Vas County & Vas County Government Office

Vas County – as a geographical unit

Vas County is situated at the very western border of Hungary, at the foot of the Alps and the Little Plain. It shares borders with Austria and Slovenia and the Hungarian counties Győr-Moson-Sopron, Veszprém and Zala.

The history of the county goes back to centuries. The county has raised during the reign of the 1st Hungarian King, István, and it’s public and infrastructural unit has built on the ruins of the Roman Empire. The capital of the county is the city of Szombathely, what was founded by the roman emperor Claudius in 43 AC with the name Savaria. In the last couple of centuries, the County has opened it’s gate to the modern European culture, and acted as mediator during economical modernization. Because of it’s fortunate geographical location the area is easily approachable.

Its total area is 3.336 km² and its population is 252.551 persons. According to the settlement system there are 203 villages and 13 cities in the  county. The capital of Vas County is Szombathely, built upon the ruins of Savaria, the ancient seat of the Roman Pannonia Superior province. The city has 76.528 inhabitants. Other bigger towns in Vas County are Celldömölk, Csepreg, Körmend, Kőszeg, Répcelak, Sárvár, Szentgotthárd, Vasvár.

Vas County – as a business gate

Vas County is considered to be Hungary’s western gate to Europe and it plays a decisive role in the development of the local economy and society focusing on R&D. Benefiting from its positional advantages, it has become the pioneer of economic transition and has turned into one of the most important centers of economic and social modernization in Hungary. The county is situated in one of the most attractive investment regions as it has favorable geographic conditions, a restructured economy, as well as high quality human resources and cultural values.

Strong presence of international and multinational companies – such as OPEL, BPW, Linde, ADA, FALCO Kronospan, Schaeffler Group, EPCOS, APTIV, Schott, Kromberg & Schubert – in the county, also gives a boost not only to the national but also to the regional economy.

Vas County Government Office

Amongst its various competences, Vas County has institutional responsibility in coordinating mobility, environment and cultural planning at county level.

The Vas County Government Office (VVÖH) is the economic organization of the Vas County Government.

General competencies of the Office are:

• Organizing of county level regional development and mezo-level spatial planning
• Boosting economic & infrastructural development
• Managing and developing of international relations
• Participating in preparation, coordination and realization of development initiatives in and around Vas County
• Mobilizing partnerships of professional organizations in business, cultural and civic spheres of life

VVÖH currently employs 35 professionals working in 5 department groups; one of them is the International Project Department.

The tasks of the International Project Department of the Office also include the creation, management and development of international relations. The department took place as Lead partner or as project partner in the management of several international projects. These projects are co-financed by the European Union Programmes, such as Interreg SI-HU, Interreg AT-HU, Interreg Europe, Interreg Central Europe, Danube Transnational, Erasmus+, Europe for Citizens, COSME, Europen Climate Initiative (EUKI) Programme, etc.

The Office is also searching for new partnerships with European Union regions.

The colleagues of the Territorial Development Department are responsible for the preparation, management and implementation of the Territorial and Settlement Development Operational Programme (launched by the local government bodies) both as consortium leader and consortium member.

Contact details

If you are interested in the business and project cooperation with the Vas County Government Office please contact us:

• Contact persons: Ms. Anikó Neuvirthné Bilics, Ms. Judit Bánovits
• Email: neuvirthne.aniko@vasmegye.hu, banovits.judit@vasmegye.hu
• Tel.: +36 30 299 44 87, +36 30 570 16 84
• more information about the international projects:
  https://www.vasmegye.hu/en/fejlesztesek/projektek/nemzetkozi-projektek/

Vas County Government Office