The Minister received United States Ambassador to Hungary Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis at the Ministry of Rural Development. During their meeting, Sándor Fazekas and his team of experts briefed the Ambassador Kounalakis on the country's National Rural Development Strategy and presented the agriculture ministry's plans for the future.

In addition to the proposal for new legislation on the regulation of land purchasing following 2014, the Ambassador was also made aware of the main directions determined by the National Rural development Strategy, to which the Ministry of Rural Development wishes to link the cornerstones of its rural development policy following the reform of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy.

Sándor Fazekas stated that slow change would to the achievement of the new rural development and estate policy goals: the retention of the rural populations, assuring those living in rural areas access to fair incomes, and increasing local employment. The Minister specifically identified the fact that since 2010 Hungarian farmers may directly distribute the foods they process, an excellent example of which is the Vidék Mustra farmers' show market organised under the arcades of the Ministry every Friday.

Sándor Fazekas also invited his American negotiating partner and her colleagues to visit the OMÉK national agriculture and food industry trade fair, which will be held in September of this year, and where in addition to the various agriculture sectors they may also become familiar with excellent quality, small industry Hungarian food products.

(Press Office of the Ministry of Rural Development)