The special issue «Analisi sulla Ungheria» of the Reportage series of Relazioni Internazionali – Tribuna politica ed economica, published on 2 October 2026, devotes page 4 to an interview with the president of Confindustria Ungheria, Roberto Massucco. The report also features interviews with Ambassadors Giuseppe Scognamiglio and Andor Ferenc Dávid, as well as editorials by Gabriella Migliore, director of the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) in Budapest, and Bernardino Pusceddu, president of the Italian Chamber of Commerce for Hungary.
An economy that extends beyond the capital
For Massucco, Hungary’s geographical location is an advantage, but it does not, on its own, explain why an Italian company should look to the country. What counts is the industrial base that has grown over recent decades (automotive, electronics, mechanical engineering, logistics) and is spread throughout the country. The president cites HIPA figures for 2025: 108 investment projects, around 7 billion euros, over 18,000 new jobs, and more than 84 per cent of investments outside Budapest.
The circular economy as an industrial opportunity
In addition to manufacturing, Massucco highlights research and development, services, logistics and technology, and above all the circular economy. According to Eurostat, in 2024 the circular material utilisation rate stood at 21.6 per cent in Italy, 12.2 per cent on average across Europe and 7.3 per cent in Hungary. This gap opens up opportunities for Italian companies that already possess expertise in plastic and metal recycling, the recovery of industrial waste, water treatment and the reduction of energy consumption. For the president, this is not just an environmental issue but an industrial one: ‘If you can turn waste into a raw material, you create value’.
After the election: judging by the facts
The president urges caution regarding Péter Magyar’s new government. Announcements on transparency, simplification, predictability and relations with the European Union are welcome, but they must be put to the test. Industrial investment decisions are made with a three-, five- or ten-year horizon in mind: this is why the stability of the rules matters more than the generosity of incentives.
The role of Confindustria Ungheria
Within the Italian country system, the association does not replace the Italian Embassy, ICE or HIPA. It represents the interests of its member companies, connects entrepreneurs and brings issues affecting multiple firms to the attention of the institutions. ‘We are building our credibility,’ says Massucco: by being present, getting to know the companies and working consistently over time, rather than simply organising more events.
Also featured in the same issue are LLF & Partners, a law firm and member of the association, (page 2) and ITL Group, the company headed by Vice-President Alessandro Farina (page 5).
Interview published in ‘i Reportage di Relazioni Internazionali – Tribuna politica ed economica’, «Analisi sulla Ungheria», 2 October 2026, p. 4. Read the full report (PDF)
