Hungary’s previous government pledged substantial financial support for BYD’s planned investment in Szeged, a parliamentary state secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said in a video posted on Facebook on Monday.
‘Guest workers and generous subsidies’
György László Velkey stated that, according to documents held by the ministry, the Hungarian state committed more than 70 billion forints in infrastructure support for the area where BYD is set to establish operations. In addition, the government offered significant direct financial assistance to the company, although the precise sum remains a commercial secret.
“I can say, however, that the scale is comparable to the funding provided for the CATL factory in Debrecen,” the state secretary noted, according to MTI.
It also emerged that BYD has been granted permission to bring in around 10,000 guest workers—almost as many as the number of jobs the investment is expected to create, he added.
Talks with BYD leadership
Péter Stumpf, parliamentary state secretary at the Ministry for Rural and Regional Development and MP for the area, said in the same video that residents of Szeged have three key expectations regarding the project.
They expect the company to comply fully with existing legislation—particularly environmental regulations—so as not to endanger public health; to provide well-paid jobs for local residents and Hungarian workers; and to ensure that Szeged benefits from the company’s economic success.
“It appears that Péter Szijjártó, the former minister for foreign affairs and trade, and Fidesz did not represent these interests during the negotiations,” Stumpf said.
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Mr Velkey concluded by stressing that the current government would negotiate with the Chinese company—and with all foreign partners—solely with the interests of Szeged’s residents and the Hungarian people in mind.
Former foreign minister joins BYD
Mr Szijjártó recently announced that he would resign his parliamentary seat and join BYD as an international executive responsible for global external relations and the development of new business divisions.
The former minister, who has been attending a world championship event in the United States, described his new contract on Facebook as “the signing of the year”. However, many—even within Fidesz—have reportedly viewed the move as a betrayal at a difficult time for the political community.
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