Hungary eyes Azeri construction industry
The Azerbaijani market is attractive for Hungarian construction companies, Hungarian State Secretary Peter Szijjarto told media on a visit to Baku Monday.
``Hungary is pursuing a new foreign policy of reaching the east,`` Szijjarto said. ``We are seeking a strategic partnership with Azerbaijan within this policy.``
Szijjarto, who co-chairs the joint intergovernmental commission, said Azerbaijan has been making huge investments in infrastructure development, while the construction sector in Europe is facing dire challenges.
``So, we are definitely interested in Hungarian construction companies` opportunities to operate in Azerbaijan,`` he added.
According to him, Hungary has significant work experience in the agricultural sector and sees great opportunities for cooperation with Azerbaijan in this field.
Szijjarto said his country was ready to cooperate with Azerbaijan`s state oil company Socar on the projects of Hungarian MOL, Central Europe`s largest energy company.
Szijjarto also said there are many water management companies in Hungary that have been recognized in Central Asia and Eastern Europe, assessing the prospects of these companies` activity in Azerbaijan as positive.
He said Hungary is very rich in mineral springs - thermal waters, and would like to see Azerbaijani investors working in the field of medical tourism.
Moreover, Hungary and Azerbaijan intend to sign an agreement under which around 200 Azerbaijani students will be admitted to Hungarian higher education institutions in September next year, Szijjarto added.
The Hungarian state secretary also said the date of the third meeting of the intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation was agreed at the meeting with Azerbaijani Minister of Economic Development Shahin Mustafayev on Monday. During the commission`s meeting, due in Budapest on October 8-9, projects and proposals on mutual cooperation in such sectors as construction, agriculture and tourism will be discussed.
This is Szijjarto`s first visit to Azerbaijan in the capacity of Hungarian state secretary.