The cooperation between Hungary and German car-making giant Audi has been extremely successful, and key to Hungary emerging stronger from recent crises, the minister of foreign affairs and trade said on Tuesday, handing over the Hungarian Order of Merit, Knight’s Cross, to Audi Hungaria board chairman Alfons Dintner. Dintner was awarded for his work to develop the works at the plant in Győr, in north-western Hungary, and to deepen ties between the economy and higher education, as well as Hungarian-German economic relations, Péter Szijjártó said. By launching the manufacturing of electric engines in Győr, Audi also contributed to Hungary becoming one of the “winners of the automotive revolution”, he said. The sector is the backbone of Hungary’s industry, and its production value hit 10,000 billion forints (EUR 26.5bn) last year, he said. “Without Audi, Győr wouldn’t be the most beautiful city in Hungary today, with the most modern prospects.” The company’s cooperation with the city’s university has shown “the real direction of the economy”, he said.