Hungary promoting country to Malaysian investors
KOTA KINABALU: Hungary is seeking new economic partners around the world and promoting the country as a destination for foreign investors, said Ambassador of Hungary to Malaysia, Attila Kali.
Kali said Hungary, with a population of 10 million, had been a member of the European Union (EU) since 2004.
For the past few years, Hungary had been increasing its exports and attracting foreign direct investments (FDI) to the country, he said.
Nonetheless, Kali said only 15 per cent of Hungary’s exports were destined for Asia.
“We try to diversify our export markets so as not to depend that much on the European market.
“Hence, we are looking at partners all over the world, including Malaysia,” Kali said during a courtesy call on Sabah United Chinese Chambers of Commerce (SUCCC) here yesterday.
Kali is on his first official visit to Sabah with a 14-member European Union (EU) delegation of ambassadors.
Kali and Dr Titanilla Toth, Deputy Head of Mission from the Embassy of Hungary in Kuala Lumpur, were briefed on the key economic sectors of Sabah, including tourism, oil and gas, and oil palm plantation in the meeting with SUCCC.
He said the Embassy of Hungary in Kuala Lumpur was closed in 2009 during the economic downturn and reopened in 2015 with a strong focus on trade and investment.
Since then, Kali said the embassy had been reaching out to all states in Malaysia.
He said both Hungary and Malaysia had a lot in common but the information was lacking.
“So we need to raise awareness among the private sectors in both countries.”
For the past three days in Sabah, Kali said the EU delegation had visited Mount Kinabalu and learned about the environmental conservation projects here.
According to Kali, Sabah has plenty of opportunities and great potentials.
“People are living harmoniously together here.
“It is very refreshing to come to Sabah,” he said, adding that the embassy might appoint an honorary consul in Sabah.
The ambassador also visited Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and discussed about student exchange programmes.
He said the Hungarian government offered 40 scholarships to Malaysian students to pursue their education in Hungary.
On another note, Kali extended an invitation to SUCCC to join the delegation to Hungary next year.
Meanwhile, SUCCC deputy president Datuk Ling Tiong Chai said Sabah provided a favourable business climate for investors due to its social harmony, political stability and good governance.
Also present were SUCCC life honorary president Datuk Kenneth Yen, Kota Belud Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Kapitan Lim Bum Poo and deputy president Ting Fui Kiong, Datuk Albert Ngan, Sabah Institute of Art chief executive officer Prof Dato’ Dr Wilson Yong Tung Yung and Robin Ling Howe Geng.