Leaders of Uzbekistan and Hungary elevate bilateral relations to an enhanced strategic partnership

At the Carmelite Palace, negotiations were held between the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and the Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orbán, both in a contracted format and with the participation of official delegations.

The talks focused on strengthening the strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and Hungary and expanding multifaceted cooperation.

The President of Uzbekistan sincerely thanked the Leader of Hungary for the warm welcome extended to the Uzbekistan delegation in Budapest.
The steady progress in practical cooperation across all areas was positively noted. Productive contacts have been established at the levels of parliaments, governments, sectoral agencies, and regions. Close collaboration is being carried out within the framework of the UN, the Organization of Turkic States, and other international structures.

Mutual trade volumes are growing, and cooperation between leading enterprises in various sectors of the economy is intensifying.

The importance of increasing trade turnover to 500 million euros in the initial stage was emphasized, including through import substitution opportunities and the “GSP+” status.
To this end, laboratories will be accredited in accordance with EU requirements, a pre-certification program for goods will be launched, and a joint platform to support exporting companies will be established.

It is worth noting that the current portfolio of joint investment projects amounts to $500 million. New projects totaling an additional 1.5 billion euros were prepared for this visit.

It was emphasized that the entry of the Hungarian OTP Bank into Uzbekistan’s financial market has served as a strong signal for Hungarian and European businesses. An agreement has been reached with the bank to expand financing instruments. This includes establishing a joint company to develop auto lending and launching a business support program. A poultry cluster is also in the active development phase in Syrdarya region.
During the morning meeting with the business community, agreements were reached regarding implementing new projects. These include the modernization of transport infrastructure, the construction of highways and logistics centers, the development of utility networks, the production of finished textile goods, construction materials, chemical products, pharmaceuticals, and initiatives in digital technologies and aquaculture.

It was emphasized that a special industrial zone is being established in Uzbekistan for European companies, which will be managed by the Hungarian operator Inpark to accommodate such production facilities.

Overall, it was agreed to prepare and adopt an Investment Partnership Program during the next session of the Intergovernmental Commission, scheduled to take place in Budapest this July.
A proposal was also made to resume the activities of the Uzbekistan – Hungary Business Council and to hold its next meeting soon with broad participation from the business community.

The fruitful outcomes of the first Regional Forum, held last October in Kokand, were noted with satisfaction. To promote interregional contacts, an agreement was reached to prepare for the second forum in Hungary.

Discussions on developing direct air routes between the two countries were also held to boost business, tourism, and cultural exchanges.
Special attention was given to strengthening practical cooperation in the cultural and humanitarian sphere.

In October last year, a bust of the great poet Alisher Navoi was unveiled in the city of Lakitelek. In January this year, Uzbek Film Days were held in Budapest.

A proposal was made to declare the coming year as the Year of Uzbek and Hungarian Culture. Preparations are underway for staging the ballet “Lazgi” at the Hungarian State Opera and for an exhibition of Uzbek culture at the Museum of Ethnography of Budapest.
As part of educational exchanges, cooperation under the “Stipendium Hungaricum” program will continue. Opportunities for introducing dual degree programs and establishing branches of Hungarian universities in Uzbekistan were also discussed.

In this context, a proposal was made to hold the third Uzbekistan – Hungary Rectors’ Forum in Tashkent later this year.

The leaders exchanged views on current international and regional issues. They emphasized the importance of continuing cooperation in combating terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and other contemporary security challenges.
The responsible ministries have been instructed to prepare a joint roadmap to ensure oversight of the agreements’ implementation.

Following the meeting, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev invited Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to pay a return visit to Uzbekistan.