The opposition Democratic Coalition (DK) called on the prime minister to explain the high level of state debt. “The amount accumulated in state debt is almost twice the amount held in 2010.

Hungary posted a trade surplus of 811 million euros in November, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) said. Annualised exports rose for the third month in a row, while imports increased for the first time since the start of the pandemic, KSH said.

The government’s support scheme for the investment projects of large companies has helped generate more than 382 billion forints (EUR 1.06bn) worth of developments in Hungary since 2015, Finance Minister Mihály Varga said.

The Hungarian government, through the European Union’s common agricultural policy (CAP), will spend 4,265 billion forints (EUR 11.8bn) on the development of Hungary’s rural areas, its agriculture and food industry until 2027, Agriculture Minister István Nagy said.

Hungary’s industrial output grew by an annual 3.5% in November, expanding for the third month in a row and accelerating from 0.6% in October, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) said.

Japanese companies play a key role in Hungary’s economic growth, with 19 Japanese companies having invested 21 billion forints (EUR 58.5), creating over 13,000 jobs since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Facebook, noting he had met Japanese Ambassador Masato Ohtaka for an introductory meeting.

The Hungarian unit of Korea’s Sangsin is investing 10.5 billion forints (EUR 29.2m) to expand its base in Jászberény, in eastern Hungary, with a 3.15 billion government grant, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó announced.

Retail sales in Hungary edged down an annual 0.3% in November as vehicle fuel and non-food sales dropped, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) said.