Hungary backs PHL-EU free trade ahead of embassy re-opening
DAVAO CITY — Hungarian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said Budapest supports a free trade agreement “as soon as possible” between the Philippines and the European Union (EU), as his country signaled its readiness to re-open its Manila embassy, shuttered since 1995.
As part of the preparations to renew diplomatic ties, Mr. Szijjarto said Budapest is not inclined to criticize the Philippines’ internal affairs.
“We understand that its only the Filipino people have the right to make a decision about who is leading this country and as we expect others not to judge and criticize our domestic and internal developments,” said Mr. Szijjarto in an interview.
“So far we see an openness and readiness on the side of the administration of the Philippines to enhance this bilateral cooperation based on mutual respect and mutual interest and ( with the Philippines) leading ASEAN this year we think that cooperation with ASEAN is extremely important… Hungary is pushing for a free trade agreement to be signed as soon as possible between the Philippines and the European Union,” he said.
Mr. Szijarto’s remarks come in the context of frequent clashes between EU officials and Mr. Duterte over the drug crackdown and human rights, among other matters.
Mr. Szijjarto arrived in Davao yesterday for the signing of memoranda of agreement on cultural cooperation between the Philippines and Hungary involving the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and cooperation between the foreign service institute of the Philippines and the Institute of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary.
“I’m honored to be the first foreign minister of the European Union to be received in Davao. Hungary attaches great significance to cooperation with the Philippines as the major Christian country in the region and we would like to put our bilateral relationship to a new dimension. That is why we signed today’s agreements on culture and cooperation between our foreign service institutes,” he said.
He also said that on March 28 both sides will sign trade cooperation agreements, which Budapest sees as a means to enhance bilateral cooperation.
Mr. Szijjarto said Hungary looks forward to cooperation in the field of food industry, water management, and machinery.
He added that 45 scholarships have been granted to Filipino students to attend Hungarian universities.
The re-opening of the embassy in Manila today and the consular section in April will make it easier for students from the Philippines who are willing to study in Hungary, he said.
“Tomorrow we will meet very significant leaders in Manila who might be interested in investing in Hungary since we have implemented very important measures in Hungary to create the most attractive and the best circumstances for investment in Europe,” he said.
Mr. Szijjarto said the measures include the lowest corporate income tax rate of 9% and the lowest personal income tax rate of 15%.
“That’s a very wide variety of cash incentives for investments in Hungary. But Hungarian investments in the Philippines must be business decisions. And when Hungarian companies need support we are ready to give it,” he said. —