“German enterprises play a significant role in the performance of the Hungarian economy”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó stressed on Wednesday at an event in Budapest organised by the German Business Club (Deutscher Wirtschaftsclub, DWC).
“The German companies operating in Hungary have supported the Hungarian Government’s efforts to renew Hungary from the very beginning”, he highlighted.
“Hungary can be one of the engines of European growth through linking to the German economy via a thousand ties”, he added.
The Minister drew attention to the fact that the Hungarian Government is continuing its efforts to reduce public burdens to enable the continued competitiveness of enterprises by increasing wages.
The Hungarian Government has modified its investment promotion system, amongst others by introducing a new category to promote technology-intensive investments and assisting investments relating to research & development activities in the capital. Enabling the Hungarian economy to move forward into a new dimension requires the implementation of development projects relating to digitalisation, and the Government is supporting the workforce mobility and dual training required to achieve this.
Hungary is proud of the fact that Central Europe provides the hinterland for the German manufacturing industry, which represents the backbone of the European economy, and this relationship must be further reinforced in future.
Mr, Szijjártó also mentioned that trade between Germany and the courtiers of the Visegrád Group (V4) is 55 percent higher than between Germany and France, and that in his pinion it must be stated out loud that cooperation between Germany and Central Europe represents a major force in forming the future of the European economy.
He also noted that there have been important political changes in Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic recently, and that the establishment of the most stable possible governments is in Hungary’s interests.
The Minister said it was a problem that the debate on the future of the European Union has been placed onto ideological and emotional foundations, and this is making the development of a reassuring opinion more difficult.
He stressed that in the EU the migration crisis not only bears with is a major security risk, but also at least as high an economic risk, stressing the importance of the Schengen Area.
With relation to the future of Europe, Mr Szijjártó said he believes free trade agreements are vital, pointing out that the European Union has been unable to conclude a free trade agreement wince 2011. “If and when the British exit the European Union, we will require the most detailed and comprehensive free trade agreement possible between Great Britain and the EU”, he added.
The Minister announced that beginning in December, the Government will be asking for the opinions of the largest German companies within the framework of the DWC to enable their ideas to be incorporated into decision-making.
(MTI)
