We can only be successful globally if our industrial policy, regulatory system and economic programmes are all focused on creating a competitive industrial sector, Minister for National Economy Mihály Varga said at the signing ceremony for the conclusion of the agreement on the „Smart City” and automotive test track projects of Zalaegerszeg.
We are right on time to make the decisions necessitated by the transition to the digital economy, he added.
Hungary’s economic situation and outlook are favourable, he noted, in comparison to the future growth rates of either the EU or the world economy. It is due to the fact the Hungarian Government had prioritized the support of economic growth and the launching of a new industrial policy before other countries did, he stated. If we want to draw historic parallels, he said, the era we now live in resembles the boom years of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.
Domestic automotive industry manufacturers can maintain their position only if they produce more added value and manage to join global supplier chains, assisted by the Industry 4.0 programme. Besides the motor vehicle industry, the logistics sector is also a field of strategic importance for Hungary, as we aim to become the logistics hub of the region, he stressed. To this end, the Government is working to assist Hungarian hauliers abroad: labour shortages will be mitigated through the support of jobseekers who wish to obtain the required driver skills, administrative burdens will be reduced even more and more weight will be placed on infrastructure development projects.
If a country with an open economy like Hungary wants to have sustainable economic growth that bolsters cohesion available resources must be channelled to highly productive, innovative industries, Mihály Varga pointed out. The efficient operation of these sectors requires a stable regulatory and institutional background, and more attention must be paid to achieving an adequate vocational training system, he said.
(Ministry for National Economy)
