“Over the past nine years the Hungarian automotive industry has more than doubled its output, during which time the number of people employed in the sector has also increased by 34 percent”, the Ministry for Innovation and Technology’s State Secretary for Economic Strategy and Regulation László György said on Wednesday at the opening ceremony of the Automotive Hungary international automotive industry suppliers’ expo at the Hungexpo Budapest Congress and Exhibition Centre.

“The Hungarian automotive industry grew by some 12 percent during the first eight months of this year, while automotive industry production in Germany is shrinking”, he added.

Mr. György drew attention to the fact that according to a report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the added value produced by industry, in Hungary the ratio of the high-tech sector is some 70 percent, putting Hungary in second place behind Denmark from among the world’s developed countries.

The State Secretary highlighted the fact that investors regard the Hungarian government as a reliable partner in view of the stable political situation, the flexible investment and innovation environment, and the country’s dependable and skilled workforce.

Mr. György emphasised that the intention of the Hungarian government is to increase the ratio of Hungarian added value in the products and services being produced in Hungary, and called on everyone to favour Hungarian products when purchasing.

He said it is important for Hungarian enterprises to have products and services that they have developed themselves, and with which they can better connect to the production of car plants.

At the opening ceremony, CEO of Hungexpo Co. Ltd. Gábor Ganczer said the Automotive expo is getting bigger and more modern every year in line with the development of the sector.

This is the seventh time that the Automotive Hungary international automotive industry suppliers’ expo has been held at the Hungexpo centre. The AUTÓTECHNIKA - AUTODIGA 28th International Vehicle Maintenance Industry Trade Exhibition is also being held parallel to the Automotive expo, meaning the full spectrum of the automotive industry is present.

At this year’s event, 200 exhibitors from 15 countries are showcasing their products and innovations. In addition to the four major Hungarian car plants – Audi, Mercedes, Opel and Suzuki – a host of enterprises that are among the market leaders within their specific fields, including suppliers, automotive industry service providers, state organisations and the profession’s representative alliances are all present at the exhibition.

The organisers are expecting over ten thousand visitors.

At the opening ceremony, the Hungexpo Co. Ltd. Automotive Hungary Innovation Product Awards were presented.

Grand Prix prizes for innovation were awarded to Trumpf Hungary Ltd. for the True Laser Station 5005 TrueDesk Pulse 421 green laser machining cell, Varinex IT. Co. Ltd. for its AUTODESK Fusion 360 next generation product planning platform, and ABSOLUT CNC Ltd. for its Hanwha Precision Machinery collaborative robot.

Special awards were presented to High Quality Support and Consult Ltd. for its Company Operations System, and to Proprerus Ltd. for its Oilex oil absorbent.

(MTI)