Everything is ready for the BMW start in Debrecen

The strategic goal is to lift Debrecen and its surrounding area into the top 30 largest industrial centres in Europe. Around 500 billion forints have already been invested in the economic development of the location, including around 300 billion forints alone in the development of the north-west industrial estate, where BMW, among others, has settled. All the conditions are in place for the automotive industry to take off in Debrecen in 2025.

The next projects by 2029 include the construction of a new bypass to the east of the city, an extension of the main road north to Nyíregyháza and the complete reconstruction of the parallel railway line. The main railway station is to be given a new look in the form of a large shopping centre with the involvement of private capital. In the southern outskirts of Debrecen, the M4 motorway will be built further east and eventually connected to the M35. The minister confirmed the plans for ‘the second capital’ to have two state museums, the Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Transport, the ideas competition for which has just been finalised. Construction could possibly begin as early as 2026/27, for which the ministry has chosen a site of around 6 hectares directly next to the BMW plant.

The infrastructure measures required by the investors have practically been completed in the north-west of the city, according to Mayor László Papp. Meanwhile, further important projects are pending in the South Industrial Park, primarily to meet the water requirements of the battery cell production facility that is being established there. ‘We have promised the citizens that we will provide mainly treated wastewater to protect the local water reservoirs for the large industrial companies,’ the Fidesz local politician stated. When asked, the mayor clarified that the battery factories will use two thirds treated wastewater. Creating the necessary (technological) infrastructure is a major challenge for the city.

Among five planned new transport hubs, four projects are due to start soon. The electrification of the railway line to Balmazújváros is expected to be completed by 2026. Papp was confident that Debrecen will implement the strategy adopted by the government in 2020 by 2030.