Viktor Orbán recalled to the entrepreneurs: previously two borders separated Hungary and Bosnia-Herzegovina, “one has already been abolished, there is no Croatian-Hungarian border, there is Schengen”. The Hungarian highway will soon reach the Croatian border, “the Croatians are also industrializing”, so the two countries will soon be connected by a highway, the Hungarian Prime Minister said.
He added that Banja Luka and its surroundings are organized, there are large ports, it is a country with a future, “because the future of the economy always depends on human quality, and that is expressed by the environment”. If politics will be able to stabilize this region, then there will be a predictable economic environment – stated Viktor Orbán.
He touched on the fact that the economic forecasts in Western Europe have a very low growth potential, and Germany is struggling with a recession. With this year’s growth of two and a half percent, Hungary is “considered king”, he said.
He stated: the dynamics of the European economy are currently in the Balkans, because here “people want to work and can work”, there is a high industrial and agricultural culture, as in Hungary, and they strive for cooperation.
There is a “counter-argument in the business world that this is the most complicated state in the world,” continued the prime minister, adding that this is true for Sarajevo, but not true for Banja Luka, that matters can be handled here, so fears about bureaucracy can be “set aside.”
Viktor Orbán said that he believes in this region because 14 years ago the Hungarian economy was in a state of disarray, the size of the Hungarian economy was seventy percent smaller than today. Since then, Hungary has taken a path that others can take, “this dynamism, this development can be achieved here as well”, he emphasized.
He noted that 14 years ago Hungarian companies would not have been here because Hungary was an extremely capital-poor country. “Today we have regional champions” and around 1,500 companies that can invest abroad, the Hungarian Prime Minister said. As he continued, Hungarians are proud of their history, culture and nation, “Hungary belongs to Hungarians, so we expect foreigners to behave as they should”.
When it comes to economic decisions, this means that the Serbian government will clearly state in which sectors Hungarians are welcome, and where they are not welcome because they do not want competitors, “we will not come there,” Viktor Orbán said. He added that “this country belongs to the Serbs”, which is why there are Hungarian companies here that work in the areas designated by the Serbs.
“It is important that the locals accept us and feel that we bring opportunities to the areas where investment and development are needed”
– stressed the prime minister. He said he also encourages Hungarian companies to form joint ventures.
“It’s a two-way street”
– noted Viktor Orbán, indicating that Hungary welcomes the Serbs “both as employees and as entrepreneurs”, since “cooperation does not take away opportunities, but creates opportunities”.
2024-04-06 05:33:00