Speaking on Friday at a joint press conference with State Secretary for Foreign Affairs and External Economic Relations Péter Szijjártó, Phil Marshal, Regional CEO of General Electrics (GE), said that this quarter GE Lighting will start producing LED lamps in Nagykanizsa. Mr. Szijjártó also said that the Hungarian government will announce a 50-billion-forint public lighting modernisation programme for local governments.

Mr Marshall said that lighting technologies in Hungary have a 116-year history, and for this reason GE also considers it a great opportunity to establish its European and global centres here, with Nagykanizsa also being well-placed logistically. State Secretary Szijjártó stated that the European economic crisis is continuously challenging the European and Hungarian economies and exerting pressure on local and international companies to innovate. He also said that the Government made a decision at the beginning of its term to put emphasis on production and employment. R + D and innovation play a key role in protecting existing jobs, creating new ones and stimulating economic growth.

State Secretary Szijjártó said that for GE’s investment, Hungarian engineering knowledge combined with GE’s network and capital have created a new opportunity. He announced that after hearing of GE’s intention to invest, the Hungarian government had decided to provide 50 million forints for local governments to make public lighting more energy efficient.

Zoltán Vámos, Lighting Technology General Manager at GE, said that fifty years ago, almost to the day, one of GE’s engineers discovered the possibility of LED lighting; today almost every form of lighting can be provided through this technology. Mr Vámos stated that more than fifty engineers are working in R +D in the company’s units in Nagykanizsa, Zalaegerszeg and Budapest, and more than a hundred people are employed in the production phase. He added that the current group of 2,000 Hungarian suppliers will be expanded to include twenty more companies. The LED lamps and outdoor luminaires being produced at Nagykanizsa will be exported to European, Middle Eastern and African regions.

(Prime Minister's Office)