Hungary reopens embassy in Angola

Hungary will increase its focus on Angola in the future, both for economic and security reasons, the foreign minister said in Luanda on Wednesday, ahead of reopening the Hungarian embassy.

Speaking to MTI by phone, Péter Szijjártó said that Angola was making “incredible efforts to fight the huge migration pressure from neighbouring countries”. He insisted that Europe should appreciate the efforts of countries “that are not the source of migration nor do they offer transit routes to migrants”. He spoke highly of Angola’s efforts to ensure its economic stability and security, and said that “Angola has proven that illegal migration can be stemmed”.

Hungary will renew its security cooperation with Angola, and offer training to that country’s military officers, Szijjártó said.

Concerning bilateral trade, Szijjártó said that its turnover had grown twenty-fold in 2017, to over 80 million dollars. He added that energy and water management offered further opportunities for cooperation. Hungary’s Eximbank has opened a 172 million dollar credit line to assist Angola’s electrification programme under which that country will buy turbines and generators manufactured in Hungary, the minister said.

As for water management, Szijjártó said that Angola was planning to contract Hungarian companies to ensure a drinking water supply for 43 of its regional centres. Eximbank will provide assistance to that scheme, too, he added.

During his visit to Angola, Szijjártó met the Angolan vice-president, the house speaker, his counterpart and other senior officials, and signed several bilateral agreements.

featured image: MTI

Source: MTI