Hungarian Heavy Industries 1969/19. [antikvár]

HUNGARY'S METALLURGICAL AND EI\GINEERIIVG INDUSTRY AND THE NEW SYSTEM OF ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT István Kovács, First Deputy Minister of Metallurgy and Engineering, answers questions of Hungarian Heavy Industry's Editor-in-Chief "What experiences have been gained at the Ministry of Metallurgy and Engineering with the new economic system in the first six months?" "The time which has elapsed since the introduction of the new system of economic management is too short for its various important elements to exert their effect; this will need at least a few years. As much it can be established, however, that the transition to the new system has passed smoothly and that the results of the first half-year show a favourable trend." "In the first half of 1968, production in the metallurgical and engineering industries surpassed the figures of production in the corresponding period of 1967 by round 10 per cent. The enterprises pay more attention to market research, they sound the actual demand and make efforts to meet it by stepping up the rate of technical development and introducing more flexible management methods." "Under the stimulus of the reform, the adaptation of the product structure to the solvent demand has started at a good pace, although the enterprises are still hampered by obligations undertaken under earlier contracts, and by traditional cooperation engagements." "The methods of indirect control by economic levers which have replaced the system of plan instructions, have not diminished the importance of the enter- Mr. István Kovács, First Deputy Minister of Metallurgy and Engineering with Mr. István Tatár, the Editor-in.Chief of the HHI FIRST QUARTER 1969. VOLUME 19