Perspectives for an enhanced cooperation of the two countries were discussed by Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin and Deputy Prime Minister of Hungary Mihály Varga
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin met with Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Finance of Hungary Mihály Varga, who arrived in Kazakhstan to participate in the 5th meeting of the Kazakhstan - Hungary Strategic Council and the Kazakhstan Business Forum.
The sides addressed the state and perspectives for the development of cooperation in trade and economic, financial and banking, investment, transport and logistics, agricultural, agro-industrial, mining, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, education and other sectors.
The Head of the Government indicated the available potential for the development of trade-economic relations and investment cooperation between Kazakhstan and Hungary against the high recovery rates of the national economies of the two countries.
As part of the Kazakhstan-Hungarian Business Forum, the agreements have been reached to implement joint projects in the medical tourism, agro-industrial complex, renewable energy, transport and logistics, and finance.
In the course of talks, special attention was placed on the issues of cooperation at the site of the Astana International Financial Center, which has the Representative Office of EXIM Bank of Hungary. Moreover, it is planned to expand cooperation with other Hungarian financial and banking structures.
Hungary's economy is one of the most developed in the region of Central and Eastern Europe. In 2020, the country's GDP amounted to $155 billion. According to forecasts of the European Commission, the economic growth in 2021 is predicted to amount to 6.3% after a 5% drop in 2020.
The leading sectors of the Hungarian economy are mechanical engineering, agro-industrial complex, metallurgy, production of building materials, pharmaceuticals, food production, transport and logistics, light and chemical industries.
In June this year, Hungary became the first European country to conclude an agreement with Kazakhstan on the mutual recognition of COVID-19 vaccination passports. In September this year, regular direct flights between the cities of Nur-Sultan and Budapest were resumed. The possibility of opening direct flights between Almaty and the capital of Hungary is under consideration.
The meeting was attended by Minister of National Economy Asset Irgaliyev, Minister of Finance - Erulan Zhamaubayev, First Vice Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development Kairbek Uskenbayev, Vice Minister of Trade and Integration Kairat Torebayev and Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Hungary Zhanibek Abdrashov.