In September 2014, Hungary’s foreign trade volume continued to increase, as exports and imports were up by 9 percent and 10 percent, respectively. This growth resulted in an unprecedented foreign trade surplus of EUR 939 million, up by EUR 85 million year-on-year. These data were mainly the result of domestic economic expansion, steady output increases within the industrial sector – thanks especially to vehicle manufacturing and related divisions – as well as higher consumption.
In the third quarter of this year, Hungary’s GDP grew by 3.2 percent year-on-year – in line with prior estimates. In comparison to the previous quarter, the economy expanded by 0.5 percent. Every sector has contributed to growth and with this result Hungary remains one of the top performers within the EU.
Hungarian citizens this year have stated their opinion three times as to how they envision the country's future, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó stated on Wednesday in reaction to critical comments by U.S. Senator John McCain.
Tap water consumption is not only healthy but it also reflects environmentally aware behaviour, Deputy State Secretary for Consumer Protection László Koszorús said upon launching the campaign From the Tap! (Csapra Fel!) in Budapest on 2 December, 2014. The national awareness raising action launched by the five major regional water public utility service providers aims to encourage the Hungarian population’s tap water consumption.
Hungary's foreign ministry has summoned United States charge d'affaires Andre Goodriend over critical comments made by American senator John McCain on Tuesday, the ministry told MTI.
Deputy State Secretary Kristóf Altusz paid a visit to Latvia on 1-2 December 2014.
At the Hungarian-Turkish Economic Forum in Budapest on Monday, Minister of State László Szabó said that international trade is a top priority in the work of Hungarian foreign missions.
Following the meeting of the Hungarian-Georgian Intergovernmental Committee for Economic Cooperation and the establishment of the Agriculture Working Group at the end of November, a Georgian delegation made up of 13 officials responsible for EU integration arrived for a two-day visit to Hungary in early December. The delegation was received at the Ministry of Agriculture by Deputy State Secretary for International Relations Katalin Tóth.
After Russia’s decision concerning the South Stream gas pipeline, further opportunities need to be explored for the long-term guarantee of secure energy supplies for Hungary, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó stated on Tuesday.
According to Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén the Kőrösi Csoma Sándor programme aiming at preserving the Hungarian identity of the diaspora is very successful. The work that young people participating in the programme carry out is of historical importance for the preserviation of the Hungarian identity of those living in the diaspora – Zsolt Semjén underlined at the closing conference of the programme held at the Magyarság Háza in Budapest. He emphasized that their Hungarian identity can only be safeguarded if, apart from strengthening their cultural and linguistic identity, they are also being encouraged to adopt Hungarian citizenship. – he said.