Hungary aims to rebuild its presence in Africa under its external economic strategy, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs and External Economic Relations Péter Szijjártó said on Monday after holding talks with Algerian officials during his official visit to the country.

Hungarian-Algerian relations are improving rapidly, with Hungary's exports rising 30 percent to 200 million dollars last year, Mr. Szijjártó said.
The Algerian government's five-year, 486-billion USD development plan, as well as the country's food imports, offer Hungarian companies an excellent opportunity to do business, he added.

The sides agreed to launch a cooperation programme that involves establishing a dairy operation with 15,000 dairy cows. Hungarian companies could also help Algerian farmers with irrigation and water management issues, the State Secretary said.

An agreement was signed between the export-import banks of Hungary and Algeria during the one-and-a-half-day visit, during which he met with Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal, Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra, Transport Minister Amar Ghoul, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Mohamed Mebarki, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Abdelouahab Nouri and Minister of Youth and Sports Mohamed Tahmi.
According to another agreement, one hundred Algerian students will be able to begin their studies at Hungarian universities from September.

Péter Szijjártó said a Hungarian trading house would soon open in Algiers, and talks had started on launching a direct flight between Budapest and the Algerian capital.

(Prime Minister’s Office)