“The Hungarian nation cannot be successful without cooperation; the country’s neighbours must be included in joint efforts”, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s State Secretary for Information and the International Representation of Hungary Tamás Menczer said at the Carpathian Basin Economic Conference and Exhibition in Budapest on Monday.

In his opening speech at the conference, the State Secretary said: “Our efforts are in vain without true cooperation with Serbia, Slovakia, Romania and all the other neighbouring countries”. “The value of the investment projects currently ongoing or already complete within the region exceeds 200 billion forints (EUR 602 million), he pointed out.

“These investment projects have mainly focused on developing and linking the Carpathian Basin’s agriculture, but also involve other sectors of the economy. Four-star tourism infrastructure will have been developed within a few years, placing the whole of the Carpathian Basin on the world tourism map”, he added.

He emphasised that Hungary is on the right track towards working off its deficit. “While a few years ago there were only three motorways linking Hungary to its neighbours, there are now 11 cross-border highways being constructed or planned. Their number will increase to 15 in just a few years”, the State Secretary pointed out.

This is the third time that CED Central European Economic Development Network Nonprofit Ltd. and the Hungarian Export Promotion Agency (HEPA) have organised the Carpathian Basin Economic Conference and Exhibition with the professional support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Some 300 Hungarian and cross-border enterprises are showcasing their goods and services before the invited regional and international distributors, wholesalers and retailers.

The some 2000 visitors will have the opportunity to make direct contact and hold negotiations with state and professional organisation, and with the determining participants of regional economic life.

(MTI)