2024 was the year of retail lending: central bank interest rate cuts, the emergence of deferred demand, and new government housing support measures led to record demand in the real estate and consumer loan markets. The dynamic growth could continue this year as both regulators and market participants work to ensure that the expansion remains sustainable.  In contrast, corporate lending was more subdued in 2024 due to a decline in demand and economic uncertainty. The question is whether a financing boom will return in 2025, particularly in the second half of the year, and whether SMEs and large companies will gain momentum. What supported schemes and market mechanisms could help facilitate this process?  The Portfolio Lending 2025 conference is once again the sector's most important event, where banking decision-makers, loan brokers, legal and advisory partners, as well as IT service providers, will share the latest market insights and strategies. The professional programme, featuring panel discussions, presentations, and networking opportunities, helps market participants prepare for the business and regulatory opportunities and challenges ahead in the coming year. 

The Agrofuture Conference is a pioneering thematic event in Hungarian agriculture organised by the Portfolio Group. The goal of the conference is to introduce industry stakeholders to the sustainability goals and regulations, as well as the innovation trends and results, that will fundamentally shape farmers' daily activities in the coming years and decades. With this event, the Portfolio Group aims to uniquely contribute to the swift and effective implementation of a sustainability-focused mindset in Hungarian agriculture, ensuring that market players can quickly adopt and apply innovative products and technologies that improve the efficiency of their farming operations. The conference provides comprehensive information on regulatory requirements and subsidies related to sustainable farming, products, technologies, and best practices that support sustainability and are useful for farmers, as well as the main directions of global and domestic agricultural innovation processes and the cost and profitability aspects of utilising innovation results. The event can provide valuable information and experiences for all stakeholders in the agricultural sector – including producers, input material manufacturers and distributors, machinery dealers, manufacturers and distributors of innovative products, and service companies supporting agriculture – who are looking to embrace modern farming practices or are committed to building a sustainable domestic agricultural sector. The conference could also fill a gap for organisations – financial institutions, interest groups, and professional associations – that consider achieving sustainability and innovation goals a key task and aspiration.

The Agrofood Conference is a high-quality professional event for the food industry sector, launched in 2024 by the Portfolio Group. The conference’s goal is to provide a thematic overview of the areas that most crucially define the operations and management of food industry companies. The event seeks to offer valuable information about various topics, including the current market, taxation, workforce management, regulations, support, financing, profitability, and investment, that can significantly contribute to the successful operations of the companies in the industry. The event aims to be the leading and most influential professional forum where the key topics affecting food industry companies will receive prominent public attention, and industry participants will have the opportunity to access relevant information and find comprehensive answers and solutions to their emerging questions. The conference will cover the agricultural producers' and food industry companies' opportunities for cultivation, integration, and contract agreements, the challenges faced by the service sector related to the industry, as well as the commercial supplier relationships within the food industry and the expectations of the commercial sector towards the industry. By focusing on the food industry perspective, the event can be valuable for the entire agri-food sector, as well as industries and sectors that serve processing companies, while also providing a fantastic opportunity for professional networking and relationship building.   ATTENTION CONSULTANTS! – EVENT RECOMMENDED BY THE HUNGARIAN CHAMBER OF AGRICULTURE! You can earn 4 points by attending the event. (Separate registration at the venue is required for credit point validation!)

Today, businesses can no longer avoid compliance with external and internal regulations— but is this merely a mandatory administrative task, or can it be a strategic advantage? We might not even realise how many areas compliance influences in a company’s daily operations, such as: E-commerce and online customer service Selecting suppliers and partners Financial transactions and accounting activities IT operations and software licensing Cybersecurity Data management and data protection processes Back office activities Compliance with external and internal regulations not only helps avoid risks and penalties but can also provide significant market advantages. Companies that operate transparently and in compliance with regulations find it easier to build trust among their customers, partners, and investors, directly impacting long-term success and profit growth. The conference's panel discussions, presentations, and interactive programmes will excitingly illuminate these topics while showcasing real-life examples of how compliance can become a true competitive advantage in business. We will discuss why regulations do not have to hinder innovation and how they can support rapid growth. Additionally, we will discuss why selecting the right LegalTech tools is essential for a company’s legal and regulatory processes. In 2025, Portfolio and Wolters Kluwer will once again organise a joint conference where we will explore the most relevant legal and regulatory areas that define companies' presence in the digital space. The professional programmes and networking opportunities provide an excellent occasion for participants to explore future business opportunities and risks. Take part in the active dialogue between the legal, business, IT, and cybersecurity fields.

The energy crisis that erupted in 2022 as a result of the Russian-Ukrainian war highlighted the crucial role of EU funds not only in economic convergence but also in achieving energy independence and accelerating the green transition. In response to the crisis, the European Union launched the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and introduced the RePowerEU programme as a complementary targeted instrument to support the expansion of renewable energy sources and the development of energy networks. At our event, we will focus on the new energy dimension of EU funding, along with the related policy and development directions. Why should you join? The current geopolitical and economic situation has posed new challenges for the EU, prompting responses with new financial instruments and policy approaches.  Ongoing professional discussions and reform processes may shape the future direction of EU funding—particularly in relation to the energy transition. The event is an excellent opportunity for those who want to prepare in time for the new grant and development environment.   The EUYOU project aims to present changes in EU funding policies in an accessible manner, with a special focus on cohesion policy, the Just Transition Fund, the Technical Support Instrument, and elements of the Next Generation EU programme, including the RRF and RePowerEU.  

In Europe, Hungary continues to have some of the highest gas and electricity prices for companies, meaning that both small and large businesses still face the pressure to reduce their energy costs through energy efficiency and renewable energy investments, as well as more conscious energy procurement, while also advancing towards their green goals. Our all-day event will explore these three key questions, continuing from our highly successful Corporate Energy Management conferences of the past two years. The event will cover, among other topics, the opportunities of the Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme, experiences with energy audits, best practices in energy procurement, as well as the opportunities and risks associated with solar and wind power plants and energy storage installations. The event will explore various aspects of effective energy management, the opportunities in digitalisation and artificial intelligence, as well as the numerous tasks involved in achieving sustainability goals. One of the main objectives of our event is to showcase concrete experiences, company case studies, and best practices, allowing participants to enrich themselves with tangible results and valuable information. Join us and listen to what leading experts in several key energy sectors recommend for consideration, how they approach their work, and what outlooks they have for the future!

Times are tough for the retail sector. The changes in customer expectations are shaped by various factors, including the economic environment. Whether it is operators of traditional brick-and-mortar stores, players in online retail taking an increasingly larger share, or a combination of both, everyone is looking for solutions that will successfully engage customers. There is no denying it, answers must be found as soon as possible for the most pressing challenges, and, as a result, strategic transformations can no longer be delayed! For this reason, we consider it of paramount importance that, alongside essential face-to-face meetings, experience sharing, and the establishment of business and friendly relationships, participants in the retail sector have the opportunity to listen to presentations and discussions that not only address the most important industry topics but also shed light on issues that indirectly but significantly impact the sector. Among the most pressing issues are the labour shortages that have been affecting the sector for years, government measures that are reshaping the healthy functioning of the market, and disruptions in global supply chains. In addition, the range of opportunities offered by machine support and automation will be on the table, including how profit can be increased through the effective application of artificial intelligence. Don't miss the year's most outstanding retail event! In keeping with Portfolio's traditions, this event also offers a unique platform for sharing experiences and collectively discussing the industry's biggest challenges! Here’s what the Retail Day 2024 conference looked like:

The cream of the profession is reuniting! Our “Portfolio Construction Industry” conference has become perhaps the most important business meeting of the domestic construction industry and it will be held for the seventh time in 2025 with the participation and support of the key players in the field. At the event, we will discuss the most pressing and current financial, business, regulatory and efficiency questions with the sector’s thought leaders. The “Portfolio Construction Industry 2025” conference is not only a full-day professional and opinion leader forum but also one of the most effective venues for business networking for industry players, where, alongside presenting the market’s future, we offer full-day premium networking opportunities and a relaxed evening standing reception for our guests.  In addition to the professional and content-based appearance in the conference programme, we offer our partners the possibility to present themselves to the more than 500 leading construction industry players attending the event, with an experience-based and/or product presentation platform, stand, or service.   Let’s Continue to Build the Domestic Construction Industry Together, Even in Tougher Times!  Don’t miss out on the award ceremony! Join the post-conference event with a standing reception, networking, gin bar and informal professional discussions. Let’s celebrate the domestic construction industry together!     

This year, European car manufacturers face significant challenges again, forcing many to scale back their plans. The shift to electric vehicles has already brought about one of the biggest changes in the automotive industry. A challenging macroeconomic environment, the difficulties of succeeding in the Chinese market, competition from new players, and stricter CO2-emission regulations render the situation even more difficult. How can automotive industry companies retain their competitiveness in an extremely turbulent industry environment? Our current leaders are actively looking for a way out with energy, production efficiency, and green investments, seeing new development possibilities in the application of artificial intelligence and digitalisation, moving towards electrification and sustainability, while inspiring and helping their suppliers and employees. But what will it suffice for? This year, the most important domestic OEMs, buyers, and suppliers will meet in Győr – let us learn from them and each other by sharing best practices, followed by a dinner, evening programmes, and possibilities for networking and accommodation after the technical programme. On the second day of the conference, we will provide factory visits to several nearby sites with a shuttle bus service between sites - AUDI HUNGARIA Zrt., Dana Győr Driveline, Rába Nyrt. The participation fee includes the facultative factory visit. You can register for the venues during online registration.   ORGANISED EXCLUSIVE B2B MEETINGS WITH SELECTED CONFERENCE SPEAKERS In collaboration with our speakers, we are offering a unique opportunity for participants to engage in targeted business networking and relationship-building for the first time this year! Participants with a valid conference registration can apply for a 15-minute one-on-one meeting with selected speakers in a private meeting room at designated times to facilitate and initiate business networking. You can find the details in the programme section!   IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR BOOKING A ROOM The online registration does NOT include the possibility of reserving a room. You can book your accommodation at the ETO Park Hotel Business and Stadium, the event’s venue, at the following email address: reservation@hoteletopark.hu . We kindly ask guests to mention the event (Automotive Industry Conference) when making their room reservation. In this case, you can book your room at a discounted price. The price includes VAT and breakfast. The number of available rooms is limited, and the hotel will accept reservations based on availability.  

The Agricultural Conference is one of the most important and influential agricultural professional events of the spring. The event aims to review all the significant changes in funding, regulation, financing, market conditions and profitability and the prospects that will play a decisive role in shaping the successful economic and business activities of agribusinesses throughout the year. The conference will present and analyse the new regulations and measures regarding the food economy that came into effect at the beginning of the year while also providing forecasts for the entire year on economic processes that will fundamentally influence the operations of market players. Thus, conference participants will have access to exclusive and detailed information on all current topics in one place, enabling them to make successful operational, market, and investment decisions. The event's over ten years of experience prove that the conference provides one of the best opportunities for participants to gain reliable insights into the professional issues that concern them. The conference will be attended by top leaders from the business, corporate, financial, public administration, and advocacy sectors, who will provide first-hand relevant information to sector participants. Thus, the event can provide valuable information, as well as opportunities for presentation and exposure, to agricultural producers of all sizes, food industry companies, businesses engaged in trade, and companies involved in the sector, such as integrators, input material distributors, machinery dealers, financial institutions, and insurers. It also offers a great opportunity for professional networking and relationship-building. Here’s what the Agrárium 2024 conference looked like: