AM: focus is on the food industry

(Photo: Pixabay)

The state secretary emphasized that in order to preserve the sector’s competitiveness and sustainability, the government classified the food industry as a strategic sector in 2015 and provided significant support resources for development. From 2014 to the end of 2023, the amount of subsidies flowing into the food industry reached HUF 801 billion, the statement says. Márton Nobilis emphasized that the Hungarian government is committed to the further development of the food industry in order to ensure the sector’s competitiveness and sustainability, as well as to contribute to the growth of the national economy. The food industry is therefore not only an economic interest, but also a national matter, as the quality and reliability of Hungarian products is recognized worldwide. The economic importance of the sector is indisputable, as the food industry represents one of the largest parts of the national GDP, playing a significant role in economic stability and growth. In addition, the sector is one of the largest employers, which directly and indirectly creates many jobs in agriculture, manufacturing, logistics and trade, especially in rural areas, the announcement reads.

According to the ministry, the state secretary also highlighted that the lack of professionals can be a serious challenge for the industry

A properly trained workforce is also important because it increases production capacity and promotes innovation. The Hungarian government is therefore also committed to the development of agricultural vocational training, as this is crucial for the future of agriculture. Thus, the development of agricultural vocational training receives a lot of attention, because by learning modern technologies, young people can enter the labor market with up-to-date knowledge. Márton Nobilis explained that within the framework of the Food Industry Champion Program, the government is focusing on the development of key players in the Hungarian food industry. The purpose of the program is to support companies that produce products with high added value based on domestic raw materials, which will help these companies to stand their ground on the world market. This ensures that the Hungarian food industry remains competitive and that Hungarian families always have high-quality Hungarian food on their tables. He added that the government’s goal is to create an integrated food chain that guarantees the safety of production and food supply in the long term, while also contributing to the strengthening of rural communities. The Food Industry Champion Program provides new opportunities not only for large companies, but also for small producers to be able to produce food competitively and safely. In the next period, special attention will be paid to ensuring that tenders supporting the food industry are widely available, thus helping to increase the competitiveness of the sector and reduce the shortage of professionals, said the State Secretary, according to the announcement of the Ministry of Agriculture.

MTI