Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Brendan Smith wrapped up a visit to Hungary yesterday by launching the latest Irish investment project in the south of the country.
Mr Smith opened a new terminal at FlyBalaton airport, Hungary's second largest international air hub, and inaugurated a new phase of construction at the €75 million Zala Springs luxury resort complex.
The FlyBalaton airport, 60 per cent owned by Irish investors, is preparing to welcome Ryanair flights from London Stansted three times a week from May 4th.
But Agoston Gubicza, chief executive and part-owner of the former military airbase, said he hoped other routes and carriers would also come on stream.
"We are hoping for new destinations with [Hungarian carrier] Malev, Lufthansa and Ryanair and are in discussions with Aer Lingus, Easyjet and German low-cost carrier Hapag-Lloyd," he said.
The airport, whose camouflaged hangars once housed 42 Warsaw Pact MiG fighter jets, was bought and renovated for around €8 million, and may soon host a new cargo terminal if a deal can be finalised with freight and logistics giant DHL.
Mr Gubicza predicted that FlyBalaton would make a loss of about €300,000 this year but turn a profit in 2007, when it hopes to raise passenger numbers to 130,000 from an estimated 80,000 in 2006, after serving 25,000 travellers last year.
With Ireland's Ambassador to Hungary Brendan McMahon, Mr Smith also officially launched the next stage of work on Zala Springs, a 500-acre spa, golf and residential complex close to FlyBalaton.
The project is led by the Lewis family of central European property specialists, and by Marty Carr, son of Irish golfing great Joe Carr and managing director of Carr Golf and Corporate Travel.
The resort is due for completion in late 2007, and will include luxury apartments and villas, a spa, tennis courts, equestrian centre, vineyard and 18-hole golf course planned by renowned designer Robert Trent Jones II.
"Each element will be top class, but as a package it, Zala, will be very hard to beat," said chairman Geoffrey Lewis. "It will be a year-round destination for the whole family, close to the airport and convenient for major cities like Budapest and Vienna."
Mr Smith also met officials from the Hungarian agriculture ministry and major food retailers.
"Ireland exports 90 per cent of its produce, and we are working to increase our sales and presence in Hungary and the rest of the region," he said.
