A new organisation – called Middle-Danube Regional Economy Development Platform – was established: on Friday, 10 December the largest employers of the city signed the agreement in the General meeting conference room of the City Hall. At the ceremony the Mayor of Dunaújváros, Cserna Gábor, welcomed the parties signing the agreement. Beyond the Municipality of Dunaújváros City of County Rank, the agreement was also signed by the College of Dunaújváros, ISD Dunaferr Co. Ltd., Hankook Tire Hungary Ltd., Hamburger Hungary Ltd., Ferrobeton Co. Ltd., executed by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Dunaújváros.

The signing parties were represented by the top managers; beyond the Mayor and Králik Gyula, Chairman of the Chamber, dr. Bognár László, President of the College, Valeriy Naumenko, Chief Executive Officer of ISD Dunaferr, Lee Sang Il, Managing Director of Hankook Tire Hungary, Bencs Attila, Managing Director of Hamburger Hungary and Juhász Péter, Chief Executive Officer of Ferrobeton signed the Platform agreement.

— I was active in public life and had different duties for almost twenty years now— said Cserna Gábor in his welcome speech. — Concerning reaching agreements I always had in mind that it is worth doing only if they will be used efficiently and not only have some kind of a role in the protocol of the participating parties or only represent obligations to sign something in order to create a spectacular event, but result in starting a meritorious work. When I received the invitation card for today's event and read about the platform conception I said that this is an initiative, which is deemed to have an absolute success, if performed wisely. Based on the agreement an efficient organisation might develop. The leader of the city explained that the large companies of Dunaújváros have managed their fields based on their own economy development programs up to this point. The Municipality of Dunaújváros performed these tasks without having any agreements and without making decisions on economy development steps based on conciliation of interests and objectives between the companies and the city, although some level of conciliation and contact existed. This is the reason why he considers this agreement to have a historical significance.

Cserna Gábor pointed out that the agreement is supported by the steps of the Orbán-government as well on this field: according to the government a lot more efficient organisations are necessary, than present economy development conception and cooperation; additionally the objectives of the New Széchenyi Plan – effective from 15 January – also adapts to this.

— And the activities of the independent Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Dunaújváros mean a special pleasure for me — continued the leader of the city. It is not my task and I would not like to exaggerate the appraisal of their work, because I already did it this week at another event (in course of signing the Chamber agreement concerning development of main road No. 8 — the Editor), but I will repeat it here as well that I am extremely proud of the successful lobbying activities performed in order to establish an independent Chamber for the city of Dunaújváros of county rank, representing the interests of the region and the people living in the city, just like in Sopron and in some other cities.

According to the Mayor the intellectual potentials of the College are also necessary for performing the work to be started in 2011, ensuring a stable background. He emphasized that they create an open platform, thus they welcome those economically significant companies as well, which are interested in joining the platform and agree on the set targets.

The most important objectives of the platform are the following: participation of the contracting parties in assessment of the economical and societal requirements of the region, in preparation and cooperation of the development conception and strategy, with special attention to issues of economical, regional and educational development. Achievement of a more competitive vocational education in the city and in the region stands especially close to the heart of the Mayor, as he is the former Vice Mayor of human issues.

On behalf of the Chamber – undertaking the role of the executor - Králik Gyula, Chairman, talked about the objectives of the platform. He set out that by conciliation of the strategy of large local companies, such a regional economic development strategy could evolve, which we all can adopt, because it will be a collective strategy. If the national, county level and regional requirements and the interests of other municipalities will be considered at the time of preparing the economy development strategy, than the strategy of regional development, education, human policy, innovation and culture of our region could be established. The Chairman of the Chamber also said that in February a larger conference will be organised, when hopefully – according to preliminary news – Ministers, Under-Secretaries of State will participate and make a statement. He also asked the participating organisations, company managers to participate at the conference, if possible, and assist in the work by giving lectures.

Answering a question from a journalist Králik Gyula explained that they were thinking about a suitable name for the Platform for a long time and they chose the name Middle-Danube Regional Economy Development Platform, because this term embraces an adequately wide geological area and both areas, connected by the Danube Bridge, may join the organisation. The municipalities of the surrounding towns will surely do that. However, due to the city’s role of being a logistic centre, cooperation might develop within a larger area as well. In course of signing the Chamber agreement concerning main road No. 8 the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Fejér County indicated that the logistic investments of our city and development of the port and the roads, connecting the cities of Dunaújváros and Székesfehérvár, are elementary interests of the city of Székesfehérvár as well, because this way the Chief town of the County will acquire a port. So the Platform represents also their interests. The same situation we have with the city of Kecskemét, mostly due to the Mercedes-investment. The geographical and economical status of Dunaújváros put the city in such a historical situation, which we have to exploit.

Kőhalmi Kálmán