Hungary has proved to be an ideal production venue, and the next step is to render it the single most ideal research and development scene. The governmental decisions that are necessary for achieving this have already been adopted, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó told the public service media on Monday at CeBit, the world’s largest IT exhibition and fair held in Hannover.

Mr Szijjártó highlighted in his interview given at the Hungarian stand of CeBIT that the world economy has reached a turning point by virtue of a major technological transformation, and the conditions of competitiveness have changed completely. In this new era, the success of national economies depends on whether they are able to connect production and digitisation together.

The Government has recognised this, and has implemented the necessary measures in order for Hungary to be not just an ideal production venue, but also an ideal research and development scene. Among others, the Government has introduced a scheme whereby businesses can deduct twice the amount of their research and development spending from their tax bases, has reinforced technical and IT training, and is building a regionally unique test cource for automotive industry innovations in Zalaegerszeg.

Results are beginning to emerge already as „the flagships of the changeover to the digital economy, from IBM to SAP, all look upon Hungary as a good investment venue, and are continuously expanding their innovation, research and development, and services capacity”, Mr Szijjártó said.

Hungary, too, is dependent on innovative solutions because it has no significant raw material reserves or access to the sea, and „its greatest strength lies in the Hungarian people’s diligence, creativity, expertise and qualifications”. It is important also for this reason that start-up businesses active in the innovative sectors and companies delivering IT solutions are becoming ever stronger, and Hungary’s presence at CeBIT which is now more emphatic than ever before, too, serves this goal, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade highlighted.

At the world’s largest IT fair, Hungary’s presence is stronger than ever before: at a national stand of some 400 square metres, 21 exhibitors are showcasing their products and services, as well as all that „Hungary is able to offer as part of the digital changeover”, he added.

The changeover to the digital economy is „the most important economic policy objective”, and this is why the Government has adopted the decisions which „have placed the country also on the research and development map, in addition to the map of production”, but our „visibility” must be further enhanced. The Government would therefore like to secure for Hungary the status of CeBIT partner country in one of the next few years which would induce major economic effects. Consequently, this year’s large-scale Hungarian presence also serves the purpose of enhancing the chances of Hungary acquiring the title of partner country, the Minister said.

(MTI)