“Investors will take jobs that provide good salaries and a good living elsewhere if Hungary does not remain the safest country in Europe”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó told Hungarian news agency MTI in the recess of his negotiations in Munich on Monday.

The Minister pointed out that there is huge global competition for the job-creating investments of international companies, including Bavarian enterprises, and security is one of the most important factor when deciding on an investment destination.

“For precisely this reason we must assure that Hungary remains the safest country in Europe”, he declared.

“If we do not protect our borders then these companies will not create jobs that provide good salaries and a stable living here in Hungary”, Mr. Szijjártó underlined.

“Border protection and maintaining security are a fundamental and vital prerequisite for ensuring that large foreign companies continue to bring their investments to Hungary in future”, he added.

“Germany is Hungary’s number one economic partner, and Bavaria is the first among Germany’s states. Bilateral trade flow increased by a further 9 percent last year exceeding 13 billion euros, of which the value of Hungarian exports to Bavaria was 9 billion euros”, the Minister said, pointing out that Bavarian companies are playing a determining role in enabling Hungary to achieve economic growth in excess of 4 percent.

“There are currently already 116 Bavarian enterprises operating in Hungary and they have realised some 5 billion euros in investment and provide work to over 40 thousand Hungarians”, he continued.

“Further growth is only possible if we maintain security. If our security is lost, Hungarian jobs will be lost too”, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade emphasised.

In the Bavarian capital, the Minister held negotiations with the directors of BMW, Siemens, Knorr Bremse and the Güntner Group, had a meeting with Bavarian Economy Minister Ilse Aigner, and will be meeting with former Prime Minister of Bavaria and Honorary President of the governing Christian Social Union (CSU) Edmund Stoiber.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)