In the "Karmelita" palace in Budapest, the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban held talks with a narrow circle and official delegations participating.
The discussions focused on strengthening the strategic partnership and multifaceted cooperation between Uzbekistan and Hungary. It was noted with satisfaction that practical cooperation is consistently developing in all areas. Effective communication has been established at the levels of parliaments, governments, agencies, and regions. Close cooperation is being carried out within the framework of the UN, the Organization of Turkic States, and other international structures.
The volume of mutual trade is increasing, and cooperation among leading enterprises in various sectors of the economy is strengthening. The importance of increasing the volume of trade, including through import substitution and the "GSP+" status, to reach 500 million euros in the first phase was emphasized.
For this purpose, laboratories will be accredited in accordance with the requirements of the European Union, a pre-certification program for goods and a joint platform to assist exporting companies will be launched. Currently, the portfolio of joint investment projects amounts to 500 million dollars. New projects worth another 1.5 billion euros have been prepared for this visit.
It was noted that the entry of Hungary's "OTP" bank into the Uzbek financial market has been a strong incentive for Hungary and European businesses. An agreement was reached to expand financing instruments with the bank. Establishing a joint company for the development of auto lending and launching a business support program are among these initiatives. The establishment of a poultry cluster in the Syrdarya region is also in an active phase.
During the meeting with representatives of the business circles in the morning, agreements were reached on implementing new projects in areas such as modernizing transport infrastructure, constructing roads and logistics centers, developing utility networks, producing ready-made textile products, construction materials, chemical goods, pharmaceutical products, digital technologies, and fishing.
It was emphasized that a special industrial zone for European companies is being established under the management of Hungary's "Inpark" operator to locate such productions in Uzbekistan.
In general, it was agreed to prepare and adopt an Investment Partnership Program at the next meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission to be held in Budapest in July this year.
It was also proposed to restore the activities of the Uzbekistan-Hungary Business Council and hold its next meeting with broad participation of business representatives in the near future.
The effective results of the first Regional Forum held in the city of Kokand last October were noted with satisfaction. An agreement was reached to prepare thoroughly for the second forum in Hungary to promote interregional cooperation.
Issues of developing direct air connections between the two countries were also discussed to activate business, tourism, and cultural exchanges.
Special attention was paid to expanding practical cooperation in the cultural and humanitarian sphere.
In October of last year, a bust of the great poet Alisher Navoi was unveiled in the city of Lakitelek. In January of this year, Uzbek cinema days were held in Budapest.
A proposal was made to declare the upcoming year as the Year of Uzbekistan and Hungary's Culture. Preparations are underway to stage the "Lazgi" ballet at the Hungarian State Opera and to hold an exhibition of Uzbek culture at the Ethnography Museum in Budapest.
Cooperation within the framework of the "Stipendium Hungaricum" program for educational exchanges will continue. Additionally, the possibilities of introducing a diploma recognition system in both countries and establishing branches of Hungarian higher education institutions in our country were discussed.
In this regard, it was proposed to hold the third forum of rectors of Uzbekistan and Hungary in Tashkent this year.
The leaders exchanged views on pressing issues of international and regional significance. It was emphasized that continuing cooperation in the fight against terrorism, extremism, the illegal trafficking of narcotic substances, human trafficking, and other modern threats to security is crucial.
To monitor the implementation of the agreements reached, the relevant ministries were instructed to prepare a joint "roadmap".
At the end of the meeting, Shavkat Mirziyoyev invited Prime Minister Viktor Orban to visit Uzbekistan in response.
