Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto presented certificates to soft drink company Hell Energy and chocolate manufacturer Szerencsi Bonbon awarding them government grants supporting investments that preserve jobs and boost efficiency during the coronavirus crisis.

He presented a certificate awarding Hell Energy a HUF 282m grant for a HUF 565m investment involving the construction of seven sugar silos at its plant in Szikszo (NE Hungary).

The investment will preserve 355 jobs, he said. He noted that Hell Energy sells its products in fifty countries on five continents and is a market leader in six countries.

Hell Energy had after-tax profit of HUF 2.6bn on revenue of over HUF 50bn last year. Exports generated around half of revenue. The company inaugurated an HUF 8bn coffee beverage plant in Szikszo days earlier supported by a 50pc government investment grant, too.

Mr Szijjarto presented a certificate awarding Szerencsi Bonbon another HUF 282m grant for a close to HUF 600m production hall at its base in Szerencs (NE Hungary). The 2,300sqm production hall will preserve 130 workplaces, he said.

Managing director of Szerencsi Bonbon Istvan Takacs said the company makes 265 different types of sweets and plans to add at least another 25 to its product palette.