A delegation from the Council of American Ambassadors, the association of non-career United States ambassadors, was received in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on 6 April by Deputy Minister László Szabó and Deputy State Secretary for Security Policy Levente Benkő. During their meetings, the parties discussed the status of American-Hungarian economic cooperation as well as current security policy issues.

It was stated at the meeting that the United States of America is Hungary’s most important economic partner outside the European Union, although there are still opportunities to further develop relations. Deputy Minister Szabó highlighted the fact that American companies provide work for more than 90 thousand Hungarians and have invested a total of over 9 billion US Dollars in Hungary. 40 of the 50 largest American multinational companies are already present in Hungary and the ten strategic partners with whom the Hungarian Government has concluded strategic cooperation agreements employ 34 thousand people in Hungary.

The American delegation also met with Deputy State Secretary for Security Policy Levente Benkő, with whom they discussed current security policy issues, including the chances of ending the civil war in Syria, the migration crisis affecting Europe and the conflict in Ukraine, as well as the state of the region’s energy security, which provided an opportunity to present Hungary’s standpoint on all these issues in detail.

The delegation from the Council of American Ambassadors is in Budapest from 3-10 April. During their visit, the former ambassadors will meet with numerous political and foreign policy decision-makers and gain a broader insight into Hungary’s economic and cultural life.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade)