Hungarian PM welcomes upgrade to Huawei logistics center

BUDAPEST -- Information and communications technology giant Huawei announced the completion of a logistics center upgrade in Biatorbagy, a few kilometers west of Budapest on Tuesday, with an inauguration ceremony officiated by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Chinese Ambassador to Hungary Xiao Qian.

The facility now has a loading capacity of 3,000 tractor-trailers monthly and following additional expansion is intended to handle all transport and storage of products destined for the European, North African, Russian, and Middle East markets.

Speaking at the ceremony, Orban pointed out that business ties with China were imperative for any country hoping to survive the economic downturn.

"The only countries that will remain standing and that have the chance to become winners in the post-recession world are those which are open to China and where Chinese businesses are present," he said.

China's economic policy, focused on production and labor, should serve as an example to all countries trying to shape their own futures following the recession, Orban said, reiterating Hungary's intention to boost its exports outside the European Union from the current 11 percent to 33 percent by 2018.

Xiao Qian said that Huawei made a positive contribution to the promotion of local employment and economic and social development in the past 9 years. Huawei is an example of mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation, common development, he said.

The logistics center has a positive and important significance, showing that Chinese-funded enterprises were confident about Hungary and its investment environment, the Chinese ambassador added.

The logistics center has a warehouse of 30,000 square meters. According to Huawei's plan, the logistics center's import and export volume is expected to reach $1.5 billion, and the logistics throughput to reach 500,000 cubic meters at the end of this year.

Hungary has become Huawei's second largest global supply chain network hub location. Huawei started its European supply center in Hungary in 2009.