Trade chief holds talks in Algeria

(MTI) – Hungary aims to rebuild its presence in Africa under its external economic strategy, Hungary’s trade chief told MTI on Monday, after holding talks with Algerian officials during a visit to the country.

Hungarian-Algerian relations are growing, with Hungary’s exports rising 30 percent last year to 200 million dollars, Peter Szijjarto said.

The Algerian government’s five-year, 486-billion-dollar development plan, as well as the country’s food imports, offer Hungarian companies an excellent opportunity to do business, he said.

The sides agreed to launch a cooperation programme that involves establishing a dairy operation with 15,000 heads of cattle, he said. Hungarian companies could also help Algerian farmers with irrigation and water management issues, he added.

An agreement was signed between the export-import banks of Hungary and Algeria during the day-and-a-half visit, during which he met with Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal, Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra, Transport Minister Amar Ghoul, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Mohamed Mebarki, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Abdelouahab Nouri and Minister of Youth and Sports Mohamed Tahmi.

Under another agreement, one hundred Algerian students will be able to start their studies at Hungarian universities from September.

Szijjarto said a Hungarian trading house would soon open in Algiers, and talks had started on launching a direct flight between Budapest and the Algerian capital.

Photo: MTI

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