“Hungarian enterprises have excellent export opportunities in the Uzbekistani economy, which is producing an enviable level of economic growth even in Asian comparison, namely within the fields of the food industry and animal husbandry technologies, the pharmaceutical industry and water management technologies”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said in a statement to Hungarian news agency MTI following negotiations in Tashkent.

“Uzbekistan’s economy produced economic growth of 7.8 percent last year, and growth for this year is projected at around 6 percent”, the Minister said. “Parallel to this, the country would like to take great leaps to expand foreign relations, is liberalising its economy and would like to make the national currency convertible, the required legislation for which is being adopted as we speak, and have begun the realisation of a five-year economic development plan”, he added.

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“This is providing major opportunities for European companies, including Hungarian investors and exporters. In the interests of facilitating the appearance of Hungarian enterprises on the Uzbekistani market, today we have opened our new embassy in Tashkent, because it is impossible to achieve success here without a personal presence”, Mr. Szijjártó said.

“Hungary is the 11th EU member state to open an embassy here; the other three Visegrád Group (V4) countries have already opened an embassy here, having realised the opportunities inherent in the region”, he noted.

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During his talks with Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov and several ministers, Mr. Szijártó and his negotiating partners agreed that Tashkent would open up three areas for Hungarian enterprises in accordance with Uzbekistan’s requirements and the level of development of Hungarian technologies.

“In view of the fact that Uzbekistan imports a major proportion of its food requirements, in addition to exporting cattle, Hungary will also be given the opportunity to export cattle and poultry farming technologies”, the Minister said.

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“Secondly, in view of the fact that Hungarian pharmaceutical company Richter is already plays an important role on the Uzbekistani market, having registers over a hundred products, in addition to being involved in the clinical testing of over 30 pharmaceuticals in Uzbekistan, the Uzbekistani government is happy to see the company’s further expansion in the country”, he continued.

“Thirdly, as a result of the scarcity of water resources in Central Asia, the use of water by certain countries from shared lakes and rivers could not only led to political conflict, but also represents a security risk. Accordingly, Hungarian water management technologies within the fields of sewage treatment, reducing water loss and irrigation, could contribute significantly to the stability of the Uzbekistani economy”, Mr Szijjártó said.

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The Hungarian Foreign Minister also told reporters that Hungary had offered 30 scholarship places for Uzbekistani students to attend Hungarian universities. The related agreement is currently being drawn up and will be signed in New York on the sidelines of the upcoming session of the UN General Assembly.

The Minister is on a tour of Central Asia. The main purpose of his visit is to suitably prepare Hungary for its upcoming presidency of the V4, which begins on 1 July, in view of the fact that the most important task of the Hungarian presidency will be to enable the V4 to significantly develop relations between Central Europe and Central Asia.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade/MTI)