Hassan to visit Hungary to boost ties

Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda will lead a high- level delegation to Hungary next week to foster bilateral relations and enhance the cooperation between the two countries, a senior official from the ministry said.

"Minister Hassan Wirayuda will visit Hungary from Oct. 17 to Oct. 18 to follow up cooperation in many sectors as agreed to by leaders of the two countries," ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa told a press briefing on Friday.

The delegations from the two countries will meet in Budapest.

"During the meeting, the minister is expected to sign Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) on information technology and economic cooperation and development with the Hungarian government," he said.

Meanwhile, Hungarian Ambassador to Indonesia Gyorgy Busztin said Hassan and Hungary's Minister of Information and Technology and Communications Kalman Kovacs would chair the Joint Economic Commission meeting.

Hassan, according to Busztin, will also hold talks with his Hungarian counterpart Serenc Somogyi in Budapest.

Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany was in Jakarta two months ago with a major delegation to boost trade relations.

During his two-day visit, which began on July 23, to Jakarta, Gyurcsany offered President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Hungarian information technology products and services as well as military equipment.

Gyurcsany also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding for a US$4 billion investment deal to develop infrastructure in South Sumatra province.

Hungary, a country of 10 million people and a member of the European Union, also pledged to provide an addition of about $25 million in soft loans to develop highway infrastructure in the natural resource-rich South Sumatra.

Bilateral trade between Indonesia and Hungary has been growing at a tremendous pace in recent years.

For example, Indonesia's bilateral trade with the Central European nation jumped to $180 million in 2004, from a mere $39.10 million in 2000.

Indonesia mainly exports computer spare parts, electronic appliances, garments, shoes, coffee, rubber and furniture to Hungary, and imports information technology software, power generation equipment and pharmaceutical items.

Indonesia and Hungary established bilateral relations in 1955. Budapest set up its embassy in Jakarta in 1957.