Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has unveiled plans to invest HUF300bn (US$1.3bn) to support the development of the country’s food sector over the “next few years”.

Announcing the move, the government said it hopes that encouraging the growth of Hungary’s food sector will “help create new jobs outside Budapest”, spur economic expansion and “ensure the stability of the national economy”.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

In particular, Orbán said the output of SMEs needs to increase. SMEs employ 75% of Hungarians in work.

“Meeting that goal requires efforts to make taxation more flexible and more entrepreneur-friendly. Tax rules should not pose an unbearable burden for businesses,” he added.

Speaking at the opening of a poultry facility owned by local manufacturer Stühmer, Orbán repeated his commitment to creating Europe’s “most competitive business environment” in Hungary.

According to government figures, the food sector is currently the country’s largest employer and third largest producer.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

The Hungarian Investment and Trade Agency stressed: “The food industry is traditionally one of the most important sectors of Hungary’s national economy…Hungary is the only net exporter of agricultural and food products in the [CEE] region. The industry provides 5.31% of the country’s exports.”

The Prime Minister’s office was not available for further comment on how the government plans to invest in the food industry. 

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact