Hungary will host the 6th World Congress of Finno-Ugric Peoples in Siófok between 5 and 7 September. The event aims to strengthen cultural, economic and political ties between Finno-Ugric countries and communities. For the first time this year, the Congress will also host an economic forum.

Deputy State Secretary for Cultural Affairs Judit Hammerstein, who is responsible for coordinating the World Congress, said that the organisers expect 450 delegates and 200 observers from all around the world. The Ministry of Human Resources has designated 150 million forints to the main organisers of the three-day event, the Hungarian Office of the Finno-Ugric World Congress. This year the Estonian, Finnish and Hungarian Heads of State will also be present at the opening ceremony on 5 September. Minister for Human Resources Zoltán Balog will also be present and hold a speech at the closing plenary session on 7 September.

The World Congress of Finno-Ugric Peoples was established in 1992 to strengthen cultural, economic and political ties between Finno-Ugric countries and communities. There are approximately 25 million people in the world who speak a Finno-Ugric language and of these, 25 nations will be represented in Siófok. These meetings provide an opportunity to review the current problems of these nations and work out possible solutions in response to those. The World Congress is held every four years in a different country. To emphasise the importance of economic ties, the Hungarian host initiated an economic forum, where high ranking state officials and influential members of the business sector will work on strengthening ties.

(Prime Minister’s Office)