Hungary, a country in the heart of Europe, is poised for greater development, and more investments. With a highly informative booth in GlobalTRONICS 2008, the country aims to enhance its already strong manufacturing sector in areas such as electronics, automotive, and more. More research and development is an area it also emphasizes on. A member of the European Union, the country offers easy access to the whole of Europe. With developed highways and good business infrastructure, the country offers direct access to the EU market of nearly 500 million consumers. Hungary also boasts a skilled workforce both at the managerial level and at the shop floor. According to Agnes Henter, Director for Investment Projects with the Hungary Investment and Trade Development Agency, "Our universities and vocational institutes encourage tie-ups with companies in an effort to promote skills and national development. Several multinationals such as General Electric, Nokia, Ericsson and Bosch have entered close relationships with our institutes”. Several Singaporean companies have also ventured businesses to Hungary and more are likely to follow, said Henter. As a sample of the country’s economic performance: its electronics industry is responsible for nearly 30 percent of its total manufacturing output; and the country is the largest electronics producer in the CEE region accounting for some 37 percent of the regional total. The government offers strong support for investors in the electronics sector. Said Dr Rajmund Kiss, Head of Economic Section, Embassy of the Republic of Hungary in Singapore, "The country offers a corporate tax rate of 16 percent; and companies that pump investments into it can enjoy Development Tax Allowance, currently 80 percent corporate tax break for up to 10 years. Further, based on the level of investment and number of employees, foreign companies could also get cash subsidies from the Hungarian government.” Dr Kiss added that the Hungarian Embassy in Singapore recently opened a trade and investment section to focus on trade and economic relations with Singapore. | 
