Azerbaijan, Hungary keen to further develop ties

By Aynur Karimova

The successful development of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Hungary in different sectors, in particular in political and economic fields, was high on the agenda of talks held between President Ilham Aliyev and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who was on an official visit to Baku on March 6.

At a one-on-one meeting, the two sides also stressed that they enjoy good potential for developing the bilateral relations in different fields.

Following their private meeting, President Aliyev and Prime Minister Orban met in an expanded format and made speeches at the event.

During the meeting President Aliyev said Azerbaijan is keen on further developing relations with Hungary in all sectors.

He also noted that bilateral ties between the two countries differ for their dynamics and mutual understanding.

"Hungary is a very close friendly nation for us; we would like the economic relations to correspond to the political level of our ties. Also, there are good prospects in the field of agriculture, energy, and high technologies," President Aliyev stressed.

He also expressed Azerbaijan's interest in attracting Hungarian investment in the country and involving more Hungarian companies to participate in the projects financed by Azerbaijan.

The sides also discussed further intensification of cooperation of the two countries in the transport, energy, agriculture, water supply, ICT, infrastructure and other sectors.

Later, President Aliyev and Premier Orban made statements for press.

In his remarks, President Aliyev said Hungary is a very close and friendly country for Azerbaijan. He voiced his confidence that Orban's visit to Azerbaijan will play a significant role in expansion of relations between Baku and Budapest.

"Our political relations are at a very high level," he said. "The high level of political relations makes positive impact on all other spheres. We have been successfully working in international organizations. Hungary plays a very positive and active role in Azerbaijan's relations with the European Union. Relations between the European Union and Azerbaijan are developing successfully, and I am confident that Hungary will continue to consistently support the development of these relations."

Speaking about the economic ties, President Aliyev said that Azerbaijan and Hungary are successfully cooperating in the energy sector. He also pointed out the existing cooperation between Azerbaijan's state energy giant SOCAR and Hungarian MOL company.

He also expressed his country's interest in cooperating with Hungary in the agricultural and education fields.

First Lady awarded

As part of Orban's visit to Azerbaijan, a ceremony has been held to award First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva with Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of Hungary.

Speaking at the award ceremony, the Hungary’s prime minister said this Order, which represents the Hungarian people, is awarded not to the spouse of Mr. President, but to the most popular Azerbaijani woman.

"The activity, carried out by Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva, is known worldwide," he said adding that Mrs. Aliyeva has gained great love of children grown up at orphanages due to her generous support them.

Orban said the first lady's charitable activities not only help these children, but also promote the existing relations between the two countries.

After his brief remark Orban presented the order to Mehriban Aliyeva.

Mrs. Aliyeva thanked the PM for the reward, saying that the Heydar Aliyev Foundation implements various projects in the education and health care, as well as in the social fields.

"I am sure that the projects being realized in the humanitarian sphere, help the peoples, nations better understand each other," she noted.

Later, President Aliyev hosted a dinner reception in honor of Orban. The first ladies of the two countries also attended the event.

Business forum

The main milestone of Orban's official visit to Azerbaijan was the Azerbaijan-Hungary business forum, which focused on development of bilateral relations in various sectors of economy.

Addressing the business forum, which was attended by over 50 representatives of Hungarian companies operating in agriculture, ICT, construction, renewable energy sources, industrial production, tourism, light industry, consulting, Azerbaijan's Economy and Industry Minister Shahin Mustafayev made several attractive and profitable proposals to activate Hungarian companies' operation in Azerbaijan and to conduct joint work in third countries.

In particular, Mustafayev proposed Hungary’s Gedeon Richter Company to establish enterprises for medicine production in Azerbaijan.

He said that currently, 135 types of Hungarian-produced medicines are imported to Azerbaijan, whilst there is a greater potential for cooperation in this field.

“We also have good opportunities for cooperation in ICT, agriculture and tourism,” he noted. “As a result of the work done by our governments, Hungary’s WizzAir company will restore the flights on Budapest-Baku-Budapest route from March 27. We have information that all tickets for this flight have already been sold."

Hungarian companies actively participate in construction of roads and bridges in Azerbaijan and the sides are keen for even larger cooperation.

Currently, Azerbaijan and Hungary are planning to cooperate in developing the toll roads system, information technologies and developing agriculture in Azerbaijan.

Mustafayev also offered Azerbaijan and Hungary to jointly work in Iran and to make joint investments in the third country.

“We have great opportunities to cooperate in investment sphere. We believe that there is a great mutual interest in this field,” he added.

"I would like to emphasize the possibilities of investing in third countries,” said Mustafayev, adding that from this point of view, work has already been done in Iran on lifting the sanctions.

“During the post-sanctions period, we can consider joint activities in this country,” he stressed.

The minister noted that Azerbaijani companies are already operating in Iran, while Iranian companies are active in Azerbaijan. “Therefore, we are well aware of the situation in Iran. Taking into account a number of other factors as well, our companies can play a mediating role for Hungarian companies in Iran.”

Speaking at the business forum Peter Szijjarto, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, said great success has been achieved in recent four years in developing bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Hungary.

“Europe has faced challenges in the recent year and in this situation, it is very important to have reliable and predictable friends and Azerbaijan is that friend,” he noted.

“We want to focus not just on boosting trade, but also on the development of investment cooperation, particularly in the sphere of information technologies, development of infrastructure and agriculture,” Szijjarto said, adding that the two sides also successfully cooperate in energy sector.

He also said the Hungarian government has opened a credit line worth $200 million through the Eximbank to develop the bilateral cooperation with Azerbaijan.

“The sphere of information technologies definitely has the greatest prospects for bilateral cooperation,” said Szijjarto.

The minister added that Hungary is interested in developing the cooperation in developing the toll roads system in Azerbaijan.

The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Hungary in 2015 totalled $27.96 million, of which over $27.7 million accounted for the import of Hungarian products, according to Azerbaijan’s State Customs Committee.

Later, the two countries signed four memorandums of understanding. The documents have been signed between Hungarian and Azerbaijani companies - Umirs Europe and East Stream, Project Service Venture and RR Group of Companies, Toll Service and Sinam, European Parking System and Komtec.