Billions for wineries

The Prime Minister’s Office has announced a rural development grant programme with a budget of HUF 40 billion, which will be made available to winemakers in the form of a non-refundable subsidy. Wineries can get HUF 200 million funding at the maximum for investing in technological development. We asked the winemakers and traders what they think about this opportunity. Gergő Gelencsér: – Conscious investment steps can help us to make wine that can be competitive in the international market too. József Bock: – State subsidies can be of great help for the trade and investing in technological development will result in having better quality wine in the cellars.

Kurt Taschner: – Let’s not forget that wineries need to have their own resources too if they want to start investing in production technology modernisation. My view is that Hungary’s grape and wine processing capacity is basically alright, there is no need to invest this much money in subsidising the sector. Ferenc Szlávik: – This programme has the potential to save SMEs as the sector is suffering from a lack of capital. However, spending this sum will only bear fruit if it is spent well – perhaps not only on technological development, but also on marketing.

Ákos Kamocsay: – There is great need for technological development and wineries don’t have enough money to invest in this. I think this step may result in better wine quality in the future. Krisztián Kathona: – The programme can give smaller wineries the chance to get themselves noticed in the market. We think that thanks to the programme, we will have a closer cooperation with 4 wineries which at the moment are too small or technologically underdeveloped to work with us. János Frittmann: – If those wineries will be funded from this budget which are building the prestige of wine, and they will put quality products on the market, then the money is used well.