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FM: Government intent on avoiding second lockdown

Minister Szijjártó said the government’s priority now is to avoid the virus from being imported into the country from abroad.

 

The foreign minister said the Hungarian government’s measures banning foreigners from entering the country are an effective way of avoiding an economic lockdown during the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking at an event in Nagykálló, in north-eastern Hungary, where he presented documents on the government’s investment support to Tecnica Ungheria, a local firm manufacturing sports gear, Péter Szijjártó said caution was imperative in the fight to contain the virus.

According to MTI, Minister Szijjártó said the government’s priority now is to avoid the virus from being imported into the country from abroad. He said that seeing how robust the Hungarian economy and businesses are, he was hopeful the country would “win” the fight to defend the economy.

Minister Szijjártó noted that to protect domestic economy and jobs, the government has launched a support scheme for companies investing to protect jobs. So far, 806 companies have committed to investing a total of HUF 377 billion (EUR 104.1m) and 673 have received government support to the tune of HUF 151 billion.

Tecnica Ungheria is investing HUF 310 million and has received a HUF 154 million government grant, Minister Szijjártó said. The plant, which employs 350 people, will turn out one million ski boots a year after the technological upgrade, he said.