More and more production companies are establishing their service centres in Hungary, and two thirds of them are considering further investment. The almost 80 such centres already operating in the country employ more than 30 thousand people. According to Ernst & Young’s SSC report, the majority of companies regard Hungary's qualified workforce and high level of expertise as the country’s major strengths.

The Hungarian Investment and Trade Agency (HITA) is currently dealing with 30 investment projects that are connected to service centres, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs and External Economic Relations Péter Szijjártó said. If those plans come to fruition, a further 9 thousand jobs may be created in Hungary.

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He stressed at the same time that the creation of an attractive business environment for service centres is important in ensuring their expansion. In this regard, he highlighted the work protection action plan, which offers favourable conditions if young people under the age of 25 or mothers returning from maternity leave are employed. Jointly organised trainings also serve this goal, he added.

The presence of service centres in Hungary is certainly a success story, Ernst and Young CEO István Havas said at the press briefing held prior to the presentation of the report.

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According to the report, 90 percent of companies said they had successfully achieved their business goals in Hungary, whereas 50 percent of them said their results were beyond their expectations. The majority of companies primarily appreciate Hungary's highly qualified workforce, the language competence of employees and the low costs. 68 percent of companies are considering further expansion; they are mostly planning on expanding their financial and customer services.

It must be considered that even though most multinational companies choose Hungary primarily to reduce operation costs, they decide to stay because of the highly-qualified, talented workforce. The main challenge is to ensure the resupply of that workforce, and this is an important area for cooperation between the business community and the Government.

(Prime Minister’s Office)