History of MJGK
The Hungarian-Japanese Economic Club (MJGK) was established in 1971 to provide information, events and networking opportunities for companies and individuals interested in enhancing economic cooperation between the two countries. The MJGK is a non-political organization.
Its partner organization in Japan was the Japan-Hungary Economic Club (JMGK), which unfortunately decided to dissolve itself on 31 March 2006 after 35 years of successful cooperation.
Our Club operated under the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce until 1991, after which the MJGK was transformed into an independent non-profit social organization with legal personality under Act II of 1989 on Mergers. The scope of its activities in the field of Hungarian-Japanese international economic relations is to monitor economic and investment developments, bilateral trade trends, discuss issues that arise and occasionally undertake advocacy, lobbying and interest reconciliation tasks and organize events, as well as to collect and disseminate information on Hungarian-Japanese investment and trade relations in the form of a historical overview. We monitor the situation of Japanese language teaching in Hungary and help to promote and disseminate Japanese culture in Hungarian secondary schools. We maintain contacts with Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) and various provincial trade associations and support their programs in Hungary.
Membership has fluctuated, but in the early 1990s, due to a surge in interest in Japanese business relations, the club had more than 40 members. At present, we have 12 active members. Our main function is to promote Japanese-Hungarian economic relations through information and events. Today, the activities of the Club are still an important element in Hungarian-Japanese economic ties and in maintaining dialogue on the economic side.
We maintain a database of over one hundred Japanese interests in Japan for our members. The MJGK website has been running for over 12 years to the delight of the general public. On average, we hold three events a year where guests are welcome and two or three closed club meetings.
Our Presidents:
- 1971-1983 Béla Dienes CEO of the United Incandescent Lamp and Electricity Co.
- 1983-1991 Imre Székács CEO of TESCO Foreign Trade Company (he opened the Hungarian Trade Mission in Tokyo in 1969)
- 1991-2003 Gábor Rekettye, former Head of Department, University of Pécs (Commercial Counsellor, Hungarian Trade Mission in Tokyo 1984-1989)
- 2003-2022 Sándor Kiss Former Managing Director of Rubik Studio Ltd. (Hungarian Trade Mission in Tokyo: Commercial Secretary 1982-1987, Commercial Counsellor 1992-1998)
- 2023- Dr. László Urbán, Senior Advisor to Board, Magyar Suzuki Corporation