Souht Korean Bumchun to invest billions in Hungary
The South Korean-owned automotive supplier, BC GEN Hungary Kft., has announced a new investment of HUF 21 billion, which will create 400 new jobs in Salgótarján. The announcement was made by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó in Budapest on Tuesday.
Souht Korean Bumchun to invest billions in Hungary
The Economics of Geography

Souht Korean Bumchun to invest billions in Hungary

Photo: Péter Szijjártó/Facebook
Eurasia 23/07/2024 19:55

The South Korean-owned automotive supplier, BC GEN Hungary Kft., has announced a new investment of HUF 21 billion, which will create 400 new jobs in Salgótarján. The announcement was made by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó in Budapest on Tuesday.

At the announcement of BC GEN Hungary Kft.'s new investment, the minister stated that Bumchun, South Korea, has decided to expand its Salgótarján plant, which is its first plant abroad. This expansion will triple the plant's capacity to produce aluminum battery connectors for electric vehicles.

According to Szijjártó, the state is supporting the HUF 21 billion development of the automotive supplier company with a contribution of HUF 3.75 billion, thereby facilitating the creation of 400 new jobs. In his speech, he emphasized that the investment will further strengthen the Hungarian electronics sector, which recorded a production value of HUF 4,500 billion in the first five months of the year. The sector's competitiveness is clearly demonstrated by its current export share of 95 percent.

He explained that BC GEN Hungary Kft. represents the highest level of technological advancement, thereby contributing to the acceleration of the domestic economy's transformation and the increase of added value.

He also pointed out that South Korean companies are already the third largest investor community in Hungary, primarily connected to the electric car industry. "The value of their investments is slowly approaching ten billion euros, and this is also reflected in bilateral trade turnover, which set a new record of nine billion dollars last year, following a 31 percent increase," he said.
Péter Szijjártó/Facebook

Péter Szijjártó also addressed the significant changes in the global economy in recent years, noting that the electric transition of the automotive industry has fundamentally reversed previous trends. He stated that this shift was driven by political, technological, and environmental imperatives, and emphasized that road transport is responsible for a significant share of emissions.

He underlined that this transition has led to fierce global competition to determine where to invest in the new era. He emphasized that countries excelling in this area will have significant assurances for their future economic growth. "It is good news that our country has achieved outstanding results in the race for the largest investments in the electric car transition. Moreover, this is important not only for sustaining long-term economic growth but also for protecting jobs," he said.

He stated that the automotive industry has always played a crucial role in Hungary, and it is essential to replace the jobs that may be lost from the traditional automotive era.

The minister emphasized that the automotive industry in Hungary accounts for approximately 30 percent of the total manufacturing output, directly supports 150,000 jobs, and generated a production value of HUF 13,700 billion last year. He noted that, apart from Germany and China, Hungary is the only country where the three largest premium German car brands have factories. Additionally, five of the world's ten largest electric battery producers, including the world market leader, are also present in Hungary.

"This is a very unique combination that has made Hungary a meeting point for Eastern and Western economies, and Eastern and Western investment," he said. "This positioning ensures that we are among the world leaders in the automotive revolution. If you think about it, this is also remarkable because it has been a very long time since Hungary was at the forefront of technological innovation that will determine the functioning of the world economy in the long term," he concluded.

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