EXIM Hungary announces the winners of the first culture without borders scholarship competition

EXIM Hungary has for the first time awarded the winners of the scholarship competition launched under its Culture without Borders Programme. At the EXIM Awards gala, young contemporary Hungarian artists were honoured in the categories of fine arts and classical music, in addition to Hungarian financial institutions, in an unusual but – as anticipitated – tradition-making way. Among the applications submitted, first prize was awarded to Balázs Csizik, a visual artist from the Ani Molnár Gallery, and the pianist-cellist duo Domonkos Csabay and Domonkos Hartmann. The scholarship competition was organised under the professional auspices of the Art is Business Association with the aim of facilititating the international introduction of visual artists and chamber music groups.

EXIM Hungary, celebrating its 30th anniversary, has once again organised the EXIM Awards, where its partners are honoured every year. This year, for the first time, art also played a prominent role at the event, as the winners of the EXIM Hungary Culture Without Borders scholarship competition were also awarded.

The competition, organised under the auspices of the Art is Business Association, was open to entries in the categories of fine art and classical music. The aim of the niche arts scholarship is to help artists launch their international careers, with a particular focus on giving more young talent the opportunity to debut at international exhibitions, concert tours and festivals. The applications were judged by a jury of selected professionals, including Kornél Kisgergely, CEO of EXIM Hungary, Krisztina Szipőcs, Deputy Director of the Ludwig Museum and Linda Bérczi, owner of The Space Gallery, for fine arts, and Gergely Dubóczky, conductor, Júlia Pusker, violinist and Zoltán Fejérvári, pianist, for music.

The first prize in the fine arts category was awarded to the artist Balázs Csizik from the Molnár Ani Gallery, whose works were also on display at the pop-up exhibition at the gala. His works, created in a mixed technique, combine the visuality of abstract photography with the formal world of modern architecture in the relation between man and built space. A recurring element in his work is the tension between the man-made artificial world and nature.

The winner of the Classical Music category was the pianist-cellist duo, Domonkos Csabay and Domonkos Hartmann, who gave a short concert during the event. The artists first met through the Annie Fischer Performing Arts Scholarship, and their professional collaboration has been unbroken ever since. In their current experimental formation, they mix a variety of styles, combining classical, repetitive and ambient elements.

Winners of the scholarship competition can use the grant to build their international careers and bulid important networking contacts in their profession.

As part of the sponsorship and donation activities of EXIM Hungary, we place special emphasis on supporting Hungarian contemporary artists and enhancing their international visibility. Our Culture Without Borders Programme was launched in the spirit of our long-term commitment to supporting artists and creating social value, and the success of our first scholarship competition is demonstrated by the high number of applicants and the quality of the applications. I would like to congratulate the winners and wish them every success in embarking on their international careers.

– said Kornél Kisgergely, CEO of EXIM Hungary.

We have been closely following the links between the Hungarian corporate and art scene for several years, and rarely do we come across such a credible and value-based sponsorship as the scholarship programme of EXIM Hungary. The company is generously supporting young artists in two areas that are in line with the company’s strategic goals, while at the same time allowing Hungarian talents to freely practice their art and compete on the international stage.

– said Máté András Balogh, CEO of Art is Business Association.

EXIM Hungary sees strengthening its role in social value creation as a key part of its mission, in addition to developing the economy. It considers it important to conduct its activities in an environmentally and socially responsible and sustainable manner and to set an example in the financing ecosystem. To this end, it actively supports initiatives that contribute to social development in the fields of sport, culture, equal opportunities and sustainability.

EXIM Awards 2024: domestic financial institutions receive awards in 9 categories

The first winners of the EXIM Culture Without Borders programme supporting contemporary artists have also been announced.

EXIM Hungary, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, held its grand awards ceremony again this year. At the EXIM Awards gala, renowned Hungarian financial institutions were awarded for their outstanding role in bringing the credit and leasing facilities offered by EXIM Hungary to as many Hungarian companies as possible. The evening also saw the announcement of the winners of the EXIM Culture without Borders scholarship programme, which provides support to young, contemporary Hungarian artists.

The EXIM Awards gala, which recognises domestic financial institutions, was held this year at the Pesti Vigadó. The event was opened by Márton Nagy, Minister for National Economy, followed by a welcome speech by Kornél Kisgergely, CEO of EXIM Hungary.

EXIM Hungary, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, cooperates with around 40 financial institutions, which play a key role in making the financing schemes offered by EXIM Hungary available to a wide range of economic operators. The credit and leasing facilities granted with the help of the partner institutions account for a significant part of EXIM’s lending activity. In recognition of the performance of the financial institutions, EXIM Hungary awarded its partners in a total of 9 categories during the event.

OTP Bank Plc. was the winner in the category related to last year’s hit product, with László Wolf, Deputy CEO, receiving the Most Successful Refinancing Partner 2023 Award on behalf of the Bank. This year’s Most Dynamically Growing Refinancing Partner 2023 award was won by Granit Bank Ltd. and was accepted by Éva Hegedüs, President and CEO of the Bank. The SME Financier of the Year 2023 category was also won by OTP Bank Plc. The Most Active Leasing Company 2023 award was awarded to Euroleasing Ltd. The Treasury Partner of the Year 2023 was Erste Bank Hungary Ltd., on behalf of which Mihály Geiszbühl, Head of Capital Markets, accepted the award at the event. The next award, the Most Successful Green Refinancing Partner 2023, was granted to MBH Bank Plc., represented by Levente Szabó, Deputy CEO for Individual Services. The winner of the Leasing Company of the Year 2023 category was Merkantil Bank Ltd. This year, MBH Bank Plc. won the Bank of the Year 2023 award, which has been announced for the umpteenth year in a row, and was presented to Dr. Zsolt Barna, Chairman and CEO. Finally, the Zoltán Urbán Memorial Award 2023 was awarded to Raiffeisen Bank Ltd. The prize was received by Péter Csabai, Senior Specialist of the Department of Trade and Agricultural Finance, Structured Products.

The performance of EXIM Hungary improved significantly in 2023, as its balance sheet total increased by more than 70 percent. The Baross Gábor Reindustrialisation Loan Programme, which helped businesses at a critical time of credit crunch, played a significant role in this. The programme initially addressed liquidity and then, with an increased envelope, has specifically supported investment, helping to trigger the growth engines of the economy. Inflation is history, the government has successfully tackled it, and in 2024 the government aims to restore growth. Consumption and the domestic economy will recover; a challenge is the evolution of exports, mainly due to weak external markets. Overall, therefore, we need to return to the previous convergence path and restore financial stability and fiscal balance.

Minister for National Economy Márton Nagy underlined.

EXIM Hungary has been working for 30 years to help Hungarian companies achieve their international and domestic business goals and to contribute to the competitiveness of the Hungarian economy. We would not be able to accomplish this without our cooperating partners, who contributed to EXIM’s lending activities and thus to the long-term expansion plans of Hungarian companies with a large number of transactions also in 2023. This is why we created the EXIM Awards event: the gala gives us the opportunity to celebrate our joint successes and recognise the work of our partners. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank them for their joint efforts throughout the year to promote the success of Hungarian companies.

-said Dr. Adrienn Berta, Deputy CEO of EXIM Hungary.

The winners of two scholarship applications under the EXIM Culture Without Borders Programme were also announced at the event. The first step of the Art is Business programme was to support the applications launched under the auspices of Art is Business. The programme offers artists working in two artistic genres, classical music and visual arts, the opportunity to launch their international careers and build networks. The visual arts scholarship was awarded to Balázs Csizik of the Ani Molnár Gallery, whose pop-up exhibition was on view at the venue. The classical music scholarship was awarded to the chamber ensemble Duo Domo, by Domonkos Csabay and Domonkos Hartmann, who gave a short concert at the event. The programme is closely aligned with EXIM Hungary’s sponsorship and donation activities, where providing a wide range of opportunities for the Hungarian arts community is a key priority.

EXIM Hungary awarded ‘bond issuer of the year’ at the Budapest Stock Exchange Best Awards

Mihály Hoffmann, our Deputy Chief Financial Officer, accompanied by Ákos Dölle, Treasury Director, received the “Bond Issuer of the Year” award at the Budapest Stock Exchange’s gala ceremony. For more than two decades, the awards ceremony has been organised by the Budapest Stock Exchange to honour the outstanding performances of domestic capital market players of the previous year.

This time, the Budapest Stock Exchange awarded prizes in 25 categories, and the awards were based on the opinion of a professional jury consisting of members of the Exchange Advisory Board and the market performance of the stock exchange actors. This year, EXIM Hungary was the winner in the category “Bond Issuer of the Year”.

2023 was an outstanding year for EXIM Hungary in many ways. At the beginning of the year, the Baross Gábor Reindustrialisation Loan Programme was launched, offering preferential schemes to domestic companies. It is also due to this programme that Eximbank’s loan portfolio increased by almost 50 percent last year. To finance dynamic growth, EXIM is pursuing a diversified fundraising strategy, which in addition to its presence in international markets also includes an important domestic HUF bond issuance activity. In 2023, we issued an outstanding amount of bonds with a nominal value of more than HUF 913 billion on the Budapest Stock Exchange, attracting strong investor interest. In total, 30 auctions were held, all of which concluded successfully, with the volume placed exceeding the amount advertised in all cases.

We are proud and grateful for the prize in the category ‘Bond Issuer of the Year’ at the Budapest Stock Exchange Best Awards, which is also an important feedback for us.

Applicants rushing to apply for the Baross Gábor loan scheme

Hungarian companies can use EXIM Hungary’s preferential funds for investments

Another milestone has been reached in the Baross Gábor Reindustrialisation Loan Programme, which was reopened on 15 January. In just over a month, EXIM Hungary has received enough applications from Hungarian companies to exhaust the HUF 200 billion additional credit programme. In total, 150 loan applications have been submitted by the applicant companies in order to achieve their investment objectives. Given the high level of interest, the acceptance of loan applications is suspended and the evaluation of the applications received is in progress.

Interest in preferential loans from Hungarian companies is unabated: the resources of the Baross Gábor Loan Programme, which was increased by HUF 200 billion, have been fully covered by loan applications from interested companies in just one month. This means that the financing envelope is full and the loan applications are now being assessed. A total of 150 applications for loan products with even more favourable financing conditions have been received by EXIM Hungary since the reopening on 15 January 2024. 84% of the applications for the Baross Gábor Loan Programme for investment support are for loans in Euro. Of the applications received to date, 97 transactions worth around HUF 135 billion have been approved by EXIM Hungary, all of which have been registered through EXIM’s refinancing partners. 36% of the approved applications are from SMEs, while in terms of sectoral distribution, 47.4% are from the manufacturing sector, mainly from Budapest, Pest, Bács-Kiskun and Fejér counties.

In order to offset the drastic increase in energy prices and the negative effects of the high interest rate and inflation environment, the Government decided to prolong the popular loan programme in 2024. Through EXIM Hungary, domestic companies can apply for loans with interest rates of up to 5% in HUF and up to 3% in EUR, with a maximum ten-year maturity, on even more favourable terms than before. Companies operating in the food, construction, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, tourism and hospitality, automotive suppliers and logistics sectors can apply for the loan programme.

The investment incentive loan scheme also aims to increase international competitiveness, improve the technology of suppliers and ensure compliance with international standards through sustainability investments. The loan programme also provides opportunities to support foreign and domestic capital investment to enhance the success of companies in the designated sectors. The envelope of HUF 200 billion can be used to finance investments in manufacturing and service activities, foreign investment, logistics, transport and production assets through low-interest loans in HUF and Euro, and leasing facilities.

We have been working for thirty years to help Hungarian companies achieve their international and domestic business goals. The Baross Gábor Loan Programme is also a huge milestone in the life of EXIM Hungary, as it enables us to contribute to the success of Hungarian companies with a larger volume than ever before, HUF 1200 billion. Although the HUF 200 billion additional funding has already been used up, our long-term goal is to support Hungarian companies in achieving their growth targets with preferential financing instruments, thus supporting the emergence of new nationally prominent companies.

– said Kornél Kisgergely, CEO of EXIM Hungary.

Following the Government’s decision, EXIM Hungary launched the Baross Gábor Reindustrialisation Loan Programme in February 2023, whose schemes have been a great success from the very beginning. In less than 3 months after the launch of the programme, the contracted loan portfolio exceeded HUF 500 billion and reached HUF 1,000 billion in early January 2024. Under the Baross Gábor Loan Programme 2023-2024, 3,410 loan applications were received for a total of nearly HUF 1,854 billion. This makes the Baross Gábor Reindustrialisation Loan Programme, which has now reached HUF 1,200 billion, not only one of the most sought-after financing schemes in EXIM Hungary’s 30-year history, but also one of the most successful loan programmes Hungary has ever implemented.

Companies get prepared: The Baross Gábor reindustrialisation loan programme continues with HUF 200-billion additional funding

EXIM Hungary offers HUF loans at up to 5 percent and euro loans at up to 3 percent interest in 2024 to stimulate investment

EXIM Hungary will continue the highly successful Baross Gábor Reindustrialisation Loan Programme with even more favourable financing conditions. The government has decided to raise the amount of the loan programme by HUF 200 billion, so EXIM Hungary will continue to provide priority support for industries that play a key role in Hungary’s economic growth, as well as for investments in sustainability and energy efficiency through the Baross Gábor Loan Programme in 2024.

The Baross Gábor Re-industrialisation Loan Programme will continue next year, with EXIM Hungary being able to finance the scheme with another HUF 200 billion, following the government’s decision to raise the total budget of the programme, launched in February 2023, to HUF 1,200 billion. With the increased amount, EXIM Hungary aims to help ensure that domestic companies with high growth potential in the automotive, food, pharmaceutical, construction, logistics, tourism and hospitality and telecommunications sectors are financed. In addition to investments related to manufacturing and services, EXIM will support Hungarian companies investing abroad, finance logistics, transport and production equipment, and support investments in sustainability and energy efficiency transition.

The interest rates on investment loans and leases available to operators in these industries are even more favourable than in the 2023 scheme. This means that one of the most successful loan programmes of all times will not only support investment recovery, but also protect jobs and economic growth. EXIM Hungary offers SMEs and large companies 10-year loans and 5-year leases with interest rates of up to 5% in HUF and up to 3% in EUR. Applications can be submitted in the usual way to commercial banks or leasing companies, but companies can also apply for financing directly from EXIM.

It has been almost a year since the launch of the Baross Gábor Reindustrialisation Loan Programme, which has enabled us to actively support hundreds of Hungarian businesses in a targeted manner. At the same time, we still believe that EXIM Hungary’s counter-cyclical activities and additional preferential loan products are necessary to put domestic companies on a new development path. Seeing the high demand and customer satisfaction, we welcome the Government’s decision to continue the Baross Gábor Loan Programme. Thanks to this, EXIM Hungary can contribute to strengthening the long-term growth potential of the Hungarian economy by improving the competitiveness of businesses.

-said Kornél Kisgergely, CEO of EXIM Hungary.

On 1 February 2023, the Government launched the Baross Gábor Reindustrialisation Loan Programme, one of the largest ever government loan programmes in Hungary, worth HUF 700 billion. The aim of the Loan Programme is to support the entire domestic manufacturing and service sector by improving the competitiveness of the enterprises applying for loans. Three schemes were launched: a working capital loan, an investment loan and a green investment loan. In view of the high interest, the Government decided on 10 March to extend the credit line and then increased it to HUF 1 000 billion.

The Baross Gábor Re-industrialisation Loan Programme is a great help to domestic businesses, as higher interest rates are significantly restraining growth, while companies’ demand for credit remains high. As of mid-December, EXIM Hungary had received 3,255 loan applications under the Baross Gábor Loan Programme for a total of HUF 1,563 billion. Of these, HUF 691 billion were applications for working capital, HUF 561 billion for investment loans (including leasing) and HUF 311 billion for real estate loans. Around 73% of the HUF 950 billion contracted so far has been disbursed, for a total of HUF 700 billion. 69% of all contracts were signed with SME customers, while 15% of companies with at least 250 employees in Hungary benefited from the preferential resources of the Baross Gábor Loan Programme. In terms of contract amounts, most of the funds are channelled to the trade, food, construction, transport and storage, agriculture, rubber, metal and chemical and automotive sectors.

EXIM Hungary supporting promising Hungarian artists

Young, contemporary Hungarian artists are being offered support to launch their international careers through a scholarship programme supported by the Culture without Borders Programme of EXIM Hungary and managed by the Art is Business Association. The aim of the niche arts scholarship competition is to give visual artists and chamber music groups the opportunity to present their work at international fairs and to participate in concert tours and music festivals abroad.

In the framework of EXIM Hungary’s Culture without Borders Programme, the Art is Business Association is launching two scholarship applications for visual artists and chamber music groups in order to promote the international careers of the selected artists. Young Hungarian talents in the two non-verbal genres, classical music and visual arts, have a strong potential for success, but building relationships and finding opportunities to present themselves are essential to a real breakthrough. In order to give more aspiring Hungarian artists the opportunity to showcase their talents, EXIM Hungary is supporting the two art competitions with its value-creating initiative. The jury of the applications is composed of renowned Hungarian experts, in addition to the CEO of EXIM Hungary, Kornél Kisgergely. The members of the fine arts jury are Krisztina Szipőcs, Deputy Director of the Ludwig Museum and Linda Bérczi, owner of The Space Gallery; the classical music jury is composed of conductor Gergely Dubóczky, violinist Júlia Pusker and pianist Zoltán Fejérvári.

Both as a financial institution and as an employer, it is important for us to play a role beyond our core business activities, to actively contribute to the creation of social value. In this context, EXIM Hungary strives to provide support or grants to the contemporary art scene, among others, thus contributing to Hungarian culture and the professional careers of ambitious Hungarian artists.

– said Kornél Kisgergely, CEO of EXIM Hungary.

EXIM Hungary provides support in the field of arts in line with its business, marketing and communication strategy. Linking art and business can, on the one hand, be a source of inspiration for the development of innovation-based economies, and on the other hand, cultural links can also be economic bridges, facilitating product flows and conversion into capital assets. It can also be seen as a laboratory for research and development of cultures. This is why EXIM Hungary gives priority in its support and funding activities to all initiatives that help contemporary Hungarian artists to enter the international arena and gain recognition. The newly launched EXIM Culture without Borders Programme ensures a long-term commitment to supporting art.

The competition is implemented by the Art is Business Association, a value-based platform that brings together actors from the corporate, private and art scenes to create collaborations based on shared knowledge. The platform is based on the Art is Business print and online media, the Connections events, the Art is Business Awards, corporate and arts trainings, the Art and Events agency service, and the community and the Circle of Friends of Art is Business.