Hungary offers access to European marts<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Hungary yesterday offered itself as a gateway
\nfor Indonesian exports to European markets, stressing that its
\nlocation in Central Europe makes it a perfect entry point.<\/p>\n
The offer was made during a meeting between Hungarian
\nPresident Arpad Goncz and his Indonesian counterpart Soeharto at
\nthe Merdeka Palace yesterday.<\/p>\n
Minister\/State Secretary Moerdiono in briefing reporters about
\nthe meeting said that Goncz pointed out during the meeting that
\nHungary is now in the process of joining the European Union.<\/p>\n
As a would-be member, all products it exports to members of
\nthe European Union would be exempt from import duty provided that
\nat least 50 percent of the product's contents are produced
\nlocally in Hungary, Goncz said.<\/p>\n
He proposed that Indonesian companies set up joint ventures in
\nHungary to take advantage of this situation, according to
\nMoerdiono. Furniture and garments are among the products that
\ncould be produced and sold this way.<\/p>\n
Goncz agreed that Hungarian firms will establish similar joint
\nventures in Indonesia to produce goods in which his country
\nexcels, including pharmaceuticals, the automotive industry,
\nparticularly buses and agriculture machinery. These products also
\nhave market potentials in Asia.<\/p>\n
Goncz also offered Hungarian services in helping to promote
\nsmall scale businesses in Indonesia and offered scholarships for
\nIndonesians to study at Hungarian universities.<\/p>\n
Later at a press conference, Goncz, who is the first
\ndemocratically elected Hungarian president since the end of
\ncommunist rule, stressed that there is no going back to the old
\nsystem for his country.<\/p>\n
Priority<\/p>\n
Although Budapest is putting priority on establishing ties
\nwith its European neighbors, it also hopes to forge good
\nrelations with countries outside the region, including Indonesia.<\/p>\n
To underline the seriousness of his intention, he pointed to
\nthe presence of 40 entrepreneurs in his delegation to Indonesia.
\n\"I did not come empty handed,\" he said.<\/p>\n
These entrepreneurs have been involved in no less than 200
\nnegotiations.Two agreements were signed during his stay in
\nIndonesia, one on aviation and another on central bank
\ncooperation.<\/p>\n
The memorandum of understanding on air aviation allows the
\nHungarian airline to fly to the holiday island of Bali, where the
\npresident spent his weekend before beginning his two-day state
\nvisit in Jakarta on Monday.<\/p>\n
Bank Indonesia and the National Bank of Hungary yesterday
\nsigned an agreement calling on both parties to facilitate trade
\nand investments between the two countries.<\/p>\n
The agreement was signed by Bank Indonesia director Paul
\nSoetopo Tjokronegoro and chief representative of the National
\nBank of Hungary Gyorgy Szelenyi at Bank Indonesia's headquarters
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
Indonesia in 1993 imported $16 million worth of goods from
\nHungary and exported $11 million. Indonesian exports consist
\nmainly of coffee, rubber, pepper, tin and plywood while its
\nimports include plastics, pharmaceuticals and machineries.
\n(emb\/fhp\/icn)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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