The change of power in Hungary and the fall of Viktor Orban's government may also mean a significant revolution in the local economy and business. A new opening is being prepared for many companies on Lake Balaton.
Today, you can count on the fingers of one hand the companies and brands that are known outside Hungary. Everyone should be able to name two of them. There may be a problem with the others, but that doesn't mean they don't exist in Poland.
MOL Group
It is the largest energy concern in Hungary and one of the most important companies in Central and Eastern Europe. It deals with the exploration, extraction and processing of oil and gas, and also runs an extensive network of gas stations.
It is this latter business that MOL is known for on the Vistula River. Let us recall that during the PiS government, Hungarians took over many stations that had previously operated under the Lotos banner. This was one of the elements of the transaction involving the merger of Orlen with Lotos.
The group's revenue for 2024 was approximately $25.3 billion. MOL has production assets in eight countries and conducts commercial and retail operations in over 30 countries, managing a network of nearly 2.4 thousand. gas stations (approx. 450 in Poland) under various brands (e.g. MOL, Slovnaft, INA).
It is the absolute leader of the Hungarian industry, listed on the stock exchanges in Budapest and Warsaw.
See also: Orbán's fall will have consequences for Poland. Here are the most important ones
Wizz Air
It is impossible not to know this brand if you have flown from Poland at least once in your life. It is one of the most popular low-cost airlines in Europe, founded in 2003 with a base in Budapest.
The company focuses on offering low-cost air connections, competing in the industry primarily with the Irish Ryanair.
The Hungarian carrier has a fleet of over 200 Airbus aircraft. For the financial year ending March 2025, the company recorded revenues of EUR 5.27 billion.
Wizz Air flies from over 200 airports in over 50 countries, covering Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. In 2024, the airline carried a record number of almost 63 million passengers, strengthening its position in the low-cost flying segment.
Icarus
Do you remember these iconic buses that have been driving around the streets of Polish cities for years? Nowadays, they are no longer seen, although in some regions of our country the brand is coming back into favor.
It is true that now it has a completely new version, mainly in the electric version. In 2024, the local government in Szczecinek bought several buses.
In turn, at the turn of 2025 and 2026, tests of these vehicles were carried out by Wrocław. And for many years, the capital of Lower Silesia based its public transport on these Hungarian buses.
Gideon Richter
While everyone knew the previous brands, Gedeon Richter will be anonymous to many Poles. It is a pharmaceutical giant with over a hundred years of tradition, specializing in the production of drugs used in gynecology, cardiology and acting on the central nervous system.
The company produces over 200 types of medicines. Some products can be found in Polish pharmacies and TV commercials. These include: Groprinosin or Nifuroksazyd.
The company's pharmaceutical revenues in 2024 reached a record level of approximately EUR 2.14 billion. Gedeon Richter has its own sales network in over 38 countries, and products are available in nearly 100 countries on five continents.
It is one of the most innovative Hungarian companies with numerous research and development centers.
OTP Bank
Although we won't see this brand in Poland, it is a serious player in the entire region.
OTP is the largest commercial bank in Hungary, which has become a powerful financial group in this part of Europe. It offers a full range of banking services for individual and corporate clients. According to reports for 2025, the group's revenues increased by 11%. year on year, and net profit in the first half of 2024 amounted to EUR 1.27 billion.
OTP Bank currently operates in 11 countries (including Hungary, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Croatia and Uzbekistan). It serves over 17 million customers and employs nearly 40,000. employees, which makes it a key player on the financial market of Eastern Europe.
