Hungary and Kazakhstan stand ready to boost economic ties that have suffered due to the Ukrainian crisis, the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in Astana on Thursday.
Péter Szijjártó held talks with Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Massimov, with Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov, Chairman of the Senate Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Investment and Development Minister Asset Issekeshev and Economy Minister Erbolat Dossayev.
Péter Szijjártó and his partners agreed to enhance Hungarian-Kazakh trade relations, strained by the situation in Ukraine and economic sanctions. The Minister also emphasised that both Hungary and Kazakhstan are committed to the peaceful resolution of the conflict as soon as possible.
Kazakhstan is still Hungary's main trading partner in Central Asia, and Kazakhstan's most important trading partner is the EU, so it would be reasonable for both countries to promote pragmatic and enduring dialogue between the EU and the Eurasian Economic Union, Péter Szijjártó said. He added that the cooperation between Hungary and Kazakhstan could serve as a basis for relations between the two unions. Hungary backs the strengthening of the EU’s cooperation with Kazakhstan, which in turn could contribute to restoring the competitiveness of the EU.
An investment programme worth USD 24 billion has been launched in the country. The Minister noted that a joint financial investment fund had been set up, with Hungary and Kazakhstan injecting 20 million dollars each. Moreover, Eximbank created a credit facility worth EUR 45 million to support the cooperation of SMEs and a Hungarian trading house also opened in Astana recently.
Péter Szijjártó said that energy was a prospective field of cooperation, noting that the Kazakh government supports the expansion of the operation of Hungarian oil and gas company MOL in Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan is preparing to introduce an electronic toll system, and a Hungarian company is likely to win the contract to build it.
Both parties agreed to sign a pact that would establish the legal basis for launching direct flights between the two countries in the near future, Péter Szijjártó added.
(MTI / Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade)
