On 20 September 2024, a business forum was held in Budapest to coincide with the meeting of the Russian-Hungarian intergovernmental commission with the participation of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó and Minister of Health of the Russian Federation Mikhail Murashko. The event was organized by the Hungarian Export Agency (HEPA).
The event was attended by more than 50 major companies, both current and potential suppliers of the Paks II NPP project, from Hungary, Russia and other countries, as well as representatives of ministries, agencies and the business world of the two countries.
During the forum representatives of ROSATOM's Engineering Division spoke about the achievements of ROSATOM as a world leader in the field of nuclear technologies and about opportunities for cooperation with foreign partners. Alexander Merten, Senior Vice President for International Development of Atomstroyexport (ASE) JSC, spoke about foreign projects of ROSATOM's Engineering Division, noting that the State Corporation is a world leader in the number of NPPs under construction abroad. The Engineering Division builds nuclear power plants in series and has orders for 33 high capacity and 6 low capacity units in 10 countries. “We feel the support of the Hungarian government, for us the Paks II NPP Construction Project is strategic, and is the first project including Generation III+ VVER-1200 reactors on the territory of the EU, it is given special attention”, Alexander Merten said.