Dobay
Stakeholder’s point of view: interview with Balázs Dobay, CEO Advisor, POM – Pécs Organ Manufactory Ltd.
According to your opinion, what are the advantages of a cluster in general?
The potential advantages of a cluster? First of all, the opportunity to contact other businesses. Because we are making unique products, we have to keep in touch with a lot of other manufacturers. And not only because our products are unique, but a unique product needs unique parts, and unique partners.
What could be the main opportunities of your cluster membership?
We are the largest organ-building enterprise in Hungary, employing around 40 people. We always underline: we make all the organ parts, including the organ console, the flue and the reed pipes (are handmade in our two workshops) for our organs, and for the restorations. The foundation of this handcraft is traditional organ building and classic European wood and metalworking technology. The potential in being part of such a cluster is to open the possibility of new relations in Europe. We are constantly searching for not only new market, but even for suppliers. This can be the perfect place to expand our business and social relations.
Which are the main obstacles and barriers of clustering, in general?
Definitely time, or at least the shortage of time. To build relations, to find the possible ways how to make profit out of this kind of relations. It needs a lot of time.
How strong is cultural creative industry in your region? How would you describe it?
Actually the main problem is that the cultural-creative industry is lack of the funds to promote itself. That’s why people don’t know much about even the existence of this industry. That’s why these kind of clusters are mostly welcome.
How would you characterise tourism in your region and what development potentials can you see?
We don’t know much about tourism, only the groups that want to visit our workshop. They are interested in organ building, and want to see it in person. The next step of this evolution is to make a visitor centre, but it is in the dream phase at the moment.
Do you think public-private partnership could be a good tool to develop an integrated tourism promotion of the territory?
Actually yes. We only need to find the right balance between public and business interest. To make the region more competitive – I think – this is a must. And I am sure, that a lot of private businesses are open to that including us.
What do you think, what do you expect from the CMC project?
As I said before, especially small cultural-creative businesses are not strong enough in Hungary to cross the borders. Even we have problems when trying to make contact with new partners in countries where we haven’t had partners before. That’s why any project what makes cross border relations possible is highly welcome.