Due to its geographical location and transport connections, Sásd is closely linked to Baranya, Somogy and Tolna counties. Its economy has traditionally been dominated by food-related industries, while the share of other sectors, particularly light industry, is gradually increasing. Investors can benefit from available industrial land and a business-friendly decision-making environment.
Transport and logistics
Sásd’s transport and logistics infrastructure is shaped by the local topography. Key routes run through the valleys between the Mecsek mountain ranges, meaning they converge on Sásd from several directions. The town is crossed by the 66 main road, which connects Pécs with Kaposvár via Komló; a branch of this road is the 611, which links the town with Dombóvár.
The county town and the nearest single-digit main road, the 6, are 28 km apart. The nearest motorway junction on the expressway network, the Pécs-Kelet junction on the M60 motorway, is 32 km away. Road 67, which connects Kaposvár with Lake Balaton and was recently upgraded to a motorway, is not much further away either: it is 36 km to the Kaposfüred junction.
From a rail perspective, Sásd is in an extremely advantageous position, as it is served by the No. 40 main line connecting Pécs with Budapest. Dozens of trains run daily on the electrified double track. Although only a few of the InterCity trains stop at Sásd, services run frequently and on a regular timetable between Dombóvár and Pécs. Typically, these are comfortable, low-floor Flirt multiple units. The frequency of services makes it possible to commute to and from Sásd on a daily basis.
Trains on the No. 47 branch line between Komló and Godisa run as far as Sásd. However, only one train runs in each direction on this line per day, and at inconvenient times, so its passenger transport function is negligible.
The town’s railway station is suitable for loading large quantities of goods onto wagons and for fixed-track transport. In addition to the main line, the Komló branch line can also be used for freight transport.
In terms of local bus services, Sásd can be considered a micro-regional hub. Services to the surrounding small settlements depart from here. Long-distance buses connecting the larger towns in the area mostly stop in Sásd – the most important routes are from Komló and Dombóvár. There are direct, non-stop connections to both Pécs and Kaposvár. The frequency and timetable of services are suitable for organising working hours.
Infrastructure and public services
Sásd is a neat, small-town-style settlement with a pleasant living environment and modern infrastructure. The townscape is characterised by well-maintained green spaces and main and secondary roads in good condition. The local council makes significant efforts to maintain public spaces – as evidenced by recent road and pavement construction and the development of a sports park.
DRV Zrt., which operates in most counties of Transdanubia, is responsible for the drinking water supply, as well as the operation of the sewerage network and the wastewater treatment plant. The central operations management is based in Dombóvár, whilst the maintenance of the Sásd system falls under the remit of a local operations management team.
Sásd is the centre of the Hegykő district, which has a population of 11,500, and accordingly, the district office is based here. The authority offers a relatively limited range of administrative services locally: an administrative and guardianship department, as well as a government service centre, are available in the town. Matters falling outside their remit can be dealt with in Szigetvár, Komló or Pécs.
The National Chamber of Agriculture maintains a village agronomist’s office in the town.
All aspects of primary healthcare are provided locally. There are three GP practices for adults, two paediatric practices and a dental practice in the town. There is a health visitor service, a pharmacy, an optician’s and a dental laboratory. The central medical emergency service and the ambulance station serving the area are also located here. Outpatient specialist care, various diagnostic tests and hospital care are available at the Dombóvár Hospital for patients from Sásd and the surrounding area.
The Sásd local council runs its own crèche and nursery school, the latter with 114 pupils. Sásd Primary School, with 274 pupils, offers German minority education alongside the ‘traditional’ curriculum; pupils can learn the language from the first year onwards. Music education is provided at the Sásd Primary School of Arts.
The town’s secondary school is the Sásd Catering Vocational School, part of the Pécs Vocational Training Centre. Applicants here can qualify as confectioners, waiters or chefs over a three-year course.
Sásd is a member of the Mecsek-Völgység-Hegyhát Association, a Leader action group currently comprising 158 local authorities, civil society organisations and businesses. This rural development community brings together the settlements and economic actors in the Komló and Sásd area. Its aim is to develop a local rural development strategy and to coordinate efforts to achieve the objectives set out therein.
Key economic players
From an economic perspective, Sásd boasts a diverse range of businesses. The town is typically dominated by domestic small and medium-sized enterprises. A total of 447 active businesses are registered in the town, comprising 350 sole traders and 97 partnerships. The average number of employees remains below 50. Looking at the sectors, agriculture carries the greatest weight, alongside industrial – typically light industrial – plants and service companies. The role of tourism is not yet significant, but thanks to the proximity of the Mecsek Hills and the opportunities for active recreation, it has remarkable untapped potential.
Without claiming to be exhaustive, here are a few of the more important local businesses:
- Y Takarmányipari Kft. – a Hungarian-owned company primarily engaged in the production of livestock feed.
- Bozsánovics Kft. – a Hungarian-owned company primarily engaged in poultry farming.
- Sásdi Agro Zrt. – a Hungarian-owned private limited company primarily engaged in poultry farming.
- Mind-Ép Kft. – a Hungarian-owned company primarily engaged in construction and general contracting.
- Ma-Gár Kft. – a Hungarian-owned company engaged in the manufacture of clothing and textiles.
- Tamás Fémipari Kft. – a Hungarian-owned company primarily engaged in the manufacture of steel structures, building metalwork, sheet metal fabrication and metalworking activities.
- Novaflex Kft. – a Hungarian-owned company primarily engaged in the manufacture and distribution of brake pads, clutch assemblies and other automotive components. Number of employees
- SÁSDFA Kft. – a Hungarian-owned company primarily engaged in the timber and forestry industries.
- Dömse Kft. – a Hungarian-owned company primarily engaged in the timber industry.
Areas designated for commercial use
The industrial area of Sásd is located south of the town, alongside the A66 road, near the brickworks. It does not yet have the status of an industrial park, and furthermore, the plots are privately owned. Currently, around half of the industrial zone is awaiting development; these plots are owned by Sásdi Agro Zrt. The company owns a total of 8 hectares of greenfield land.
There is a property on Rákóczi Street owned by the local council, which is suitable for smaller-scale brownfield developments.
There are several properties in the town suitable for office use. Among these, the building at 1 Kossuth Lajos Street, owned by the local council, is in need of technical and energy-efficiency refurbishment. Among the privately owned properties, the office building on Törökmalom Street owned by Y Pulyka Kft. ’s office building on Törökmalom Street is modern and meets all requirements, whilst the building at 16 Rákóczi út, owned by Kapos-Coop, is also in need of refurbishment.
Economic support and tax policy
The local council in Sásd pursues a particularly business-friendly tax policy. In line with this, the local business tax rate has been set at 1.8% of the tax base, which is lower than the rate prescribed by law. The building tax amounts to just 100 forints per year per square metre, and no land tax or tourist tax is levied.
The town offers investors preferential rental and purchase options for available, municipally-owned properties. The exact terms and conditions are set out in individual agreements. In exchange for these incentives, businesses relocating to Sásd or planning to expand their existing premises there are typically required to undertake a specified level of investment or to employ residents of Sásd.
Local authority investments
One of the most important ongoing developments is the Green City programme, which includes the construction of the aforementioned market hall. This is a comprehensive urban regeneration project focusing on the area around Heroes’ Square. The aim is, on the one hand, to renovate the commercial premises located here, and on the other, to create a modern city centre through the regeneration of public spaces and parks. Sustainability and energy efficiency were also taken into account during the planning process.
There have been several recent investments of the latter type, i.e. those focusing on energy consumption. The projects include the construction of a solar power plant in the area next to the sewage treatment plant, the energy modernisation of several municipal institutions, and the installation of solar panels.
