“Hungary could become an important operator on the extremely valuable global kosher foods market”, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Parliamentary State Secretary, Levente Magyar said in a statement to Hungarian news agency MTI following two days of negotiations in Israel.

According to Mr. Magyar, while in Israel he held talks with several local investors and trading companies that could help Hungary gain ground on the global kosher foods market.

Logistics infrastructure for the distribution of kosher foods will soon be created that will make Hungary one of the most important operators on this market, in the interests of which preparations for the establishment of a processing plant using state funding are also ongoing.

Hungary is regarded as world number one or worldwide market operator with relation to certain products, in support of which a twenty thousand hectare plastic greenhouse has been built in Eastern Hungary using state resources, and another sixteen hectare facility will soon also be built to facilitate the development of intensive vegetable production.

“Thanks to these state investment projects, the time has come to make contact with private investors, and the Hungarian delegation held talks with potential investors of this kind”, the Hungarian politician highlighted.

“The Israeli investors are planning major kosher food industry investments in Hungary, and the Hungarian State is also providing support to them, as it does to all interested investors”, he added. According to the State Secretary, global trade in kosher foods represents a 26 billion dollar market, and according to calculations this market is expected to more than double by 2025. “Only 14 percent of this quantity is actually consumed by religious Jews, and they are also purchased by members of other religions who regard the fact that foods are kosher as a guarantee of quality”, he said.

According to the State Secretary this represents a huge opportunity for Hungary, because the market has a particularly high price level, and the products involve sectors that play a determining role in Hungarian agriculture, including intensive vegetable production, the dairy industry and the confectionery industry.

On Monday afternoon, Mr. Magyar met with Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs Yuval Rotem, with whom he reviewed bilateral issues, and Mr. Rotem provided an in-depth overview on the complex situation in Syria, and on possible further directions for Hungarian-Israeli cooperation.

Mr. Magyar highlighted the extremely friendly and genial tone of the meeting, which he believes stems partly from the personal friendship that has developed between the countries’ two prime ministers, and from Hungary’s consistent support of Israel on international forums.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)