Photo: Konnektivitás Barátai Alapítvány
Eurasia
29/11/2025 14:35
In his opening remarks, Ádám Samu Balázs, President of the Friends of Connectivity Foundation, emphasised that the foundation, established this summer, aims to help ensure that Hungary becomes one of the winners of the new global order currently taking shape. He noted that it is in Hungary’s interest to build relations with the countries of Eurasia based on mutual respect and mutual benefit, while maintaining its historic traditions and its Western commitment stemming from NATO and EU membership. Balázs stressed that a major pro-peace conference will soon take place in Budapest. The Connectivity Award sends the message that there is no alternative to connectivity. In a transforming world order, we can only succeed if, instead of separation, bloc formation and isolation, we choose connectivity and seek partners and allies. Those who recognise this may be among the winners of the twenty-first century – and for us Hungarians, this is the minimum ambition.
The Grand Prize of the Connectivity Awards was presented to Sous Yara, Vice-Chairman of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly of Cambodia, and Vice-President of the Centrist Democrat International (IDC–CDI). The award was presented by Zsolt Németh, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Hungarian Parliament, who commended the Cambodian politician’s exceptional role in strengthening connectivity and dialogue. This dialogue also includes the Asia–Europe Political Forum taking place in the Parliament, jointly organised by ICAPP, IDC–CDI and the Conservative Group of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), headed by Zsolt Németh.
The Géza Szőcs Cultural Connectivity Award was presented for the first time this year, honouring the legacy of Géza Szőcs – poet, ministerial commissioner and initiator of Hungary’s Eastern Opening policy. In his remarks, Barna Pál Zsigmond, Member of Parliament, Deputy Minister and Parliamentary State Secretary of the Ministry for European Union Affairs, said that the intellectual heritage of Géza Szőcs continues to serve as a compass today. “I trust that this gala will become a tradition, allowing us each year to recognise those who, through their knowledge and work, promote Hungary’s good reputation around the world,” he added. The Géza Szőcs Cultural Connectivity Award was received by Yu Zemin, Chinese writer and translator, who has translated numerous major works of Hungarian literature – including those of Géza Szőcs and the newly awarded Nobel Prize laureate László Krasznahorkai – into Chinese. The award was presented by Deputy Minister Barna Pál Zsigmond, Zsuzsanna Gergely (widow of Géza Szőcs), and Mariann Őry, Board Member of the Friends of Connectivity Foundation.
The strategy of connectivity plays a prominent role in Hungary’s economic policy as well, aiming to create an environment where the world’s leading technologies meet in Hungary and, combined with a Hungarian supplier base and local development work, generate new, unique value that is competitive on international markets. To recognise companies and individuals contributing to this effort, the competitiveness category of the Connectivity Awards was established. This year, the award was presented to Prabal Data, CEO of TATA Consultancy Services Hungary, by Government Commissioner István Joó, CEO of the Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency, and Levente Horváth, Board Member of the Connectivity Foundation. The Indian-owned TATA Consultancy Services has been present in Hungary for more than two decades and has built one of the country’s most dynamically developing and Europe-wide recognised service centres.
The closing address of the gala was delivered by Boglárka Illés, State Secretary for the Development of Bilateral Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. She highlighted the importance of supporting connectivity and peaceful cooperation at a time when a war is raging in a neighbouring country and when the leadership of the European Union has chosen to support the continuation of the conflict rather than a peaceful settlement.
The event featured high-quality cultural performances by Ninh Duc Hoang Long, a Hungarian-based opera singer of Vietnamese origin, as well as Júlia Kubinyi, Mária Majda Guessus, and the FolkEmbassy ensemble.
