European cooperation in the construction press

For the first time, the Building Connections 2019 conference (BC) was held in Kecskemét, bringing together construction journalists from seven Central European countries. The aim of the initiative launched by magyarepitok.hu and Regon Group is to create a European network of contacts to take advantage of the opportunities offered by cooperation. According to the organisers, this cooperation is intended to create an opportunity for the entering press companies and professional associations to build contacts and establish communication channels. 

The event, held at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Kecskemét, started with a welcome speech by László Mosóczi, representing the event's patron, Minister of Innovation and Technology László Palkovics. The State Secretary for Transport Policy highlighted that the Hungarian construction industry grew by a total of 85 percent between 2016 and 2018, and its share in GDP is increasing. This momentum can be expected to continue in the coming years, as the sector can expect an order book of HUF 25,000 billion between 2018 and 2023.  

The State Secretary also referred to the role of the press relations event. "It's very important to share information to find out what's happening in the construction industry in neighbouring countries or even further afield. Technological developments are also necessary for the dynamic development that is now taking place, and cooperation between press organs of different nationalities can be of great help."

The conference continued with introductory presentations by the participating organisations, after which BC participants developed a 21-point document as a basis for future cooperation. A non-profit organisation has been established to achieve the goals set and its membership is growing.

Akos Szabó, deputy editor-in-chief of magyarepitok.hu, was elected president of the BC, while Reneta Nikolova, editor-in-chief of Vestnik Stroitel, Bulgaria, was elected vice-president.

The next Bulding Connections conference will take place in Bulgaria in May 2020. 

In the creation of the Building Connections media association 

• magyarepitok.hu and the Regon Group, 
• the Bulgarian Vestnik Stroitel, 
• the Austrian Starmuehler Agentur und Verlag,
• Nova24 TV in Slovenia and Demokracija.si, also in Slovenia,
• the Macedonian Alfa TV and the equally Macedonian kurir.mk,
• the Romanian Agenda Constructiilor,
• and representatives of the Ukrainian Budyvelny Journal.

On the second day of the conference, the guests toured the Puskás Ferenc Stadium in Budapest, which is nearing completion. The largest domestic project of the last decades is being built exclusively with the cooperation of Hungarian companies: the 65,000-seat arena is being built by Magyar Építő Zrt. and ZÁÉV Zrt.; the structural design was carried out by West Hungária Bau Kft. and Épkar Zrt.; the steel structures were made and installed by KÉSZ Ipari Gyártó Kft., and Épszerk-Pannónia Invest Kft. also worked on the project.

The final event of the Building Connections was another press tour, where participants visited the new 53-hectare BudaPart project. The Property Market development will see a total of 600,000 square metres of office and residential space built in six phases. In the first phase, Market Építő Zrt. will construct BudaPart Gate, an 11-storey office building that will be ready for tenants to occupy this year - the project mezzanine of the facility will be carried out by Spányi Partners Zrt..