Hassan to visit Hungary to boost ties

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.