Orbán cabinet approves Debrecen’s ten-year development programme – UPDATE

The government has approved a 600 billion forint (EUR 1.73bn) ten-year development plan for Debrecen to consolidate the city’s position as the centre of eastern Hungary, the innovation and technology minister said on Tuesday.

“Turning Debrecen within a reasonable period of time into a point of reference for the neighbouring countries is a key objective,” László Palkovics said in the local Kolcsey cultural centre.

The programme dubbed Debrecen 2030 has five pillars that include the economy, transport, education, culture and urban development, he said.

It includes expanding the city’s international airport, continuing the construction of an eastern highway ring and moving the Natural Science Museum from Budapest to the city, the minister said.

It also includes earlier announced projects, namely the 130 billion forint infrastructure development of the city’s north-western industrial park and the 35 billion forint education development projects.

During the first phase of the programme, in 2021-2023, a further 50 billion forints will be allocated for developing the infrastructure of the city and its university, Palkovics told MTI.