The Foreign Minister opened a Hungarian diplomatic mission in Muscat, the capital of the Sultanate of Oman, on Monday.
Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said strategic cooperation with Oman is in Hungary’s interest when it comes to energy security, noting that Oman is one of the most significant crude oil and gas producers in the Middle East.
After opening the embassy, Minister Szijjártó signed a cooperation agreement with Yusuf bin Alawi, Oman’s foreign minister.
The Minister told MTI that the Middle East is one of the most rapidly developing regions of the world and a key source of energy. Hungary, with its open economy, has a vested interest in the closest possible cooperation with the Arab Gulf countries, he added.
Minister Szijjártó said Hungary’s oil and gas company MOL and Oman Oil Company have been strategic partners for a while, with the latter holding a significant stake in the Hungarian firm, adding that MOL has started speculative drilling with its Omani partner at a potentially highly productive oil field.
The Minister added that as part of the program Hungary was training 50 engineers for the Omani oil industry under its scholarship scheme.