Marubeni Corporation is expanding its role in Hungary from engineering support to investment origination as Japanese and Hungarian supply chains tighten across autos, batteries and adjacent industries.
“The automotive and battery industries are the two key drivers of Hungary’s economy,” said Ryoji Koga, general manager of Marubeni Corporation Budapest Office.
Marubeni’s first decades in the country were defined by hands-on support for manufacturers. The company helped plan factory layouts, procure equipment and manage installation and maintenance. That foundation created a network across suppliers and customers that now informs a broader push into deal sourcing and project development.
Koga, leads the shift toward originating and structuring opportunities in Central and Eastern Europe. The goal is to match technology, capital and market access so ventures scale beyond pilots and serve regional demand.
Marubeni’s history in Hungary reaches back half a century. “From the 1970s to the present day, the Marubeni Group has built a strong business track record in Hungary together with numerous partners,” Koga said. “In particular, we have focused on supporting Japanese manufacturers’ business expansion into Europe, especially in the automotive industry and, more recently, in the electric vehicle (EV) sector.” The group has also connected Hungary to Japan and global markets for chemicals, synthetic rubber and textiles through import and export, and is now exploring opportunities for collaboration with local partners in traditional food and agriculture.
We are focusing on a ‘Strategic Platform Business’ model, expanding high value-added products and services in high-growth domains while simultaneously pursuing profitability and scalability.
Ryoji Koga, General Manager of Marubeni Corporation Budapest Office
The company’s direction aligns with its global management strategy GC2027, which aims to build business platforms in high-growth domains with potential to expand while maintaining discipline on returns. “We are focusing on a ‘Strategic Platform Business’ model, expanding high value-added products and services in high-growth domains while simultaneously pursuing profitability and scalability,” Koga said. Green efforts are embedded across initiatives to meet evolving expectations in Europe and Asia.
Partnership remains central to the approach and Marubeni is engaging Hungarian firms that can move quickly, bring technical depth and share common principles. “In accordance with our spirit grounded in ‘Fairness, Innovation and Harmony,’ the Marubeni Group is proudly committed to social and economic development and safeguarding the global environment with partners in Hungary who share this philosophy,” Koga said.
With an investment-first posture, Marubeni is positioning Budapest as a launch point for scalable projects tied to the region’s core industrial strengths.
