Prime Minister Viktor Orbán participated in an event to mark the extension of Bridgestone's manufacturing plant in Tatabánya. Bridgestone announced in October that they would be increasing the production capacity of the plant with an investment of 267 million euros, with construction being concluded in 2017. The company began its Tatabánya operation in 2008.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán declared that the extension is the equivalent of the establishment of a new plant, since the current 350 jobs will be added to by a further 500. The Prime Minister stated that the HUF 71.5 billion investment is being contributed to by Government subsidies totalling HUF 2.7 billion. Joint operations between Japan and Hungary are based on a respect for work, he said. The Prime Minister named Tatabánya a "strong and modern city" emphasising that the people there are well qualified and committed.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said that, provided the current policies are further pursued, Hungary may rank as first among the EU member states regarding the portion of industrial sector in the GDP, outpacing both the Czech Republic and Germany.

According to the Prime Minister, the Bridgestone manufacturing plant extension is about the future, while the current flood prevention activities are about the protection of results already achieved.

Franco Annunziato, CEO and President of Bridgestone Europe pointed out that the extension is a turning point, because it increases the production capacity of the plant and results in quality improvement.

Ambassador of Japan to Hungary Tadamichi Yamamoto expressed that the plant extension is a great step towards deepening business and cultural relations between the two countries.

(Prime Minister’s Office)