Economy minister: Hungary accession to AIIB on the agenda
Budapest, January 17 (MTI) – Hungary’s accession to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is on the agenda, Economy Minister Mihály Varga said in a statement issued by his ministry on Tuesday.
Varga said the topic was among the most important of those discussed during an official visit to Hong Kong.
The AIIB, which started operating one year ago, has 57 prospective founding members. China holds one-third of the AIIB’s capital stock, the latest data show. India holds 9.4 percent, Russia 7.3 percent and Germany 5 percent.
Varga was in Hong Kong to attend the 10th Asian Financial Forum. During his stay, he also held talks with Hong Kong Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Gregory So, the former president of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong Jasper Tsang and Deputy Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority Eddie Yue.
Varga said Hungary is Hong Kong’s most significant trading partner in the central and eastern European region, adding that existing mutual business confidence would be further deepened through China’s One Belt cooperation initiative.
Hungary offers favourable investment opportunities to Asian partners in terms of infrastructure, a trained workforce, good geographical location and as a strengthening financial and trade hub, the minister said.
Varga also said more and more Hungarian companies were showing interest in business opportunities in Hong Kong and “we trust that Hungary’s positive macro-economic environment will elicit similar interest from Hong Kong’s companies too”.
Source: MTI
