Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi have agreed to appoint commissioners to pinpoint projects for mutual cooperation.
During the leaders' meeting on Wednesday, PM Orbán said Hungary had a “great reputation” in Egypt as a farming country, and some of that cooperation was sure to focus on livestock husbandry and crop and seed production, both bilaterally and between the V4 and Egypt. In addition to the large order of railway carriages Hungary is delivering to Egypt, plans are to relocate maintenance and manufacturing units too, PM Orbán said. Also, it was agreed that the number of Egyptian students given a chance to study in Hungary will increase, he said.
Meanwhile, the two leaders discussed gas supply in the eastern Mediterranean. Hungary’s recent decision to source more gas from the south provides an opportunity to involve Egypt in Europe’s future LNG supplies via Hungary, he said. PM Orbán underlined Hungary’s commitment to lobbying the EU to come to a swift decision regarding support for Egypt’s efforts to contain migration at its borders by lifting the bloc’s ban on exports to the country of border protection equipment and financing.
El-Sisi said PM Orbán had an understanding of the issues that affect the region of Egypt and knew how to handle them. He thanked Hungary for its “steadfast support” and for the trust which he said would help Egypt overcome “the difficulties originating from 2011-2013”. El-Sisi said he had agreed with PM Orbán to give impetus to agricultural cooperation and enhance cooperation in tourism and various industries. The president praised PM Orbán as a “great leader” and invited him to the celebrations at “the inauguration of the new capital”.
Photo credit: MTI