Doha, 25 March 2021 (Qatar Tribune)

By Ashraf Siddiqui

There is great potential for cooperation in agriculture sector between Qatar and Hungary, Hungarian Ambassador to Qatar HE Fodor Barnabas has said.
The ambassador lauded Qatar for hosting the International Agricultural Exhibition (AgriteQ) 2021 despite the current circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic. AgriteQ, he noted, can help promote Hungarian agricultural products and services in Qatar.

Talking to Qatar Tribune in an exclusive interview, he said, “This is the first time we have participated in AgriteQ. The exhibition is an excellent opportunity for business professionals and companies to display their latest products and innovations in agriculture and farming. Besides, the expo helps professionals meet prospective partners and explore the large market in Qatar.”

He said a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in agriculture and environmental protection between the two countries is in its final stage.
“Qatar offers a great opportunity to Hungary in the field of agriculture, especially in the technology to boost agricultural output. By taking part in this event, we are able to see many agricultural products from various countries. Also, this expo is an excellent platform for raising awareness of environmental issues,” he said.
The National Export Strategy Programme (NEXT) of the Hungarian government offers support to outstanding exporters to enter new markets. Eight well-established companies from Hungary are represented in this expo,” the ambassador informed.

On bilateral relations, the envoy said ties between Hungary and Qatar are historically good. “It is based on mutual respect, understanding joint interests and refraining from interfering in the domestic affairs of each other. The two countries have shown great commitment to opening up newer channels of cooperation. Political relations between them serve as a good basis for economic, investment, cultural and scientific cooperation, and we are exerting great efforts to give further impetus to them.”

The ambassador also expressed his strong interest in developing a partnership in LNG as “Qatar is the largest player in this field with extensive experience and is a very reliable supplier”.

Barnabas said he is looking forward to solidifying the bilateral relations by planning high-level visits between both countries as soon as the COVID-19 situation improves.

“We are happy to welcome the national football team of Qatar to Hungary, where they play preparatory matches with their European counterparts. This makes a direct connection between Hungary and Qatar as the host nation of the FIFA 2022 World Cup,” he said.