economy, but it also had to perform the classical functions of a chamber.
Act XVI of 1994 on the Chambers of Economy provided for the reintroduction of the chambers as bodies of public law. The Act stated that the chambers were to be responsible for fostering the development and organisation of the economy, for encouraging business growth, guaranteeing fair market practices, and assisting the general and joint promotion of interests amongst those conducting business activities. Under the Chamber Act, the chambers became bodies of public law, and their operations were based on the self-government principle. Companies and entrepreneurs automatically became members of the chambers.
On the basis of the new Chamber Act adopted by Parliament in 1999, the Government abolished compulsory chamber membership as of November 2000. There are currently approx. 45,000 members (small, medium and large enterprises) of the national chamber.
In the wake of the changes, the tasks of public administration formerly carried out by the Chamber are no longer the responsibility of the economic self-government. The reorganised body now has different rights and obligations. The promotion of economic interests and the influencing of decisions in various professional fields are now – more than ever before – vitally important to the Chamber. For setting up the voluntary system, the Act prescribed extraordinary chamber elections, which took place on 30 October 2000. Dr. László Parragh, the CEO of Parragh Rt. became the President.
The conference of delegates in 2004 re-elected Dr. László Parragh as the President of the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for another four-year period.
It is obvious that enterprises will be keen to join the Chamber if they are offered something in return. The basic task of the new professional chamber is lobbying and the support of capital exports, while promoting the trade of SMEs. The Chamber's programme includes the revival of the business interest promotion organisation, safeguarding the interests of Hungarian entrepreneurs, and ensuring that the Chamber becomes service-oriented. The Chamber should be managed in the same manner as a large company.
At the international level, the Chamber's objectives include the provision of assistance to Hungarian entrepreneurs in foreign markets, in particular preparing them for successful contribution to the European integration, and the creation of opportunities to co-operate with the business world of neighbouring countries. The international relationships developing amongst chambers are worth mentioning - bilateral co-operation agreements have been signed with almost all neighbouring countries - and the Chamber has joined the multinational co-operation agreement of the chambers in CEFTA countries. In 1996, the Hungarian National Commission of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC Hungary) was set up in Budapest.
The Chamber's history
26 May 1848 - The first step towards the establishment of chambers of commerce and industry in Hungary.
18 March 1850 - Royal decree, a provisional Act regulating the operations of chambers.
4 May 1868 - Act VI stipulates obligatory registration, and the joint representation of trade and industry.
16-18 December 1871 - The first universal meeting of chambers.
1924 - The national chamber is given stock exchange regulation assignments.
1940 - The self-government of chambers is dissolved.
1944 - The Szálasi government suspends the operations of chambers.
1945 - The chambers of trade and industry are re-established, and play a substantial role in rebuilding the country.
1948 - The Hungarian chamber is nationalised, its assets are confiscated, and its self-government is abolished
1985 - A law-decree (law-decree 11 of 1985) assigns extra tasks to the Hungarian Chamber of Economy.
The Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is re-established on the basis of Act XVI of 1994 (which entered into force on 6 April 1994). The constituent conference of delegates takes place on 21 December 1994.
On 1 January 1995, the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as an associate member of the Brussels-based Eurochambre, begins participating in the joint work of the European chambers.
1996 - The Hungarian National Commission of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC Hungary) is set up in Budapest.
Act CXXI of 1999 on the 'chambers of economy'.
30 October 2000 - The newly elected President of the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is Dr. László Parragh.
1 November 2000 - Obligatory chamber membership is abolished.
29 October 2004 - The HCCI conference of delegates re-elects Dr. László Parragh as the President. |
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