Szijjarto: Hungarian economy among most shock-proof in Europe

The state supported the 5.5 billion forint investment creating fifty jobs with a 693 million forint (EUR 1.9m) grant, the ministry said, noting that Szijjarto attended the opening of Marso’s centre in Dunaharaszti, near Budapest.

Szijjarto said the status quo had been upturned in every area in the wake of the pandemic, creating immense global competition. This sets in stark relief which countries are best placed to exploit new opportunities which have arisen accordingly.

“Hungary belongs among the winners of the new global economy,” he said. “We have been able to put the changes to our advantage.”

Szijjarto cited a successful vaccination campaign which enabled Hungary to reopen six to eight weeks earlier than other European countries last year, while its economy, he added, returned to its pre-pandemic level of output by the end of the summer. Current projections show that the global economy will achieve the same only by the end of 2022, he added.

The government has implemented one of the largest investment promotion schemes of all time and financed the preservation of jobs instead of spending money on policies underpinning unemployment, he said.

An internationally competitive category of Hungarian companies has emerged, he said. Hungarian-owned companies now form the backbone of the economy, reducing its international exposure, he added.