Hungary- SL to sign MoU on economic cooperation

Air Services Agreement under discussion:

The Hungarian government expressed interest in signing a Memorandum of Understanding on economic co-operation with Sri Lanka. Preparations are underway to sign it this year. An Air Services Agreement with Hungary is also under discussion.

This was stated by the Hungarian Parliamentary delegation led by Hungary National Assembly Speaker Dr. Laszlo Kover during a meeting with External Affairs Minister Prof G. L. Peiris on Wednesday in Parliament. The Hungarian delegation comprised State Secretary and Speaker's Chief of Cabinet Laszlo Veress, State Secretary and National State Assembly Foreign Office Head Peter Sordi, Parliamentary Guard Commander Laszlo Toth and Hungarian ambassador to Sri Lanka Dr. Janos Tarenyi.

The Hungarian delegation is visiting Sri Lanka on the invitation of Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa.

Prof. Peiris thanked the Hungarian delegation for the pledge by their government to establish three new hospitals in the Southern and Central Provinces. He also acknowledged the proposal by Hungary's Infrastructure State Minister Dr. Pal Volner regarding business co-operation in the transport sector.

Establishment of Ayurvedic Centres was identified as a priority. The Hungarian delegation noted with satisfaction that Hungarian direct investment into Sri Lanka had doubled last year.

Minister Peiris expressed appreciation of Hungary's support with regard to the Labugama and Kalatuwawa water treatment plants which entail immense benefits to the country. He said identification of these projects as priority is appropriate given Hungary's undisputed expertise in the water sector.

Other areas of collaboration included the pharmaceutical sector, waste disposal- recognised as a growing need in the urban areas and co-operation in science and technology, with an emphasis on penetration into the rural sector.

Minister Peiris referred to Sri Lanka's request for more vacancies for Sri Lankan students in the Medical and Engineering Faculties in Hungary increasing in demand because of Hungary's excellence in these fields.

The minister, paying tribute to the strong ties between Sri Lanka and Hungary throughout their diplomatic relationship spanning 55 years, recalled the fruitful meeting which President Mahinda Rajapaksa had with Hungarian President Janos Ader in July last year during the Rio+20 conference in Brazil and the visit by Hungary's Foreign Minister Dr. Janos Martonyi to Sri Lanka in November last year.

The discussions also covered other aspects of economic and development co-operation. The delegation expressed their admiration of Sri Lanka's substantial progress since the eradication of terrorism and pledged their close co-operation in moving the country forward.