Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency

Speaking on public television M1, Mr. István Joó called it symbolic that Mercedes-Benz will soon be producing their A-Class sedans in Kecskemét again instead of Germany. This decision caused tensions in Germany, and they “really regret that it will not be implemented there” but in Kecskemét, in the factory that is disparagingly described in Hungary as an “assembly plant,” Mr. István Joó noted.

As he explained, without production capacities, it is not possible to move forward towards activities that create the highest intellectual added value. This is also shown by the example of Mercedes-Benz, as the German automotive giant is not only building its largest European factory in Kecskemét, but also establishing an R&D center.

This is a natural evolution, we can also say that production comes first, on which research and development, innovation and various business services are built

- he underlined.

The establishment of the Kecskemét development center specializing in prototypes is a “very serious step forward,” but it is by no means a unique phenomenon.

The “dimension shift” of the economy is demonstrated by the fact that “many actors who are here with us want to continue their activities in Hungary with production and research and development, in cooperation with higher education institutions”

- Mr. István Joó explained.

He added that besides R&D investments, a historic peak was also registered in 2025 in the field of business service centers, which provide career opportunities for highly qualified, multilingual young people who want to thrive in their homeland, but still in an international environment. In one year, decisions were made on 13 new investments, which will create more jobs than ever before, nearly 3,500.

Another important result in the change in the dimension of the economy is that a record number of Hungarian companies met the strict conditions for investment promotion subsidies, and agreements were reached on 24 large investments with companies with domestic ownership in 2025.

Mr. István Joó highlighted that the opposition's economic policy plans threaten to halt this process, as their implementation would "destroy" the investment promotion system and the country's competitiveness.

He said that investors “do not follow political directions” but “make rational, business decisions”, and their trust in Hungary is unbroken, because the government has created the most competitive investment and business environment in Europe over the past 16 years. He added that, contrary to critical voices, Hungarian small and medium-sized companies can use investment tax breaks in the same way as large foreign companies, and all EU countries use similar tools, and in many places more generously than Hungary.