NewsLetter

Office vacancy rate set to fall to 14–16%, says Ecostat

The office vacancy rate in Budapest is set to fall to 14–16% in 2005, according to a quarterly survey by economic research institute Ecostat.

Tourism revenues up 17% in January–March

Tourism revenues at commercial accommodations in Hungary were up 17% to HUF 35.4 billion (USD 189 million) in the first quarter 2005, according to data released by the Central Statistical Office (KSH). During March alone, revenues reached HUF 14.1 billion, representing an increase of 15.5% over March 2004.

Venture capital investments total EUR 108 million in 2004

Investments by venture capital funds totaled EUR 108 million in Hungary last year, according to figures released by the Hungarian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (MKME). While this is a slight decline from the previous year's EUR 117 million, the number of venture capital transactions increased from 32 in 2003 to 41 last year.

OTP to pre-finance direct agricultural subsidies, placing HUF 30 billion in loans this year

OTP, Hungary's largest commercial bank, has launched a new loan product for the pre-financing of agricultural direct payments, expecting to provide HUF 30 billion (USD 155 million) of the new loans to farmers this year, OTP deputy CEO Laszlo Wolf announced.