Hungary and Kyrgyzstan: cooperation in a new dimension
Published at: 29/04/2016 03:05 pm
The European Union is working on a new Central Asia strategy in which Kyrgyzstan will play a priority role, and a reinforcement of the partnership and cooperation agreement between the two parties is also on the agenda – Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said in Bishkek. During the talks in the Kyrgiz capital an agreement was reached on the economic cooperation, concentrating on four areas.
First
The most important area is the pharmaceuticals industry. Hungarian pharmaceutical company Gedeon Richter is already represented in Kyrgyzstan and its products are already present on the Kyrgyz market.
Second
The second is the area of healthcare development projects – Hungarian healthcare products will be appearing on the Kyrgyz market. The basis of cooperation is provided by the fact that Hungary’s Eximbank is already financing healthcare development projects in the country in cooperation with the World Bank Group. This provides an opportunity to enable Hungarian healthcare products and equipment to reach the Kyrgyz market.
Third
Hungarian environmental protection and water management solutions were pinpointed as a third element in view of the fact that 40 percent of Kyrgyzstan’s gross domestic product (DGP) is derived from mining and the sector has various side-effects on the environment and water management. Hungarian environmental protection and water management technologies could appear on the Kyrgyz market to provide solutions to these issues.
Fourth
The fourth area of cooperation is Kyrgyz demand for the development of its energy infrastructure, including both its electricity network and within the field of hydroelectric power stations. Hungarian knowledge will also be of assistance in these areas, Mr. Szijjártó said.
In the interests of facilitating these plans, an agreement was reached on finalizing a new economic cooperation agreement before the end of the year, within the framework of which a new economic joint committee will be set up, an investment protection agreement will be concluded and Eximbank will be providing a 27.7 million US Dollar credit line to facilitate cooperation between Hungarian and Kyrgyz enterprises. During the talks, Hungary offered 25 scholarships for students from Kyrgyzstan to attend Hungarian universities. (Photo:KKM)