The Czech Republic and Hungary are going on the same road, so cooperation and exchange of lessons learned between the armed forces are equally important for both partners, Gen. Petr Pavel and Gen. Tibor Benkő the chiefs of defence of the two countries concluded at a press conference held after their discussion in Prague on Wednesday, April 16.
At the meeting of EU defence ministers in Luxemburg on Tuesday, April 15, the countries of the Defence Cooperation Initiative (DECI) signed a memorandum of understanding on forming an EU battle group by the first half of 2017. Minister of Defence Csaba Hende signed the document on behalf of Hungary.
Hungary needs a consequent education policy that is stable in the medium term in order to improve students’ PISA results, Sándor Brassói, head of department at the Ministry of Human Resources said at a conference on Wednesday, adding that permanent changes undermine the results of the reforms.
On the 162nd anniversary of the founding of the first Hungarian nursery, Minister of State for Family and Social Affairs Miklós Soltész awarded nursery employees with several decades of experience “Pro Familiis” awards and ministerial diplomas on Wednesday.
The eight-month upward trend of retail sales continued in February: the year-on-year increase of 6.7 percent registered in this period is the best figure since 2006. Data are indicating that household consumption has continued to improve, due -- among others -- to the cutting of utility costs, the introduction of family tax allowance, the wage hike for healthcare employees and teachers, record-breaking employment growth, the increase of wages in real terms and the overall improvement of consumer confidence.
Hungarian-owned Kerox Ltd. will build a new plant in Sóskút, Hungary with an investment of € 15 million (4.45 bn HUF) and the expansion of manufacturing capacity is made possible by the Government’s decision to support the project financially, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs and External Economic Relations Péter Szijjártó and Managing Director of Kerox Ltd. Attila Gábor Kovács announced at their joint press conference in Diósd, Hungary.
The Ministry of National Development and the Hungarian Cyclists’ Club have launched their jointly organised campaign promoting cycling for the 13th time, starting on 22 April this spring and finishing on 30 May.
Industrial output in Hungary was again significantly higher in the second month of the year, and thus the upward trend in place since 2013 is continuing. In February 2014, industrial output volume index was up by 8.1 percent – according to both unadjusted and workday-adjusted data – in comparison to the corresponding period of 2013. This figure is the best in three years, as it has been the fastest February growth registered since the same period in 2011.
The investors of Slager Radio submitted an arbitration lawsuit to the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID*) in December 2011. According to the owners in 2009 Hungary violated the bilateral investment protection agreements established with the Netherlands, Switzerland and Luxembourg by the implementation of a tender related to national commercial radio broadcasting rights and the relevant decision. The claimant would have claimed damages in the amount of USD 83.3 million (equivalent of approx. HUF 18 billion at the current exchange rate).
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán sent a letter to the Chairman of the Federation of Hungarian Jewish Communities (Mazsihisz), András Heisler, on the occasion of the Memorial Day for the Hungarian Victims of the Holocaust. The full text of the letter can be read below.
On the occasion of the Memorial Day for the Hungarian Victims of the Holocaust, a plaque was installed remembering child victims and teachers rescuing children in secondary schools of Makó and Pécs this Wednesday.
Hungarian victims of the Holocaust were remembered by Minister of Public Administration and Justice Tibor Navracsics and Zoltán Pokorni, mayor of the 12th district of the capital in Budapest, at the Danube Memorial Shoes.
Hungary's economy is viewed more favourably both in terms of the economic situation and the business environment than in previous years, Dale Martin, head of the German-Hungarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DUIHK), told a press conference in Budapest on Wednesday.
Construction industry production was 28.3% higher in February than it was one year ago. This was the thirteenth consecutive month in which the construction industry has achieved year-on-year growth, and the favourable growth trend in excess of 10% observed in previous months also continued in February, Minister of State for Economic Regulation Kristóf Szatmáry stressed.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán consulted by phone with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang on Wednesday, government commissioner in charge of Chinese relations, Péter Szijjártoó stated.
Evaluating the election held on 6 April, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said at a student vocational skills competition award ceremony in Budapest that the Government had chosen the right path when it opted for a dual vocational training system based on the German model. "The really good news is that this path, this policy, is on a secure road in the future...we can carry on along this road for another four years," he said.
The Government has decided to delegate the majority of tasks of the Hungarian Economic Development Centre PLC (MAG) to the Ministry for National Economy. Through the transformation of the institutional system the Government aims to make administrative processes related to EU development projects and tenders more efficient and put in place a one-stop tendering system, Minister of State for Economic Cooperation István Komoróczki said at the company’s staff meeting.
The events of the Ukrainian crisis and associated Russian actions have caused an „external shock”, shattering the 15-25-year dream that territorial issues are no longer significant and only competition matters, Foreign Minister János Martonyi said on Tuesday.
Following the more than 6 percent growth registered in January, Hungarian industrial output continued to increase in February by gaining 8.1 percent year-on-year. The vehicle manufacturing sector was the most significant growth factor, but the fact that expansion was recorded in ten out of the altogether thirteen sub sectors shows that growth has been based on a sound footing.
Hungary stands ready to transport gas into Ukraine and the technical means for doing so are at its disposal, Foreign Minister János Martonyi declared after meeting Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Danylo Lubkivsky on April 10.