The domestic defence sector, one of the most profitable industrial branches, may significantly bolster the national economy, Minister for National Economy Mihály Varga said at a forum on the export control of defence industry products organized by the Hungarian Trade Licensing Office.
As the Minister added, existing security policy risks fully justify domestic development projects in the field of defence, as in this way our dependence on foreign suppliers can be reduced and the safety of supply improved. Defence development projects are also closely related to the Government’s social policy goals, such as the creation of jobs and the promotion of research and development activities.
As one of the countries that are fully aware of its responsibilities, we know that it is our duty to control the export of so-called dual-use items and technologies – those that can be used for both civil and military purposes, he pointed out. Hungary has prevented the unlawful trade of these products in various fields, and doing so has not limited but rather broadened our economic manouvering room, he stressed.
Over the past years, the transformation of our economic regulatory system, new development policy priorities and programmes aimed at boosting our competitiveness have all been steps in this direction, he said. In the Irinyi Plan, the Government has identified seven priority fields that may help maintain or even increase economic growth momentum. These include, among others, the defence sector, the manufacturing of metal forming machinery and machine tools as well as the info-communication sector.
The latter two areas have been quite successful, as – in comparison to 2014 – the export volume of related products has grown by some EUR 100 million, he stressed.
(Ministry for National Economy)
