The State Secretary reminded the audience that as a general requirement, Hungary must spend the development funds it has been assigned within the European Union's new Multiannual Financial Framework faster and more flexibly. The new system of allocating funds also serves this purpose, transferring decision-making and supervision directly to the ministries, he added.

Strategic partnership agreements also serve the interests of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as the companies who sign such agreements with the Government undertake to enlarge their network of Hungarian suppliers, State Secretary Szijjártó pointed out. In order to support SME exports, Eximbank has broadened its credit activity and the Government will establish trade houses, this year probably in Moscow, Riyadh, Astana and in Beijing, he said.

With regard to strategic partnership agreements, he stated that their goal is to ensure continuous communication and consultation by creating special workgroups that allow representatives of both the Government and the corporations to discuss issues of economic policy. The State Secretary also ensured the audience that the Government is committed to keeping the deficit under 3%, even if some critics doubt this.

Source: kormany.hu