As Pakistan and Hungary Friday desired to develop economic partnership, the latter agreed to establish a credit line of $84 million for business-to-business cooperation and provide another $50 million for tied aid program.
“We have established a credit line at Hungarian EXIM bank to the extent of $84 million which is exclusively to serve the enhancement of business to business cooperation between Pakistani and Hungarian companies… We are ready to provide $50 million for a tied aid credit program to be launched in Pakistan in fields of agriculture, water, industry and food processing,” Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary Péter Szijjártó said in a joint press stakeout with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi here.
Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó arrived here on maiden official visit on the invitation of his Pakistani counterpart. Besides one-on-one meeting, both the foreign ministers also held delegation level talks in addition to attending a business conference to discuss ways of enhancing bilateral economic cooperation.
Read more: How a UNDP report exposed Pakistan’s economic malaise
“This rolls the ball for economic partnership we want to build,” Foreign Minister Qureshi said apprising the media of the decisions reached between the two sides.
Qureshi said Péter Szijjártó was accompanied by representatives from 17 top Hungarian companies which interacted with Pakistani companies in a matchmaking B2B event held under the Economic Diplomacy Initiative.
Key Takeaways from the 🇵🇰🇭🇺 #EconomicDiplomacy event:
📌🇭🇺 to extend credit line of USD 84 million to strengthen B2B sectors
📌🇭🇺 to provide USD 50 million for developing Agri-Food sector in 🇵🇰
📌possibility of establishing 🇵🇰🇭🇺 air linkages.
📌5 MoUs signed in various sectors. pic.twitter.com/EXVUVY5PKF— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) April 30, 2021
Both sides also signed a number of MoUs in fields of diary production, cybersecurity and others, Qureshi added.
The foreign minister told media that Hungary had also expressed interest in starting direct flights between Pakistan to enhance people-to-people contact and promote business activity.
Foreign Minister Qureshi thanked for the Hungarian support to help Pakistan get GSP Plus status in European Union which doubled Pakistan’s export to Europe.
Read more: Pakistan outperforms India in apparel exports to US
He said both the sides also exchanged views on FATF as how the forum was used and how ought to be used. Both sides agreed that the FATF should not be used as political tool rather only for checking money laundering and terror financing.
The two countries agreed to hold their next round of political consultation in Budapest.
Will work closely to strengthen ties through cooperation at all int’l forums & in business across agricultural/food, environment including waste management, water resource & education. 🇵🇰 appreciates Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Program, offering 200 scholarships to students https://t.co/CJKbuH4Yfv
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) April 30, 2021
Qureshi said it was after 15 years that Hungarian foreign minister was visiting Pakistan.
Péter Szijjártó told media that by visiting Pakistan after hiatus of 15 years, he had broken the unpleasant situation.
He said the Hungarian government had understood the security and economic significance of the region.
Reiterating his country’s commitment against terrorism and extremist ideologies, he said both the phenomenon were the root causes massive illegal migration to Europe.
Accompanied by FM @SMQureshiPTI , Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs & Trade, Mr. Peter Szijjarto planted a Hungarian Willow sapling in Foreign Office Lawns. Its planting symbolizes renewed strength of 🇵🇰🇭🇺 bilateral ties. #HungarianFMinPak pic.twitter.com/kjCInA1GIW
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) April 30, 2021
Referring to the Afghan situation, he said if the two ideologies were not stopped there, those could also pose threats to Europe. Therefore, he said the European Union should support Pakistan in its anti-terror efforts particularly after the pullout of NATO troops from Afghanistan.
Read more: Pakistan in favor of US withdrawal from Afghanistan
He said Afghanistan should not be allowed to become a safe haven for terrorism and extremist ideologies after NATO pullout. He appreciated the role played by Pakistan for Doha peace agreement between Taliban and US.
He said in order to extend its physical presence in Pakistan, Hungary has established its consular representation in Karachi.
🇭🇺 is offering 🇵🇰 students 200 scholarships for higher education under the framework of Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship for 2020-2022 to study in Hungarian universities. 🇭🇺 FM welcomed interest of 🇵🇰 students to study in Hungary. #HungarianFMinPakistan pic.twitter.com/my9bGYxOe9
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) April 30, 2021
Moreover, he said both the sides also signed an MoU under which Hungary would provide scholarships to 200 Pakistani students. The MoU was signed by Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood and Péter Szijjártó.
Courtesy: APP