Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó officially opened a Hungarian diplomatic representation in Muscat, the capital of Oman, on Monday.

In a telephone statement to Hungarian news agency MTI, Mr. Szijjártó stressed that Oman is one of the largest oil and gas producers in the Middle East, and strategic cooperation with Oman is in Hungary’s energy security interests.

Following the opening of the new Hungarian Embassy, the Hungarian Foreign Minister concluded a cooperation agreement with Oman’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alavi bin Abdullah, and met with Minister of Trade and Industry Dr. Ali bin Masoud al-Sunaidi, Finance Ministry Secretary General Nasszer bin Hamis bin Ali Al Jashmi, President of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry Qais Mohammed al-Yousef, and Minister for Higher Education Dr. Rawya al-Busaidi.

In his statement to MTI, the Minister emphasised that the Middle Eastern region is one of the world’s most rapidly developing regions, as well as being one of the centres of oils and gas production, and accordingly, with its open economy it is in Hungary’s interests to maintain the closest possible cooperation with the countries of the Persian Gulf.

“It is important that we have strategic partners, which creates an opportunity for Hungarian enterprises. The expansion of relations is beginning from a good foundation in view of the fact that MOL and the Oman Oil Company have been strategic partners for several years, with the latter owning a significant stake in the Hungarian energy company. MOL has begun more exploratory drilling on a prospective new oil field with its Omani partner, the results of which could be extremely promising”, the Minister stated.

“Oman highly appreciates the fact that Hungary is undertaking an important role in the education of the Sultanate’s oil industry engineers, affording 50 scholarship places within its higher education system every year. Oman, which is over three times the size of Hungary, has a population of 3 million.

(MTI)