Hungarian Prime Minister to visit Indonesia to boost trade ties
Hungarian Prime Minister to visit Indonesia to boost trade ties
Veeramalla Anjaiah
The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
Hungary's Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany will arrive in
Jakarta on Saturday for a three-day state visit to boost ties
with Indonesia, Hungary's Ambassador Gyorgy Busztin said in
Jakarta.
"The main aim of the visit is to strengthen the relations --
especially trade ties -- between Hungary and Indonesia. Our prime
minister is bringing a 25-member business delegation with him.
The business delegation is expected to clinch several business
deals with Indonesian businesspeople," Hungarian Ambassador
Busztin told The Jakarta Post on Friday.
Busztin said Gyurcsany and his entourage would arrive in
Jakarta on Saturday evening. On Sunday, the prime minister will
leave for Yogyakarta, the cradle of Javanese culture, to meet
Yogyakarta Sultan Hemangkubuwono X.
Gyurcsany will be received by Indonesian President Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday.
Susilo will host a state banquet on Monday evening in honor of
the prime minister.
During his stay in Jakarta, Gyurcsany will meet House of
Representatives Speaker Agung Laksono and People's Consultative
Assembly Speaker Hidayat Nurwahid. He will also meet the chairman
of the Regional Representatives Council, Ginandjar Kartasasmita.
There is another dimension to Gyurcsany's visit.
"This year, we are commemorating 50 years since the
establishment of diplomatic relations with Indonesia," Busztin
said.
Hungary, a Central European nation with a population of 10
million, is a member of the European Union. Indonesian businesses
could use Hungary as an entry point to the heart of Europe
because it is a gateway to several Central and Eastern European
countries.
Bilateral trade between Indonesia and Hungary has been growing
at a tremendous pace.
"Our bilateral trade with Indonesia increased to US$180
million in 2004 from a mere $39.10 million in 2000. That is over
a 400 percent increase." said the Hungarian Embassy's economic
counselor, Andras Hrabovszki.
But according to Busztin, a huge portion of the two countries'
trade is being conducted through third countries.
"According to estimates, last year the total trade value of
this indirect trade between Hungary and Indonesia reached almost
$200 million," Busztin said.
Indonesia mainly exports information technology products,
electronic appliances, garments, shoes, coffee, rubber and
furniture to Hungary, and imports information technology
software, power generation equipment and pharmaceutical items.
The Hungarian delegation is expected to sign several
agreements and memorandums of understanding, including an
economic cooperation agreement and a memorandum of understanding
on tourism, during the visit, Hrabovszki said.