Debrecen is situated in the middle of the territory
east of the river Tisza and along the western border of Transylvania, a mostly silted
flat territory between the Nyírség and Hajdúhát.
The investment of motorway no. 3. has been started, its construction brings great
advantage to our region. At the moment the end-point of the motorway section is Görbeháza. The joint intersection of
the motorway is 35 kms away from our city and we can add that the end point of the motorway will reach Debrecen by
the end of 2006. In relation with the construction of ring-road no. 4. has also started due to which it will be
more easy to approach our city.
From the direction of Budapest, Debrecen can be approached through motorway no.3. and
highway no.4. Highway no.4. provides connection to Ukraine, through Nyíregyháza. Highway no. 35. and motorway
no. 3. connect the city with Miskolc and Budapest, and also with the Slovak Republic.
Highway no. 33., which crosses Hortobágy and connected to motorway no. 3.,
gives access to Heves county and Eger, and a fast access to Budapest, its modernisation was finished in 2004.
Debrecen is the largest railway junction of the Eastern
Hungarian region. Inter City trains ensure quick accessibility of the other
parts of the country. Express trains running between Záhony and Vienna connect
Debrecen into the railway network of Western Europe.
Debrecen Airport is a regional, international airport in the Northern Great
Plains Region of Hungary. Being a logistic intersection this airport is destined to have a leading
role among the tools of economic development. Its owner is the Municipality of Debrecen City of County Rank.
The operator of the airport is Airport Debrecen Ltd., which is a property of Debrecen Property Administrator Jsc.
That coordinates, organizes and finances the developments.
A complex development programme started in 2001, of which most important achievements
were carried out in 2004. The result of these investments enabled such quality of infrastructure,
that is suitable for scheduled flights and is in accordance with EU standards and international regulations as well:
- Renovated facilities
- Continuous customs clearance and frontier defence
- Modern navigation system with up-to-date lighting system; ILS landing system, that ensures safe
take off and landing irrespectively to weather conditions.
- Guarding and patrolling in accordance with international safety regulations
- Up-to-date, international, computer-guided passenger and luggage checking system
- Modern catastrophe protection system
In 2004 Debrecen Regional International Airport was qualified by the Hungarian Government into an international
airport with a permanent customs barrier. On the base of this qualification the airport became officially licensed
the same level as Budapest Ferihegy International Airport.
Thanks to its conditions and the provided services the airport is able to welcome almost all types of planes flying
in Europe. In 2004 the airport launched charter flights to Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia and Greece.
Scheduled flights will be started to Munich from May 2005 by CívisAir air company, which is formed jointly by Airport
Debrecen Ltd. and OLT Gmbh.. The air company wishes to satisfy the needs of citizens of the town and the region,
businesspersons, habitants of eastern border region, and investors to Hungary at a high-standard.
In Munich, passengers starting from Hungary can change to flights aimed to hundreds of European cities and to
dozens of overseas cities, that means of connecting our city and region into the world's international air traffic.
For further information visit these web pages and contact e-mail addresses:
Telecommunication
One of the most significant characteristics of the telephone
service is that Debrecen is one of the 9 telecommunications exchanges of the
country. All of the settlements are connected to the international telecommunication
and mobile connection are available all over the county.
In Debrecen information transmission is quickened by the up-to-date
digital telephone exchange and the ISDN telephone lines.
Considering the mobile telephone network, Debrecen and
the whole county is connected into the network of the companies present in
Hungary. The development of the computer network connecting the
higher educational institutions started in 1993. In the course of the extension
of the network the buildings of the County and City Municipal Government,
primary and secondary schools, as well as public institutions were also connected to the system.
The intelligent city IT project has been implemented in 2002.
Education
Debrecen is the intellectual centre
of Tiszántúl and has been known as an educational centre for centuries.
On the 1st January 2000 the Medical University of Debrecen, Agricultural
University of Debrecen, the Wargha István Teachers' Training Collage of Hajdúböszörmény,
the Ybl Miklós Collage of Technology and the Liszt Ferenc Musical Academy, the Lajos Kossuth
University of Arts and Sciences were integrated into one institution and the University of
Debrecen has been established. Other prominent educational institutions are: University of
Theology and Ferenc Kölcsey Teachers' Training College.
Education takes place in 51 schools of primary level, 7 vocational
and 25 secondary schools of secondary level, covering over 150 crafts.
(The list of secondary schools and their data is attached.
See Annex 1.)
The number of research-workers within the higher education institutes and research institutes,
such as the Institute of Nuclear Research, exceeds 1,600.
Tourism
Debrecen with its tourism conditions is considered to be the most popular place in Hajdú-Bihar County.
The city's attractivity to tourists is associated mainly with its history, religious traditions and cultural values.
In the past few years conference and business tourism has become very popular in Debrecen.
The Medicinal Bath, situated in the Big Forest of Debrecen, has been the centre of medicinal
tourism for decades. The four-star spa-hotel opened in 1998 meets western-European standards with its
lecture and conference halls, air-conditioned premises, serves the goals of therapeutic tourism, and can put up 256 people.
In June 2003 a new establishment, called the Aquaticum, opened up, which is ensures wellness
services in a Mediterranean milieu. Recent experiences show that these are very successful in among native
and foreign guests.
Important sights of Debrecen and its vicinity:
Historical city center. As the city's traditions required, in 2001 the Municipality
finished execution of the walking area of the inner city, which resulted a
European-scale urbanisation development.
Kossuth Square with The Great Reformed Church
Reformed College
Déri Museum
Csokonai Theatre
The Big Forest
The nature conservation area of Fancsika
The Medicinal Bath of the Big Forest
Hajdúszoboszló, the holiday centre, famous for its spa, is 21 kms far from Debrecen.
Hortobágy, the largest national park in the country and a unique natural geographical area in Europe is situated in the vicinity of the town. Recently it has been declared as part of World's heritage.
Public education and culture
Hajdú-Bihar County has ten museums of nationally dignified collections.
From all of them the best-known is Déri Museum.
University Library and the Library of the Reformed College, which has a four hundred years history,
are also prominent in the cultural life of the city
Typical institutes of public education is Csokonai Theatre, where high standard
performances guarantee quality cultural recreation.
The Kodály Choir of Debrecen, the Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vojtina Puppet Group are world-famous.
Media communication institutions of the city, local TV and radio stations also take part of the public education.
Annually several constant and periodical exhibitions and programs are organized in our town
In 2002 the Foenix programme hall was opened which is one of the large scale sport
and cultural investments of the region. Recently several national and international
programmes were held in the establishment.
This programme hall enriches the educational, the cultural-, and sport life of the country,
and the region.
Tourism is based on the cultural programmes and events of the city:
Traditional Masked-ball Programmes
Debrecen Spring Festival
Summer Programmes, Civic Promenade
Debrecen Flower-Carnival
Debrecen Autumn Festival
Christmas Work of Art Auction
Fonix programmes
Service industry
In recent years Debrecen has regained its function as the commercial centre
of the region this is proved by the establishment of several commercial centres, malls, and retail outlets.
The total amount of the investments made within last 8 years exceeds
HUF 20 billion.
Cora, which satisfies the customers' all kind of needs in wide range, was opened
in 2002.
One of the favourite commercial in the city is Debrecen Plaza, wich has benn operating for four years and still very popular
The number of catering establishments in the city is
1,524.
The number of financial institutions in Debrecen is
25. (See the list of banks having branches in the town in Appendix 2.)
More than 60% of the economically active population
works in the service industry. The list of insurance companies, the main transport
companies and the data of the most important local authorities and institutions
are attached in Appendix 3.
Economic and social factors
The characteristics of economic life
There are 26,000 registered enterprises in Debrecen and its vicinity, that represent
three-fourth of all the establishments and individuals engaged in economic activities
within Hajdú-Bihar County. More than 50% of the enterprises having their seat in Hajdú-Bihar
County concentrated on county town. Foreign individuals and companies own four hundred
of the enterprises located in the County, partly or entirely.
Most of the foreign capital is invested to industry (97%). Most investors are coming from Germany and Italy.
The traditional industrial branches of Hajdú-Bihar County are: food industry,
printing industry, leather processing, furniture manufacturing, pharmaceutical production,
surgical and therapeutic instruments productions production of surgical instruments,
production of teaching articles, production and repair of railway trains.
Agricultural machine and roller bearing production,
pharmaceutical industry, and plastic processing appeared in Debrecen's industrial
life from the 1950s.
Food processing further developed by the establishment
of Kaba Sugar Factory and the preserving factories in Debrecen and Biharkeresztes.
New textile and machine plants were set up in some cities
of the county. The plastic industry of the region was enlarged by the settlement
of Curver in Ebes.
Location
The distance of the settlement from Budapest (on public
road): 220 kms
Settlement's distance from the nearest motorway:
35 kms
The distance of the settlement from the nearest frontier
station: 35 kms
Inhabitants, unemployment
The number of inhabitants: 211.000 persons
Number and composition of unemployed:
Number of unemployed with higher education degree: 921 persons
Number of unemployed with secondary education: 2 123 persons
Number of unemployed skilled workers: 10 840 persons
Number of unemployed unskilled workers: 13 647 persons
The composition of the employees:
Number of intellectuals: 47 490 persons
Number of manual workers: 71 034 persons
Number of semi-skilled and unskilled workers: 35 000 persons
Unemployment rate: 7.61 %
Owing to the role of Debrecen as an educational centre, the unemployed population
living in the city are better qualified than the county or national average.
Number and proportion of the registered unemployed living in Hajdú-Bihar County and Debrecen
| Categories |
Hajdú-Bihar County |
Debrecen |
| Number of the registered unemployed (person) |
27 779 |
8 750 |
| Unemployment rate (%) |
7.61 |
6.1 |
| Number of young school leavers registered as unemployed (person) |
3 134 |
1 071 |
| Number of registered vacancies |
1 435 |
479 |
At the end of 2000 the proportion of the economically
active population, compared to the number of inhabitants, was 65.8%, that aggregates 136,200 people.
The number of economically active people
has shown a growing tendency since 1996. Consequently, there is still oversupply
in the labour market of Debrecen. Debrecen has skilled labour at the would-be
investor's disposal.
The living conditions of the inhabitants:
Average monthly salary of employees (Ft): 85,250
HUF
(Salaries of managers have not been taken into consideration.)
intellectuals: 95,500 HUF
manual workers: 75,000 HUF
managers: 195,000 HUF
Lodging possibilities:
At the end of 2004 there were almost 140 thousands of accommodation
units in the Debrecen agglomeration, that makes 63% of all the accommodation
units in Hajdú-Bihar Country. This proportion rose by 1% compared to that
of the year 1990. The number of inhabitants decreased by 1% in the region,
at the same time the number of accommodation units increased by 5.8%.
After housing estates, most people live in the suburban residential area,
- almost 61,000 people - that is 29% of the city's inhabitants. The city centre and
the sorrounding traditional residential ring represent 13% of the population.
Rate of people living in villa hardly exceed 10%.
Price of new flats with every modern conveniences (HUF/m2):
200.000-350.000 HUF/m2. The price of lodgings depend on the building method,
the technical equipment, and on the position of the estate.
Employment structure indicators:
Rate of employees in agriculture(%): 10 %
Rate of employed in the industry: 35.8 %
Rate of employed in the service sector: 40.5 %
Building industry, commerce, catering, transportation: 13.7 %
Industry
There are approximately 200 industrial plants working in the agglomeration that makes 54% of all
the industrial plants located in the County. The industrial plants of the agglomeration employ 26,000
persons that is 77% of the industrial employees in Hajdú-Bihar County.
More significant foreign investors settled
in our town, their activities and number of their employees:
Foreign capital is mostly invested in industry
(97%)
Curver
Háztartási Termékek Kft. (France) plastic processing
Daewoo
Corporation (Korea) machine industry
Eastern
Sugar Bv (England,France) food industry
Isar Amperwerke AG (Germany) energetics
Julius
Meinl International (Austria) retail trade
Kyowa
Hakko Kogyo Co. Ltd. (Japan) chemical industry
Metro
A.G. (Switzerland) wholesale trade
Praktiker
GmbH. (Austria) retail trade
Profi
Magyarország Kft. retail trade
Reemtsma
Zigarettenfabrik GmbH (Germany) tobacco industry
SNAM
S.P.A. (Italy) energetics
Societa
Italiana Per Il Gas (Italy) energetics
Tengelmann
Csoport (Germany) retail trade
TESCO
Plc. (Great Britain) retail trade
Teva
Pharmacentical Industries Ltd. (Israel) pharmaceutical industry
Lasselsberger
Hunária Ltd. - concrete production
National Instruments (Austin, USA) hardware,
software
Cora
retail trade
FAG
Automotive and Components
BUMET
Hungary Ltd. machine engineering
Hungaerotech Kft.
plain pieces production
TSUBAKI Hoover Hungary Ltd. (Japan) - precision steel bearingball production
Agriculture
Hajdú-Bihar County is one of the most significant agricultural
centres of the country. At the end of 2004 there were 1.500 enterprises within
the Debrecen agglomeration in the field of agriculture, wild game husbandry,
silviculture and fishery, that figured out more than 50% of all the enterprises
in Hajdú-Bihar County with the same scope of activity.
Local taxes and possible allowances
In consideration with the operative current local tax
laws on the basis of individual agreement. (Appendix 5.)
