Eastern Baranya is currently one of the most dynamic regions in Hungary. The Pécs–Mohács corridor, including Bóly, Mohács, Siklós, Villány, and Pécsvárad are all connected to the M6–M60 expressway network, the Danube bridge currently under construction in Mohács, and the main roads leading to the Croatian border. This is the region where, within a few years, the highway, the Danube, and cross-border traffic will converge—in an investment environment where industrial parks, a skilled workforce, and support programs are all available to businesses.
Strategic location: highway, Danube, border
Today, Pécs can be reached from Budapest in just over two hours via the M6 motorway; the fastest route is approximately 230–240 km and takes a little over two hours. The natural eastern extension of this route is the Pécs–Bóly–Mohács corridor, where industrial zones designated for development line the M60 expressway and the Route 6 and Route 57 highways.
The key investment project for the coming years is the construction of the Danube bridge in Mohács and the associated expressway connections. According to the government’s transportation development program, the M60 will be extended in both the western and eastern directions (toward Croatia and Bácsbokod, respectively), and the bridge will create a new, 2×2-lane crossing over the Danube at Mohács. This will directly connect Eastern Baranya to international transit routes and dramatically improve the region’s logistical appeal.
New industrial areas are also being developed alongside the expressway network. In Szederkény—located between Pécs and Mohács—a 7.1-hectare industrial park is being built with funding from the TOP Plus program, featuring six plots fully equipped with utilities, specifically designed for new businesses. For investors, this specifically means: a newly developed, easily accessible area with no “inherited” problems, but with a highway connection and a flexible local government partner.
Labor force: competitive wage levels, available labor pool
In Baranya, the labor market is expected to stabilize in the first half of 2025: employment rates are in the middle of the pack compared to the national average, and the unemployment rate has declined significantly between 2019 and 2025. From an investor’s perspective, this means two things:
- there is an available, trainable workforce,
- while the market is now stable enough to allow for long-term planning.
According to the Hungarian Central Statistical Office’s (KSH) “Counties in Focus” summary, in the first quarter of 2024, the average monthly net wage in Baranya County was 351,480 HUF, the unemployment rate was 7.7%, and there were 174 registered businesses per 1,000 residents. This indicates:
- competitive wage levels (given the significantly lower cost of living compared to the capital),
- a business-friendly environment with many local suppliers and service providers.
In the industrial centers of Eastern Baranya—Bóly, Mohács, Siklós, and Villány—the labor pool is attractive not only in terms of quantity but also in terms of quality. In Bóly, for example, 36 companies operate in the 60-hectare industrial park, including German, Dutch, Austrian, and Taiwanese-owned firms, employing a total of approximately 1,200 people. One of the town’s unique features is its bilingual, predominantly German-speaking, skilled workforce. This provides an ideal environment for both manufacturing and back-office activities.
Education: vocational training center + university in the background
The quality of the workforce in Eastern Baranya is ensured by an extensive training infrastructure. The Baranya County Vocational Training Center operates technical colleges and vocational schools in several towns, serving both young people and adults. These institutions offer 2–3-year, practice-oriented vocational training programs in fields such as mechanical engineering, electronics, information technology, logistics, and commerce. (Baranya County Vocational Training Center)
The Radnóti Miklós Technical and Vocational School in Mohács has a student body of 500–600 students and is one of the leading vocational training institutions in the South Transdanubia region. (radmi.net) This directly strengthens the talent pool for the industrial parks in Mohács and Bóly and provides a solid foundation for corporate dual training partnerships.
The region’s “top-tier” center of learning is the University of Pécs, which offers a wide range of programs in engineering, computer science, economics, and management, as well as some 21 doctoral programs, and attracts a significant number of international students. (pte.hu) For an investment in Eastern Baranya, this means that:
- a skilled, practice-oriented workforce is available locally,
- Graduate recruitment and R&D partnerships are available within a 20- to 40-minute commute from Pécs.
Industrial parks and development areas in Eastern Baranya
Bóly – A 60-hectare, fully developed industrial park with room for further expansion
The Bóly Industrial Park is located on a flat, fully serviced site covering approximately 60 hectares. Currently, 36 companies are based here, employing approximately 1,200 people, and an expansion of nearly 30 hectares is underway. Due to its proximity to the M60 highway, its bilingual workforce, and a proactive local government, Bóly is particularly well-suited for export-oriented manufacturing and engineering projects.
Siklós – Industrial Park Expansion Funded 100% by EU Funds
The Siklós Industrial Park covers a total of 29.5 hectares, of which 13.5 hectares are currently available greenfield development areas; the park is being expanded by nearly 10 additional hectares using EU funds, with full utility infrastructure. Given the proximity of the Villány wine region, the Harkány thermal spa, and the Croatian border, it is realistic here to:
- light industry, food processing, and packaging investments,
- tourism-related support services (e.g., laundry, logistics, maintenance facilities),
- regional logistics warehouse complex.
Mohács – Industrial Park + New 40-Hectare Greenfield Industrial Site
In Mohács, alongside the existing industrial park, the basic infrastructure for a new 40.1-hectare greenfield industrial site is being developed, with a direct connection to the existing industrial zone. The Danube port, the Danube bridge currently under construction, and the M60 extension together create a logistics triangle that offers a rare combination of water, road, and—via Pécs-Pogány—air access.
Villány – Economic Development Zone in the Heart
of the Wine Region An economic development zone and industrial area are currently being designated in Villány, with 600 million forints in TOP Plus funding specifically earmarked for attracting new businesses. Thanks to the brand built on winemaking and gastronomy, it is a particularly promising location for premium food industry, packaging technology, logistics, and tourism investments.
Transportation and Logistics: Now Is the Time to “Reserve Your Spot”
The common thread running through the development projects in Eastern Baranya is the strengthening of transportation infrastructure. The current approximately 30-kilometer section of the M60 connects Pécs to the M6, but according to government plans:
- westward toward Szigetvár and Barcs,
- To the east, it will be extended via the Danube Bridge at Mohács to Bácsbokod,
with a total investment of nearly 900 billion forints.
In practice, this means that a facility in Eastern Baranya:
- You can reach Budapest in 2–2.5 hours via the highway,
- is directly connected to the routes leading to the Croatian and—via the Danube Bridge—Serbian markets,
- can take advantage of the Danube’s potential for water transport (Mohács).
Companies that secure space now are likely to have operational capacity in the region’s new logistics hubs by the time the developments are completed.
Funding programs: TOP Plus, GINOP Plus, “Baranya Helps”
Baranya County will manage approximately 92 billion forints in TOP Plus funding during the 2021–2027 cycle, a significant portion of which will be allocated to economic development infrastructure, industrial parks, transportation, and investment-friendly urban development—with a particular focus on the Pécs–Mohács growth center and the tourism zone.
A typical investment project in Eastern Baranya County may combine the following elements:
- Investment grants (GINOP Plus, other national funding sources) – technology development, capacity expansion, facility construction, digitalization, typically with a grant intensity of up to 50–70%, depending on the specific call for proposals.
- County Employment Program – “Baranya Helps” (TOP_PLUSZ-3.1.1) – wage subsidies for up to 6 months, recruitment and labor market services, corporate training and mobility grants.
- Free Enterprise Zones (FEZ) – several municipalities in Eastern Baranya have FEZ status, where development tax credits, social contribution tax credits, local business tax credits, land price discounts, and other municipal incentives are available.
- HIPA grants for large-scale investments—including customized government (VIP) cash grants, training grants, and R&D incentives—which may be available for projects in Eastern Baranya that involve a particularly large workforce or generate high added value.
What types of projects are ideal for Eastern Baranya?
Given the above characteristics, Eastern Baranya is particularly attractive for the following types of investment:
- Manufacturing and assembly plants—in the metal and machinery industries, as well as automotive and electronics suppliers—for which proximity to highways and borders, competitive wage levels, and an available, trainable workforce are key factors.
- Food industry, winemaking, packaging—building on the Villány wine region, the agricultural base along the Danube, and the local production culture, with short supply chains.
- Logistics, warehousing, and cold storage capacity—due to the planned Danube bridge, the M6–M60 highway, and cross-border traffic.
- Tourism-related services – wellness and medical tourism (Harkány, Siklós), wine tourism (Villány), as well as the service providers that support these sectors (laundry, maintenance, catering, and adventure and leisure services).
Next step: personalized investor support
Eastern Baranya is now entering a phase in which most of the planned transportation and industrial developments are already underway, but capacity has not yet been fully utilized. This is a classic “well-timed entry point” for investors: land prices and wages are still competitive, funding opportunities are plentiful, and the developments are already well on track.
The Invest in Baranya team is here to help:
- in selecting the most suitable location in Eastern Baranya County (Bóly, Mohács, Siklós, Villány, Szederkény, and other towns),
- with the involvement of industrial parks and local governments, as well as the University of Pécs and vocational training centers,
- in identifying the range of grant and tax incentive programs (TOP Plus, GINOP Plus, HIPA, “Baranya Helps,” SZVZ incentives).
If you are looking for a location where highways, the Danube, the border, an industrial park, a skilled workforce, and government incentives all come together, Eastern Baranya is currently one of the most promising options in Hungary.
