BUDAPEST, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Hungary exported 18,900 tons of sausages to 45 countries last year, making it the world's 12th largest exporter of sausages, said Peter Szijjarto, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Saturday at the 23rd Bekescsaba Sausage Festival.
At the opening of a main event of the festival, the sausage making contest, the minister called on participants to make enough sausages so that Hungary can be "in the top ten in 2020."
"Hungarian economy is export oriented, and its growth depends on the volume of exports," said Szijjarto, quoting by Hungarian news agency MTI, "Exports exceeded 100 billion euros (111 billion U.S. dollars) in the last two years, contributing significantly to the Hungarian economy, (which is) growing above the EU average."
"Export of food products plays a key role in export, as demand for quality Hungarian products is increasing worldwide," he underlined.
According to the minister, Hungary's strength lies in nurturing values and traditions, and the Bekescsaba Sausage Festival aims to promote a real value, a so-called Hungaricum.
About 750 teams took part in Saturday's sausage making competition during the festival.
The sausage festival was opend on Thursday and will end on Sunday. According to the organizers, the festival will attract about 100,000 visitors. (1 euro=1.11 U.S. dollars)
