It is a key objective of the Government to keep the number of people in employment above the 4 million mark and to achieve an unemployment rate of below 4 percent, Minister of State for Employment Sándor Czomba said at the opening ceremony of a recently purchased production hall of Parafix Hungária Kft in Budapest.

At the event, Sándor Czomba said that competent management and adequately trained labour force are vital for increasing employment.

He stressed that the Government will assist economic development projects and hiring by state funding through tenders.

Sándor Czomba added that Parafix has already received state funding of HUF 16 million to retain jobs during the crisis and HUF 60 million to purchase machinery and upgrade technical apparatus.

Mike Punter, owner of the UK company -- a leading converter and distributor of self-adhesive materials -- pointed out that Parafix has by now doubled the turnover of HUF 700 million recorded in the first year of the crisis, and increased the number of employees from 28 to 65.

The company has been active in Hungary since 2001. The main customers of Parafix are from the electronic industry, car manufacturing industry and the lighting technology sector with orders of 40-45 percent, 35 percent and 10 percent, respectively. Their partners are, among others, Flextronics, Bosch, Mercedes and Suzuki.

(Ministry for National Economy)