KUALA LUMPUR, March 23 – Hungary, a central European country which is scheduled to assume the rotating presidency of the European Union (EU), is keen to restart talks on the bloc’s free trade agreement (FTA) with Malaysia, the Embassy of Hungary in Malaysia stated on Friday.
According to a posting on Facebook, its visiting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto informed Malaysian Palm Oil Council chief executive officer Belvinder Sron of Budapest’s intention during their meeting here.
“The Minister also announced Hungary, during its EU presidency in the second half of 2024, will restart previously stalled EU-Malaysia free trade talks,” the social media post stated.
The embassy said Szijjarto, who undertook a one-day working visit to Malaysia on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, had stressed the importance of improving the EU’s external economic relations.
According to him, Putrajaya and Budapest will also convene the first meeting of the Hungarian-Malaysian joint committee.
Malaysia was the last stop in his Southeast Asia visit after Thailand and Singapore. During his visit here, Szijjarto also met Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, during his recent official visit to Germany, had said that it was about time for Malaysia and the EU to rekindle discussions on an FTA to further strengthen bilateral relations and regional integration.
Last year, bilateral trade between Malaysia and Hungary was valued at RM3.08 billion, with exports amounting to RM2.38 billion and imports worth RM0.70 billion.
