“Thanks to investments such as the construction of Coca-Cola HBC Hungary Ltd’s new warehouse in Dunaharaszti, Hungarian exports could reach 100 billion euros this year”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said on Wednesday at a press conference held to mark the new facility’s official inauguration.
“The two billion forint (EUR 6.5 million) project makes Coca-Cola HBC Hungary Ltd’s new warehouse the largest food industry warehouse in Hungary”, the Minister said, adding that “the strength of every national economy is indicated by the level at which global brands such as Coca-Cola are present in the country”.
Hungary achieved a total export value of 92.990 billion euros in 2016, followed by 50.990 billion euros in the first two quarters of this year.
The Minister also said that luckily several global brands such as Audi, Lego and Coca-Cola are present in the Hungarian economy, and it is thanks to their investments that the Hungarian economy will be capable of achieving 100 billion euros in exports. For instance, Coca-Cola HBC exports the goods it produces in Hungary to 25 European countries, he added. “The investments realised by Coca-Cola are also proof of the fact that Hungary offers the region’s most attractive investment environment. We can also not ignore the fact that the company acquires two thirds of its raw materials, such as apples and sugar, from Hungarian suppliers, and would like to increase this ratio even further”, Mr. Szijjártó added.
Thanks to the investment, Coca-Cola HBC Hungary has constructed a 6500 square metre warehouse in the centre of Dunaharaszti. The 12 metre tall building is big enough to fit 8.4 million litres of products on a total of 12 thousand pallets. The facility, which is larger than five football pitches, serves over 30 thousand retail stores.
Following the press conference, Managing Director of Coca-Cola HBC Hungary Minas Agelidis and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó officially inaugurated the warehouse, which was then viewed by guests and representatives of the press.
Coca-Cola HBC Hungary was the first company to conclude a strategic partnership agreement with the Government in 2012. Since then, the company has brought some 15 billion forints (EUR 49 million) of investment to Hungary, while its annual turnover has increased from 87.5 billion forints to 106 billion forints and the taxes paid by the company have increased from 17.7 billion to 25 billion forints.