Organised by HEPA Hungarian Export Promotion Agency, Green Balkan Forum 2026 was held on 8 October 2026 at the HUNGEXPO Budapest Congress and Exhibition Centre, as part of the ENVIRONTEC powered by ÖKOINDUSTRIA international trade exhibition. The forum focused on strengthening regional cooperation in the green industry, showcasing sustainable technologies and innovative solutions, and establishing new international business partnerships.
The event brought together representatives of businesses, professional organisations and institutions from six countries: Hungary, Slovenia, Serbia, North Macedonia, Croatia and Germany. The forum aimed to help Hungarian environmental industry companies enter international markets, support the preparation of joint projects and collaborative funding applications, and strengthen economic ties between Hungary and the Balkan region.
The programme was opened by Dr. Gábor Péter Artner, Deputy CEO of HEPA, followed by a welcome address from Anžej Frangeš, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to Hungary.
One of the highlights of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between HEPA and SPIRIT Slovenia. The three-year agreement was signed by Dr. Gábor Péter Artner and Tamara Zajec Balažič, Director of SPIRIT Slovenia. The agreement aims to strengthen trade and economic relations between the two countries, with a particular focus on supporting the export activities of small and medium-sized enterprises. As part of the partnership, the two organisations will seek closer cooperation in exchanging business information, organising business delegations, holding joint professional events and facilitating international business matchmaking events.
The forum's presentations highlighted opportunities in the region's green economy and current environmental challenges. Participants gained insights into Slovenia's business environment and experience with the green transition, the development potential of Serbia's green economy, and innovative solutions with potential applications in energy, waste management, industrial technologies and sustainable infrastructure.
Following the presentations, a networking event provided opportunities for informal discussions and relationship-building, while international B2B meetings were held in the afternoon with the support of the Hungarian Consortium of the Enterprise Europe Network. These face-to-face meetings encouraged direct dialogue between companies, helped identify business opportunities and laid the groundwork for potential future cooperation.
Green Balkan Forum 2026 helped raise the international profile of Hungarian green industry expertise and created further opportunities to strengthen ties among economic stakeholders from Hungary, Slovenia and the Western Balkans. Through professional and business events of this kind, HEPA aims to help Hungarian companies bring their innovative solutions to a wider range of international markets and ensure that regional cooperation delivers tangible economic results over the long term.