Georgia’s delegation held meetings in Budapest

Budapest, May 5 (MTI) – Georgia offers excellent opportunities for Hungarian agriculture, Gyula Budai said on Thursday. After the other meeting Hungary’s defence minister said: Georgia has made great efforts towards Euro-Atlantic integration in economic, political and military spheres which are worthy of recognition.

Budai: Hungary-Georgia farming cooperation to get lift

The commissioner in charge of measures linked to the Russian embargo told MTI over the phone from Tbilisi that he had held talks with Georgian officials on Wednesday and Thursday about economic and trade cooperation. He said they noted at talks that bilateral trade between Hungary and Georgia had somewhat dropped over the past period.

Budai met Georgian Farm Minister Otar Danelia and discussed how Hungarian firms could take part in farming developments, especially efficiency-boosting projects in Georgia. As an example they discussed plans to build a cooling station where Georgian vegetables and fruit could be frozen in order to make them fit for transport for longer distances. Another plan is to establish breeding farms where local dairy products could be produced. Establishing breeding farms was also among plans discussed, Budai added.

He said a 68 million dollar credit line Eximbank has secured for Georgia would help complete projects in collaboration with Hungarian companies.

Budai also met Nikoloz Gagua, the Georgian minister for economic and sustainable development, and discussed an investment agreement between their countries. The pact is in the preparatory stage but soon ready for signing, Budai said.

Talks with Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze addressed speeding up preparations for the investment agreement as well as the Russian embargo which hurt Georgia until 2012. Georgia can now transport agricultural products to Russia and it has already signed a free trade agreement with China, Budai said. This could also open up opportunities for Hungarian firms, especially in joint ventures.

Defence minister: Georgia making ‘great efforts’ towards Euro-Atlantic integration

At a joint news conference held with his counterpart Tina Khidasheli, István Simicskó noted that Hungary has consistently supported Georgia’s endeavours, and it supports its territorial independence and sovereignty.

Khidasheli said that Hungary has been an important partner and ally for a long time and has stuck by Georgia through its most trying periods, such as when it escaped from the Soviet bloc. He noted that during last year’s floods, Hungary was the first country to volunteer help.

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters