Hungarian-Egyptian business forum held in Budapest

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán urged a breakthrough in Hungarian-Egyptian economic ties at a bilateral business forum organised on the occasion of Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi’s visit to Budapest on Monday.

“We are now holding our third business forum and … so far we have not made any major breakthroughs in the two countries’ economic relations,” Orbán told the forum organised by the Hungarian National Trading House (MNKH).

He pointed out, at the same time, that Hungary and Egypt have built a trusting political relationship, which he said was a “good starting point for achieving a major economic breakthrough” through a “wave of projects”.

Speaking about Hungary’s economy, Orbán said that although Hungary only has a population of 10 million, it exports 110 billion dollars’ worth of goods a year.

The prime minister also touched on the government’s labour-based economic model targeting full employment. He said that seven years ago the government’s goal to achieve full employment in the economy had “elicited smiles”. But now this is less the case after the same target has made its way into the German Christian Democrats’ election campaign platform, he said.

The prime minister said Hungary had developed a “flexible and supportive” policy and approach towards Egypt. “We understand Egyptians’ view that rejects meddling in their internal affairs,” Orban said. He suggested that the European Union should also apply a more constructive approach to the North African country.