Increasing the number of large Hungarian-owned enterprises is a fundamental interest

In Szolnok on Thursday, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán gave an address at the official inauguration of a factory expansion which will increase capacity at the plant of Hungarian-owned Béres Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Mr. Orbán said that no modern country can operate without foreign capital, but it is also a fundamental interest for there to be as many large Hungarian-owned enterprises as possible in Hungary.

The Prime Minister said the investment – which was awarded fifty per cent non-returnable funding based on a targeted government decision – is important for the whole country, since a Hungarian company is providing employment for Hungarian people.

The total cost of the project is HUF 3.2 billion (EUR 10.4 million), and will result in the creation of sixty new jobs.

Mr. Orbán praised Béres Pharmaceuticals, noting that family businesses deserve particular appreciation. He remarked that Béres is not satisfied with a Hungarian market presence, but is also taking on international competition. “Under today’s modern global economic conditions those who lack the courage to compete internationally cannot survive as companies with significant long-term success”, he said, adding that Béres Pharmaceuticals is present on the pharmaceuticals market from the United Kingdom to Russia.

According to the Prime Minister, there is a need for a country that is strong enough to offer assistance whenever it sees an opportunity for development and progress. “The programme with which the Government is funding companies such as Béres – which in a European context are medium-sized, but in a Hungarian context are large – was established so that these enterprises and the people who work there feel that their work is important for the whole Hungarian national community”, he said.

Support must be provided to companies that are entering the market, but we must never forget those “who have already achieved results”, the Prime Minister highlighted.

The history of Hungarian industry shows that Hungary’s pharmaceutical industry has always performed outstandingly, the Prime Minister said, adding that this was another reason that the investment was funded. He stressed that Hungary does not want to turn it back on its significant results in the pharmaceutical industry, and accordingly pharmaceutical plants must be developed to enable pharmaceuticals to remain one of the Hungarian national economy’s leading sectors.

Mr. Orbán said that the investment is also important because it is in Szolnok, which found itself in a difficult position following the fall of communism. The Prime Minister said that once again the city has industrial capacity, and unemployment is at around 4 per cent – which is very close to full employment; he added that the Hungarian government pays attention to cities like Szolnok”.