The Hungary Helps humanitarian scheme has been a success and is set to continue next year, the state secretary in charge of the programme said on Thursday.
Hungary’s government has supported communities in more than 40 countries through the programme and has helped more than half a million people stay in their homelands, Trisztan Azbej told public news channel M1.
Hungary was the first country to start supporting persecuted Christians,
Azbej said, adding that Christianity was the most persecuted religion in the world today. He said the Hungary Helps scheme also helped prevent hundreds of thousands of people from setting off towards Europe.
Among the programme’s contributions this year, Azbej noted the inauguration of a vocational training centre in Kenya, support for Armenian churches in Iraq and Syria and the donation of 100,000 doses of coronavirus vaccine to Armenia.
Hungary also negotiated the release of five prisoners of war by Azerbaijan to Armenia,
Hungary will donate 530,000 doses of the AstraZeneca covid vaccine to Bangladesh to support that country’s immunisation drive, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in a video published on Facebook on Wednesday.
Szijjártó said that Hungary had “many million doses” in reserve, facilitating that “everybody could receive their first, second, or even third shot”. “We can also help others… the faster the vaccination drive in other countries, the safer we ourselves are,” the minister said. He said it was especially important in terms of countries with a large population and from which many visits were made to Europe.
Szijjártó noted that
the vaccine donation was “the second largest ever” Hungary had made so far.
Concerning bilateral ties, Szijjártó noted “especially good” political and economic cooperation.
Despite international sanctions, the framework for developing Hungarian-Iranian economic cooperation is in place, Péter Szijjártó, Hungary’s minister of foreign affairs and trade, said on Thursday.
Although the global situation is complicated and punitive measures against Iran are still in force, there are several promising fields of cooperation, the minister told a session of the bilateral economic mixed committee. Hungarian products and services are competitive in the global market, with Hungary producing the tenth highest export-to-GDP ratio in the world, he said.
Szijjártó was accompanied by CEOs of seven companies involved in agriculture, food industry, water management, health and energy industry, during the visit.
The minister said that all conditions for developing inter-company cooperation were in place.
Bilateral relations are free of political disputes, he said, adding that Hungary’s parliament had ratified the bilateral investment protection agreement earlier this week and the two countries concluded a customs agreement to eliminate administrative trade barriers.
Hungary and Iran have agreed to recognise one another’s immunity certificates,
Szijjártó said. At present over 2,000 Iranian students are studying at Hungarian universities and colleges, the minister said. Szijjártó said Hungary highly appreciated Iran’s role in helping to curb the waves of Afghan refugees.
Europe’s interest in preventing mass migration waves from Afghanistan has made Iran a key ally in the region, Hungary’s foreign minister, said in Tehran on Thursday.
If mass migration waves from Afghanistan cannot be prevented, they should at least be prevented from reaching Europe, Péter Szijjártó told a press conference held with Hossein Amirabdollahian, his Iranian counterpart, adding that this made Iran’s role in the region more important.
Iran took in more than 3.5 million Afghan refugees by the end of 2020, Szijjártó noted, citing estimates from the United Nations indicating that it could admit some 300,000 more.
“It is clear that if these people set off towards Europe, we will be presented with serious security and epidemiological risks,” the minister said.
Hungary has delivered 100,000 doses of the Sinopharm Covid jab to Iran with a view to increasing the vaccination rate of the country’s Afghan refugees.
As regards the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, Szijjarto said Hungary backed any proposal aimed at reviving it. “In our view the world is dealing with enough challenges as it is, so it is all the more important to have a chance to end certain conflicts,” he said, adding that the world would be a safer place if the West could rebuild its ties with Iran.
Until then, Hungary is prepared to seek the closest possible cooperation with Iran in the areas not affected by the sanctions, Szijjártó said. Amirabdollahian thanked Hungary for the vaccines and welcomed the new agreement on the two countries’ mutual recognition of each other’s Covid immunity certificates.
Tehran is working to reach similar agreements with other countries, too, and to ensure wider approval for the Iran-developed jab,
he said.
Szijjártó is scheduled to hold talks with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the country’s economy minister later on Thursday.
Hungary has reached an agreement with Iran on the mutual recognition of each other’s Covid immunity certificates, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in Tehran on Thursday.
Under the deal, Hungarian citizens who have been inoculated against Covid-19 can enter Iran without restrictions from Friday irrespective of which vaccine they received, Szijjártó told a joint press conference with Hossein Amirabdollahian, his Iranian counterpart.
Hungary has now reached agreements on mutual recognition of Covid immunity certificates with 27 countries.
Before their press conference, Szijjártó and Amirabdollahian signed agreements on cooperation between their customs authorities, in diplomatic education, culture and the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship programme, the ministry said. Under this scheme, Hungary will offer scholarships to
100 Iranian university students a year,
Szijjártó said, adding that there are an additional 2,000 Iranian students pursuing studies in Hungary.
He also noted that Hungary’s parliament on Tuesday ratified a bilateral investment protection agreement aimed at boosting cooperation between Hungarian and Iranian businesses.
Szijjártó is scheduled to hold talks with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the country’s economy minister later on Thursday.
Balázs Hidvéghi, an MEP of ruling Fidesz, on Wednesday criticised what he called “an immoral new push by pro-migration forces to promote legal migration” after a European parliamentary debate on the creation of new legal channels for labour migration into the bloc.
Hidvéghi told Hungarian reporters in Strasbourg that the proposals contained in the report at the centre of the debate would attract the most talented people to Europe, resulting in a brain drain in areas that are already in a difficult situation.
As the EU struggles with one of its gravest migration crises, the European Parliament is debating a report that would institutionalise migration with active collaboration from the European Commission, he said.
The report calls for promoting legal labour migration and the
import of low and medium-skilled workers from the Middle East and Africa,
Hidvéghi said. It also urges easing their movement within the bloc and making them eligible for benefits, he added.
But in Hungary’s experience, aid should be exported to where it is needed, the MEP said. The goal is not to empty out those areas but rather to create better living conditions for those living there, he added.
“There’s no need for Brussels to decide who should be admitted and what we should do with them,”
Hidvéghi said, adding this decision should remain in the hands of member states. Demographic and labour challenges should be addressed by implementing the kind of family policies introduced by the Hungarian government, he said.
Hungary supports Jordan in preserving its stabilising role in the Middle East with the aim of preventing the region from becoming a source of new migration waves, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in Amman after talks with Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi on Wednesday.
Discussions concerning important international challenges took a back seat during the Covid pandemic, presenting Europe with serious security threats, Szijjártó told a joint press conference after the talks. Middle Eastern security and migration are key issues affecting central Europe’s security, he added.
Jordan, one of Hungary’s most important allies in the region, is receiving support to help migrants locally, before they can be “used as political weapons thrust onto Europe”, Szijjártó said. Within the framework of a NATO project,
Hungary has delivered 10 ventilators to Jordan, while as part of a Polish-Hungarian aid scheme, Hungary is providing medical equipment worth 200 million forints (EUR 540,000) to a hospital which is treating Syrian refugees among others, Szijjártó said.
Hungary, he added, is also providing 700 million forints of support to Jordanian Christian communities as a contribution to their operational costs as well as to provide aid to refugees.
The ministers also signed an agreement on
offering 400 scholarships to Jordanian students planning to study in Hungary.
This year, the Hungarian Armed forces have trained 53 Jordanian officers in how to protect against explosives, and programme will continue in 2022, Szijjártó said.
Meanwhile, the Hungarian Eximbank has opened a 100 million dollar credit line for Hungarian-Jordanian business cooperation, he said. The support scheme “is yet more proof that it’s best to provide help locally rather than importing problems to Europe,” Szijjártó said.
Safadi thanked Hungary for its support. Jordan would continue to do “everything in its power” to provide for refugees arriving in the country, he said, adding that the international community should “shoulder more responsibility in the issue”. Jordan has always been “an oasis of coexistence”, where no one is discriminated against based on their religion or ethnicity, Safadi said.
After establishing itself as the world’s largest book fair this year and receiving 1,692,463 visitors representing 109 nationalities, curtains fell on the 40th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF), which ran its course from November 3-13 under the theme ‘There’s always a right book’.
The cultural extravaganza brought together 1,632 publishers from 83 countries. This milestone edition, where Spain was Guest of Honour, surpassed every international book fair held this year to become the world’s largest by attracting the largest number of publishers and literary agents looking to network, matchmake and do business with each other.
Females account for 51.9 percent of SIBF visitors
Statistics released by SBA reveals that Females account for 51.9 percent of SIBF visitors, and males accounted for 48.1 percent of SIBF visitors. As for age groups, 1.3 percent of visitors at SIBF 2021 were under 15 years; 52.2 percent between 16 and 30, those between 31-45 accounted for 35.5 percent, while 11.1 percent were 46 years and older. 90.2 percent of visitors registered on-ground to attend the fair, while 9.8 percent registered via SBA’s digital platforms.
Multiple visits to SIBF 2021 by 20,000 visitors
An interesting finding made by the book fair this year was that around 20,000 amongst the 1.6 million visitors to SIBF 2021 walked into the 11-day fair more than once; and thousands have visited the fair 3 to 7 times. Some even made multiple visits in one day – a clear sign that SIBF is a major cultural attraction. The fair received visitors from 109 nationalities with the UAE securing the top spot, followed by India, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Pakistan, Iraq, Philippines, Morocco, Tunisia, Morocco, Sudan, Algeria, Italy, France, Germany, Denmark, Austria, America, Canada, and other countries.
More than 1000 activities during the cultural fest
The vibrant and diverse programming agenda of SIBF 2021 included more than 1,000 activities, including 440 cultural sessions, 355 shows, performances, seminars and workshops for children, and more than 80 awe-inspiring theatrical and dance performances from Europe, Asia, and Africa.
For the first time in the history of SIBF, aspiring illustrators, designers and art directors had an opportunity to benefit from a series of free workshops and panel sessions as part of a dedicated Illustration Survival Corner, organised in collaboration with Bologna Children’s Book Fair.
SIBF 2021 brought together 85 writers from 22 countries
SIBF 2021 hosted 85 authors and intellectuals from 22 countries who led the fair’s events and activities. Taleb Al Refai was Cultural Personality of the Year at this edition of the book fair, which also hosted distinguished guests, including Tanzanian novelist and the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature 2021, Abdulrazak Gurnah; South African comedian and celebrity TV host Trevor Noah; Chris Gardner; writer Yasmina Khadra; Amitav Ghosh; Chetan Bhagat; and the young inventor Gitanjali Rao from America.
Notable names from the UAE and the Arab region include novelists Maysoon Saqr Al Qasimi, Sultan Al Amimi, Asma Al Zarooni, the novelist Reem Al Kamali, and Shaikha Al Mutairi, in addition to poet Khalid Abdulrahman, author Ahlam Mosteghanemi, poet Hisham Algakh, actor Muhammad Subhi, poet Faisal Al Adwani, Egyptian jewellery designer Azza Fahmy, Egyptian author Dr Midhat Al Adl, historian Ali Al Namlah, Jordanian Jalal Barjas, and many others.
Ahmed Al Ameri: The strong foundations of learning laid by books will stand firm in the face of any adversities
HE Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Chairman of SBA, said:
“We congratulate His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, for the exceptional success of the 40th edition of Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF). His Highness’s visionary leadership has yielded great cultural achievements for the UAE and the Arab world, and proved that we are a nation that reads, creates, innovates and publishes. On these strengths, SIBF has emerged as the world’s largest book fair this year. This record achievement would not have been possible without the unwavering support of His Highness over the past four decades.”
“The conclusion of the book fair marks not the end but the beginning of a new journey of cultural excellence for the UAE and the Arab region – one in which the distinct voices of writers and intellectuals are heard and begin to resonate with the whole world. We look forward to seeing more and more creative minds contributing to humanity by achieve shared developmental goals through cultural appreciation and exchange,” Al Ameri added.
The SBA Chairman also stated that the strong participation by publishing professionals as well as the visitor turnout were both an affirmation of the willingness of both current and future generations to embrace books and knowledge. It also demonstrates Sharjah’s regional and global appeal as a platform where the best in literature, creativity, arts and culture intersect.
“The strong foundations of learning laid down by books will stand firm in the face of any adversities; and enlightened minds can build on it to drive prosperity for all,” Al Ameri concluded.
Khoula Al Mujaini: SIBF committed to achieving greater success
Khoula Al Mujaini, Director of Fair and Festivals, SBA, said that SIBF 2021 has achieved the distinguished honour of becoming the largest international book fair in the world. She stated that each year, the event provides new opportunities for publishers across the world to grow and prosper.
She added:
“The incredible success of SIBF 2021 reflects the love and commitment of our visitors, guest publishers and participants to continue celebrating and upholding the written word. As the book fair concludes, we reaffirm our commitment to build on Sharjah’s vision of bringing a bigger cultural feat for the world next year.”
Inaugural edition of the National Libraries Summit
A new addition to the SIBF 2021 agenda was a two-day National Libraries Summit, organised at the SBA headquarters in Sharjah from November 8–9, under the theme ‘Visibility, Engagement, Impact, and Collaboration’. The summit attracted more than 50 participants and 20 national libraries from across 20 countries and served as a platform to engage in several discussions and four networking meetings. The summit was held in collaboration with the American Library Association.
35 speakers, 546 publishers and literary agents participate in the SIBF Publishers Conference
546 professionals and stakeholders across the publishing community including agents, authors, and 35 speakers, participated in the 11th SIBF Publishers Conference, organised in collaboration with the International Publishers Association.
8th Sharjah International Library Conference attracts participation of 500 library professionals
The 8th edition of the Sharjah International Library Conference (SILC), held in collaboration with the American Library Association (ALA) on November 10-11, convened 500 librarians and sector professionals from across the globe, and focused on technologies and trends shaping the sector’s future and facilitated collaborations and networking between guests to elevate the services delivered to their respective communities.
The sponsors and partners of SIBF included Etisalat (official sponsor) Sharjah Broadcasting Authority (official media partner); Abu Dhabi Media (media partner); Expo Center Sharjah (strategic partner); Dar Al Khaleej (press partner); and Al Arabiya TV (media sponsor).
A global community of more than 300 library and information professionals from the region and around the world have reinforced their commitment to sharing ideas and expertise to learn from one another and to advance libraries to serve societies better at the 8th Sharjah International Library Conference (SILC), which opened Wednesday, November 10, on the sidelines of the 40th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) at Expo Centre Sharjah.
Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), in collaboration with the American Library Association (ALA), the two-day annual conference is fostering the professional excellence of participants through insightful discussions on new trends and technologies and exploring ways to enhance resources and services to support learning, literacy, and education to shape creative and innovative societies.
The conference also addressed the ongoing challenges facing libraries worldwide and served as a networking platform for participants.
The 8th edition of SILC opened in the presence of HE Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Chairman of SBA; Dr. Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress, USA; HE Meghan Gregonis, US Consul General in Dubai, UAE; Patty M. Wong, President of ALA; Sean Murphy, Charge d’Affaires at the US Embassy Abu Dhabi, UAE; Julius Jefferson Jr, Immediate Past President of ALA; and Eman Bushulaibi, Director of the Sharjah Public Library (SPL).
Other dignitaries at the opening session included Tracie Hall, Executive Director, ALA, and Michael Dowling, Director, International Relations Office, Chapter Relations Office, ALA.
Welcoming guests and participants at the start of the two-day conference, HE Ahmed Al Ameri, Chairman of SBA, shared his joy at the historic achievement of SIBF as the world’s largest book fair in terms of buying and selling copyrights for this year, and underlined how the 2021 edition marked the rebuilding of the post-pandemic growth of the book industry.
Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Chairman of SBA
The SBA Chairman said: “Under the guidance and vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, investments in knowledge, books and culture are steering progress in the emirate and advancing research and human development. As gateways to knowledge and culture, libraries have preserved and strengthened the arts, sciences, poetry, humanities, and the world’s collective cultural heritage for future generations.”
He added: “Sharjah is the only city outside of the US, where a conference of this stature is held, and that gives us every reason to be proud. Libraries are the backbone of human development and organising the Sharjah International Library Conference reinforces our commitment to enhance the capabilities of libraries in both managing and strengthening operations, and enhancing services to empower communities to discover, access, and use of information.”
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Carla Hayden – the first woman and the first African American to lead the national library of the United States, commended the emirate of Sharjah for its pioneering initiatives to develop a knowledge community and nurture a culture of reading.
Pointing out that visibility, engagement, impact, and collaboration are at the heart of what libraries do worldwide, she said: “Librarians are the original search engines; and it is our universal mission to expand access to trusted information and deliver superior services to bridge the gaps in technology and literacy by providing the essential tools that our communities need.”
Dr. Hayden stated that the pandemic amplified the inherent gaps in digital access amongst communities worldwide while describing how libraries responded quickly to become the “digital front doors” and ensure equitable access to a new digital infrastructure for those in need.
Dr. Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress, USA
Thanking all conference participants for their belief in the power of the book and for coming together to strengthen partnerships, she said, “Libraries are empowerment agencies and librarians are the trusted sources in the digital age. We are the knowledge advocates; and we are at the heart of the world of literacy and books. I thank each one of you for the work that you do.”
Enriching learning experience
An international roster of experts led discussions and presentations on the opening day of the conference. Dr. Hassan A. Alsereihy, Department of Information Science, King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia, and President of AFLI, provided insights into the way forward for libraries in the MENA region at a session titled, ‘Libraries in the MENA Region During Covid and Beyond’. Dr. Huda Abbas, Director of Library and Research, King’s Academy, Jordan, discussed ways of ‘Helping Students Cope and Recover through Bibliotherapy’; while in a session titled, ‘Go Together!’, Tracie Hall, Executive Director, American Library Association explored the critical role of libraries in fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion and closing the information and digital divide.
Sonia Alnahawi, recipient of the 2021 School Librarian of the Year Award, organised by the Emirates Literature Foundation, discussed how to create successful school library programmes in ‘School Librarians of the Year: Sharing Stories, Lessons, and Keys to Successes’.
Dr. Fatma Elzahraa Mohamed Abdo, Library and Assistive Technology consultant, American University in Cairo, Egypt, discussed ways of ‘Serving the Visually Impaired’.
Rania Osman, Head of Library of the Future Section, Innovation, Research, and Technology Directorate, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt, enhanced the cataloguing skills of participants at the session titled, ‘Cataloging in Arabic with the new RDA’; Kara Jones, University Librarian, American University of Sharjah, delved into the concept of ‘Library as Place and Space: Adjusting during Covid and Beyond’; and Abeer Al Kuwari, Director, Research & Learning Services, Qatar National Library, shared strategies for engaging with the community in ‘Public Engagement During the Pandemic: Challenges and Opportunities’.
The 8th Sharjah International Library Conference will continue its programming tomorrow (November 11) to spotlight successful initiatives and enhance the knowledge, skills and capabilities of library professionals. The day’s events will commence with a keynote address by Patty Wong, President of ALA. Conference participants will also have the opportunity for one-on-one and group discussions with experts on the key issues and challenges facing libraries.
In the lead up to the Sharjah International Library Conference, two interactive pre-conference workshops were held to outline ways to improve library services and advocacy
Before the regime change in 1989, Hungary gave loans to the communist totalitarian North Korea, and the owed debt has grown into quite a big amount by now. Still, the Hungarian Government has not given up on collecting the debt.
As Világgazdaságreports, Hungary gave loans to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the owed amount has only grown ever since. According to the information of their site, the debt is 30 million clearing roubles which is around 6 billion HUF or around € 16.7 million in transferable roubles.
Hungary has not given up on recovering the outstanding debt. There was no consensual agreement made about the debt settlement for several years until, in 2008, Pyongyang, the capital of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea finally made an offer.
DPRK asked Hungary for the cancellation of over 90% of the total debt amount and they proposed to pay back the remaining sum, roughly half a billion HUF, in natural resources such as ginseng roots.
Origosays that the Hungarian Government obviously refused the offer. Following that event, there was no progress in the case for several years. In 2014, a Hungarian delegation travelled to Pyongyang accompanying the former Ambassador of Seoul who had to hand over his credentials to North Korea as he had been accredited in the communist country as well since December 2009. But again, no agreement was reached.
Világgazdaság reached out to the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to inquire further information on North Korea’s debt, but the Ministry could not give good news.
The Hungarian State Treasury estimates 29.63 million clearing rouble debt owed by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Due to international sanctions, economic and political communication is limited.
The Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also told the news portal that a total of nine people from the DPRK have registered for consular protection in Hungary since 2015. On a different note, North Korea is categorised as “a country not recommended for travel” by the Hungarian Consular Service, the site added.
Origocites the data of the Hungarian Statistical Office which shows that, apart from three instances, there was no foreign trade flow between Hungary and North Korea over the past decade.
Hungary attributes great importance to cooperation between the European Union and Central Asia, especially in the current period when the situation in Afghanistan causes unprecedented security challenges for the whole world, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Friday in Bishkek.
Szijjártó told a joint press conference with Kyrgyz counterpart Ruslan Kazakbayev that “perhaps never before has there been as much attention focused on Central Asia as today”. Possible reasons include global economic changes boosting the role of eastern regions and the failure of international intervention in Afghanistan, he added.
He slammed Brussels for “repeatedly making mistakes” and publishing irresponsible statements similar to 2015 which Szijjarto said increased “the danger of a new and ever-more serious migratory wave to develop”. During the time of the coronavirus pandemic, this poses not only security and civilisational threats but also serious health risks, he added.
He said it was a mistake that Brussels had not asked the opinion of Central Asian countries when it
encouraged them to accept a large number of Afghan refugees.
The Hungarian government shares the view of the region’s states that the crisis developed in Afgahnistan must be resolved within Afghanistan.
Instead of accepting migrants, the EU should provide more resources to support border protection, Szijjarto said.
“It appears the European Commission and its leader still cannot understand the importance of border protection, so perhaps they should come to Central Asia for training and to see what the real world is about and what will happen if several hundred thousand or perhaps a million migrants from Afghanistan break in on Europe,” Szijjarto added.
He also said that good bilateral political cooperation with Kyrgyzstan had already yielded
concrete economic advantages for Hungary.
Kyrgyz-Hungarian trade increased by 56 percent this year and preparations are in a final stage for a direct flight between Budapest and Bishkek to be operated by Wizz Air. An agreement has been signed about the mutual acceptance of vaccination certificates, he added.
Ties in education are also important, with
483 Kyrgyz students having applied for 150 scholarships available in Hungary this year,
he said. Hungarian language training started in one of Kyrgyzstan’s largest state universities from October, he added.
Szijjártó also said that Hungary greatly appreciated Kyrgyzstan’s efforts for self-protection and for maintaining the region’s stability, which also contributes to Europe’s security. As a result, Hungary supports Kyrgyzstan’s application for membership in the United Nations Security Council, he added.
Szijjártó is attending the EU-Central Asia Economic Forum during the day.
Hungary and Kyrgyzstan have launched a joint development fund with the aim of involving Hungarian companies in the process of Kyrgyzstan’s modernisation, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in Bishkek on Friday.
Addressing a joint press conference with Daniyar Amangeldiev, Kyrgyzstan’s minister of economy and commerce, Szijjártó said the 16 million dollar fund will ensure credit and other financial instruments for investments by Hungarian companies in Kyrgyzstan. He added that they were prepared to grow the fund to 50 million dollars in the future.
“The task at hand is clear, and it is to identify as
many investment and modernisation projects
as possible as quickly as possible and to invest in them as soon as possible,” Szijjarto said, emphasising the importance of involving as many Hungarian and Kyrgyz businesses as possible.
Szijjártó said the Kyrgyz economy was at a point in its growth path when progress was being made in areas in which high-level Hungarian technology offered room for cooperation. The goal, he said, was to involve more and more Hungarian companies in the country’s modernisation, primarily in agriculture, the food and steel industries and digitalisation.
The Hungarian government’s strategy of opening to the East has proven “hugely successful”, Szijjártó said, pointing out that trade turnover between Hungary and the Eastern countries was up 28 percent and that Asian countries were investing more and more in Hungary’s innovative sectors.
Central Asia specifically, he said, was “an increasingly exciting region” and one
Hungarians “can easily understand because of our shared historical heritage”.
He noted that Kyrgyz-Hungarian trade had increased by 56 percent this year alone and that Hungarian drugmaker Richter had expanded its share on the Kyrgyz market.
Szijjártó also said that Hungarians in Europe had often been called “the easternmost western people and the westernmost eastern people”. “But with eastern countries and companies getting stronger, this once derogatory label now counts as a compliment,” he said.
Szijjártó said the main characteristic of the new global economic era was that the pace of change was being set by the East. That is where the vast majority of investments come from and standards for competitiveness are also set by Asian countries and businesses, he added.
Szijjártó is attending the EU-Central Asia Economic Forum during the day.
Research suggests that sniffer dogs can detect coronavirus infections with outstanding accuracy. The United Arab Emirates now employs 38 sniffer dogs, including trained dogs from the Pest County Search and Rescue Service, at its airports.
Dogs’ noses have approximately 300 million scent receptors, while humans only bear 5−6 million. We have been utilising this powerful and superior sense of smell for decades to detect firearms, explosives, and drugs. Scientists have also trained dogs to detect various types of cancer, low blood sugar, and even malaria.
International studies
In the past two years, researchers have turned their attention to finding the most effective ways of detecting the signs of a COVID-19 infection, writes Nature. They started to train dogs to smell samples and alert by sitting or pawing the floor when they detect the distinctive odour of the virus. In 2020, a number of airports in the United Arab Emirates, Finland, and Lebanon took part in an experiment to test the accuracy of this method. First, specially trained sniffing dogs sniffed different sweat samples from passengers, then they checked the results against conventional tests. According to data,
“dogs in Finland and Lebanon have identified cases days before conventional tests picked up the virus, suggesting that they can spot infection before symptoms start”.
This was also confirmed by further studies. The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, in collaboration with Durham University and the charity Medical Detection Dogs, found that
bio-detection dogs can smell if someone is infected with COVID-19 with an accuracy rate of 94%. (Other studies claim that this accuracy rate can reach even 98%.) Canines are also able to detect the signs of the virus even in the case of asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic individuals.
Great demand for Hungarian dogs
The United Arab Emirates currently has 38 sniffer dogs working at its airports, including specially trained German Shepherds, Labradors, Cocker Spaniels, and Border Collies.
At one of the main airports in Abu Dhabi, the police are working with sniffer dogs that were trained in Hungary,
László Balázs, the president of the Pest County Search and Rescue Service, told Forbes. The dogs trained at this service have proved their ability in numerous Hungarian and foreign rescue operations – for example, during the search for survivors after earthquakes –, and there is a great demand for Hungarian sniffer dogs abroad.
Studies have shown that dogs are able to screen hundreds of people within an hour. Of course, researchers do not yet know exactly how long they can maintain this performance. In practice, individuals screened by dogs are still separated for further testing. Nonetheless, there is no doubt that
dogs could help to control the pandemic as they can screen people in busy places, such as airports or sports stadiums, faster and cheaper than conventional testing methods.
The fifth meeting of the Hungarian-Kazakh Strategic Council, established in 2016 to strengthen bilateral economic ties, took place in Nur-Sultan on Tuesday, the finance ministry said.
Finance Minister Mihály Varga and Kazakh Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi reviewed cooperation in the areas of education and culture, as well as economy, at the meeting.
Varga noted that
pharmaceuticals and health-care supplies accounted for 70 percent of Hungary’s exports to Kazakhstan in the first half of the year, but said farming, the food industry, water management, waste management, energy and ITC are also promising areas for Hungarian companies that want to sell their products and services in the country.
Varga said 50 Hungarian business leaders participated at a Hungarian-Kazakh business forum at which a number of agreements were reached with local business partners.
Hungary’s Rex-San is in talks on delivering hospital beds and rehabilitation equipment to Kazakhstan, he added.
As we wrote yesterday, Finance Minister Mihály Varga spoke at a business forum in Nur-Sultan organised by the Kazakh Chamber of Foreign Trade and the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MKIK), details here.
In a separate statement issued later on Tuesday, the finance ministry said Varga met with Kazakh Prime Minister Askar Mamin and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Varga said Hungary has always supported a deepening of cooperation between the Visegrad Group (V4) and Central Asia (CA5) and is directing special attention to the matter during the time it holds the rotating V4 presidency.
He thanked Kazakhstan for the donation of 100,000 surgical masks in 2020 and for allowing Hungary to use Nur-Sultan as a stopover on flights delivering pandemic supplies between Beijing and Budapest.
Bilateral trade between the two countries is “traditionally strong”, but the Hungarian government is working to develop it further, Varga said.
Forex trading is among the most profitable things one can do for money these days. Though it is fraught with risk, the rewards are tremendous, which attracts a lot of people to the trade. However, the rules are different in every country, and you need to be aware of them if you plan on trading there. Malaysia is no exception.
The stock market in Malaysia takes a while to understand. There are a lot of nuances involved and a lot of questions that can perplex someone getting into it for the first time. Well, all those questions and more are what we plan on answering in this article, so if you are one of those people seeking answers, you’re at the right place! Let’s get started!
Is Forex Trading Illegal in Malaysia?
This is the most important question, isn’t it? Let us clarify right off the bat that Forex trading isn’t illegal, though it is regulated. Bank Negara Malaysia announced way back in 2012 that the purchase and trading of foreign currency in Malaysia is allowed but should only be done through licensed commercial banks, investment banks, Islamic banks, and international Islamic banks.
Below, we have listed out the various bodies that regulate and oversee the trade of foreign currencies:
● Bank Negara Malaysia
This is the central bank of Malaysia and was founded back in 1959, making it the most important governing body in the country where money is concerned. It issues currency, acts as a banker to the government itself, and regulates its financial institutions, credit system, and monetary policies.
● Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA)
The MIDA is Malaysia’s principal agency to look over and funnel investment towards the manufacturing and services sectors of the country. It is also responsible for putting down the rules which govern the exchanging businesses in Malaysia. This includes Forex traders of all kinds.
● Securities Commission of Malaysia
The Securities Commission regulates every enterprise that deals with securities in the country. It supervises exchanges, central depositories, approval of corporate bond issuing while also regulating the mergers and acquisitions of companies and all matters related to securities and futures contracts, making it one of the most important financial bodies in Malaysia.
● Finance Accreditation Agency (FAA)
The FAA accredits every financial body in the country as per the rules and demands set forth by Bank Negara Malaysia. It aims to standardize and certify every financial institution that aims to do business in the country.
● Shariah Advisory Council (SAC)
The SAC makes sure that the Islamic ideals are being respected and maintained in the country’s institutions and has full authority over Islamic banking, takaful business, Islamic finance, Islamic development of financial businesses, or any other business based on Shariah law and overseen by Bank Negara Malaysia.
Best Ways of Trading Forex in Malaysia
As you can tell, the best way to trade Forex in Malaysia is by using one of the legal and approved institutions or brokers. You also need to maintain an Islamic account. The brokers or agents you choose to deal with must be deemed compliant with Shariah law.
Your best bet is to use some of the best internationally rated brokers who are shariah-compliant. Brokers like eToro, FXTM, Liteforex, and markets.com all fit the bill. However, don’t just pick blindly. Compare all of them and see which one fits your needs the most. Especially because you’re new, choosing the wrong trader can make a huge dent in your investment plans.
Keep An Eye Out For Taxes
Yes, any income you make off of Forex trading in Malaysia is taxable under income taxes. However, capital gains do not incur taxes. The key to avoiding getting taxed is to trade with a swap-free Islamic trading account and are held to not getting any income from your trading; you should be able to keep your tax-free gains intact.
Conclusion
Because Forex trading is such a lucrative deal, countries can scarcely afford to ban it outright. There are a lot of pitfalls with regulating something like Forex trading, but it can be done properly, and Malaysia is trying to do just that. There are a lot of hoops you need to be mindful of when you’re trading in the country but, if you enjoy the game, there is enough reward to be had from the setup.
Be mindful of scams, stick to trusted vendors, and respect the law. Do your research and study the market, and make sure to get help when you need it. But above all else, be careful in everything you do. The markets are always volatile, and risks are always around the corner, but with enough research and common sense, you should be just fine.
Finance Minister Mihály Varga spoke at a business forum in Nur-Sultan organised by the Kazakh Chamber of Foreign Trade and the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MKIK), the finance ministry said in a statement on Monday.
Varga travelled to Kazakhstan with a delegation of close to 50 Hungarian business leaders.
At the forum, he noted that Hungary’s exports to Kazakhstan, including pharmaceuticals, chemicals and livestock, rose by almost 60 percent last year. Bilateral trade between the countries exceeded 330 million dollars in 2020, supported by meetings between Hungarian and Kazakh business leaders organised in recent years, he said.
Varga said economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and Hungary extends to the commerce, farming, energy, renewable energy, finance, food industry and construction sectors.
Kazakh Minister of National Economy Aset Irgaliyev also participated at the forum.
Agreements on cooperation in farming, healthcare, logistics, city management and green innovation were signed in the framework of the forum.
As we wrote in July, Hungary’s foreign policy strategy of opening to the East has proven to be successful over the past ten years, with economic cooperation with the Turkic countries greatly benefiting the country’s national economy, the foreign minister said in Istanbul, details HERE.
Varga paid a visit to the Gumilyov Eurasian National University, which has a “Hungarian Point” language lab. Regarding that facility, the minister said that “its significance is much larger than conveying the Hungarian language and culture to students”.
He noted that
in the last academic year the Hungarian government provided scholarships to 507 Kazakh students to study in Hungary’s higher education under the Stipendium Hungaricum programme.
Varga received an honorary degree from the university’s rector, Yerlan Sydykov.
Launching the latest round of the Hungary Helps scholarship programme on Friday, Tristan Azbej, the prime minister’s state secretary for aiding persecuted Christians, said the scheme helped students studying in Hungary return to their communities and strengthen them.
Under the scheme which has operated for the past three years, around 300 people from persecuted Christian communities in Africa and Asia have studied free of charge in Hungary, with currently 200 young people enrolled.
This year 100 new students are from Africa, the Middle East and Pakistan, he said, citing the examples of potential Nigerian health professionals, Iraqi oil engineers and Lebanese archaeologists.
One Iraqi returning home studying in Hungary is organising the resettlement of people fleeing the Islamic State, Azbej said as an example.
Hungary keeps in touch with graduates, he said, adding that they were grateful to Hungary since returning to their homelands with a European degree paved the way for far more opportunities.
It is high time for Brussels to realise that central Asia is key to Europe’s security, as 30,000-35,000 migrants leave Afghanistan every day, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Wednesday.
Szijjártó told a joint press conference with Tajik counterpart Sirojiddin Muhriddin that if the countries of Central Asia decided to open their borders and allow migrants to pass through, Europe would face an even larger wave of migrants than the one experienced in 2015.
“As a result, human rights lectures should be finally abandoned and real support should be provided to the countries neighbouring Afghanistan in order to help them protect their own borders,” he said. “We propose that the European Union at least double the 20 million euros allocated for this purpose and that we transfer this support to the countries of the region as soon as possible,” he added.
Tajikistan is protecting 1,344 kilometres of border with Afghanistan and it is high time that the EU provides effective support,
he said.
“We can be thankful to the Tajiks that despite the pressure exercised by international organisations and NGOs, they keep their borders closed,” he said. “Had they not done so, many hundreds of thousands of migrants would be knocking on the southen borders of Hungary along the Western Balkans route,” he added.
Szijjártó said it was high time that Europe, Brussels and NGOs understand that border protection is not a human rights issue but a security issue. If this does not become a generally accepted position, Europe’s security will face serious challenges, he added.
