Hungary to start exporting meat to Philippines

Hungary will start exporting meat products to the Philippines before the end of February, Péter Szijjártó, the foreign minister, said after talks with Ramon M. Lopez, trade and industry minister of the Philippines, in Budapest on Thursday.

Szijjártó told a press conference after the talks that three Hungarian industrial meat companies had received export licences and another seven companies had asked the government for help in obtaining export rights.

The starting point for cooperation in agricultural research is that Hungary is the only state in Europe in which GMOs are constitutionally banned, he said, adding that the Philippines wanted to import Hungarian farming machinery and technology.

The minister also emphasised the importance of water management cooperation and the fact that the disaster management authority in the Philippines had decided to order Hungarian water purification equipment. The Philippines is in need of water purification technologies, and the full water supply of a 10,000-strong locality is provided thanks to Hungarian equipment, he said.

Hungary and the Philippines have launched a partnership in agricultural research and joint water management projects are under way, he added.

He noted that Hungary was the first country to ratify a partnership and cooperation agreement between the two regions, and it backed an extension of a European Commission preferential trade pact for another two years. Hungary also supports the relaunching of free trade talks with the Philippines, he added.

Lopez said his country wants to build closer ties with Hungary and its region and trusts there will be further foreign investment in the Philippines. He said he saw great opportunities to develop the trade and industry in his country and urged closer cooperation between the Philippines and Hungary.

Answering a question, Szijjártó said no subsidies for exports to the Philippines or credit for joint projects had been made, but Eximbank credit would be available for Hungarian companies participating in lake rehabilitation projects and disaster management.

Featured image: MTI

Source: MTI