Hungary has become the stronghold of the European automotive industry thanks to the measures introduced over the last three years, including the restructuring of the tax system, the creation of a flexible Labour Code and the reform of vocational training, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs and External Economic Relations Péter Szijjártó said on Thursday in Szolnok at the inauguration ceremony of the F. Segura Spanish car parts manufacturing factory.
Mr. Szijjártó pointed out that approximately 600 automotive businesses operate in Hungary today, 54 percent of which are domestically owned. They provide employment to more than 100 thousand people and the value of their production exceeds EUR 15 billion. Audi, Mercedes, Opel and Suzuki all operate and produce in Hungary, Mr. Szijjártó said, listing the major companies present in the country.
The automotive industry is also important to the national economy because an investment of this kind is never stationary, it always generates more and more investments, Mr. Szijjártó said.
President of the Segura Group Francisco Segura Hervás recalled that the company decided to enter the international market in 2005. They chose Szolnok, which they still hold was a good decision, for the great logistics, and especially rail capabilities, the well-trained work force and the support of the state and the local government. The new car parts factory built with a greenfield investment of EUR 23 million provides employment for 120 people. The company is a supplier to the Ford, the Audi and the Volkswagen brand.
Mayor of the city Ferenc Szalay (Fidesz) said that the large state-owned enterprises that provided jobs to tens of thousands of people such as the chemical plants, the furniture factory, the paper mill and the sugar factory all closed down in the riverside town following the Hungarian regime change, so the foundations of a new industrial structure had to be created. In this spirit, the city has successfully attracted many foreign businesses in recent years, such as Swiss Stadler, American Eagle Ottawa and Irish McHale, and now the Spanish Segura company too, he said.
The Spanish Grupo F. Segura announced in November 2007 in Szolnok that it would be building a car parts manufacturing factory in the city's industrial park. F. Segura Hungária Ltd. will primarily produce stamped and welded car parts.
The Valencia-based company operates as a family business and was founded 44 years ago. It has four factories in Spain and representations in Poland, Portugal and Turkey. However, their first foreign production plant was built in Szolnok.
(Prime Minister’s Office)
