Long-term future of Hungary-Kuwait trade ties bright, says state secretary

Kuwait City, January 28 (MTI) – Hungary and Kuwait’s trade relations are set to intensify in the long run as falling oil prices will push the gulf state to diversify its economy and Hungary has quality products and services to offer Kuwait, a foreign ministry state secretary said on Thursday.

László Szabó conducted bilateral talks during a two-day visit to Kuwait and opened a Hungarian visa centre there. He said the centre would boost tourism and business relations between the two countries, adding that a Hungarian visa could prove especially attractive to Kuwaitis since it is also a Schengen visa.

Speaking about his talks with Kuwaiti Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Suleiman Al-Jarallah, Szabó said the deputy minister expressed Kuwait’s sympathy toward the Hungarian government over the security risks posed by the flow of migrants into Europe. Szabó said he reassured the deputy minister that the Hungarian authorities had not used violence against migrants. The Hungarian government distinguishes between economic migrants and genuine refugees fleeing war, Szabó insisted. He reiterated Hungary’s stance that the migrant crisis should be resolved by stabilising the migrants’ countries of origin.

Concerning his talks with Jamal Al-Harbi, deputy state secretary for health, Szabó said his negotiating partner expressed interest in Hungarian rehabilitation programmes. The two officials agreed that Kuwait will send a delegation to Hungary in March to inspect various health institutions that can treat Kuwaiti citizens.

In his talks with higher education state secretary Hamed Mohammed Al-Azmi, Szabó agreed with the state secretary that Hungary will offer scholarships to 20 Kuwaiti students through the Stipendium Hungaricum programme.

On Thursday delegates of the second Hungarian-Kuwaiti mixed economic committee signed an aviation agreement laying the foundations for a future direct flight between Hungary and Kuwait.

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