At the forum, views were exchanged on the opportunities for the development of trade and investment relations between the countries, and B2B meetings were held.
Within the framework of the 10th session of the Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation between the Governments of Azerbaijan and Hungary, the Azerbaijan-Hungary Business Forum was organized by the Export and Investment Promotion Agency - AZPROMO and the Hungarian Export Promotion Agency (HEPA). In addition to government officials, the event was attended by more than 50 companies operating in water management, agriculture, ICT, healthcare, automotive, pharmaceuticals, construction, finance, and other sectors.
Sahil Babayev, Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Peter Szijjarto, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Hungary, co-chairs of the Commission, attended the opening of the Business Forum.
Minister Sahil Babayev emphasized that thanks to the political will and efforts of the leaders of Azerbaijan and Hungary, the relations between the two countries are at the level of strategic partnership. He said the signing of the Joint Declaration on the Enhanced Strategic Partnership between the two countries in 2023 has made it possible to raise relations to the highest level.
Noting the 40 percent annual increase in trade turnover between the two countries in the first two months of 2024, the minister said such relations based on strategic partnership, friendship and mutual respect also create conditions for expanding relations between entrepreneurs of our countries.
According to him, about 20 business forums, business meetings, and other events have been held in Baku and Budapest in the recent period. He thanked the organizers of the business forum and noted that more than 30 companies from Azerbaijan and about 25 companies from Hungary are represented at today's forum.
Minister Peter Szijjarto said that relations between his country and Azerbaijan are constantly developing and that activation of relations between business people is important for deepening bilateral cooperation, and the business forums held also serve this purpose.
Speaking at the event, AZPROMO Executive Director Yusif Abdullayev talked about the agency's cooperation with Hungary and provided information about Azerbaijan's investment potential and advantages for investors in our country. In turn, HEPA Director General Gabor Yenay emphasized the importance of organizing such events and the positive results achieved. Orkhan Mammadov, Chairman of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBIA), talked about the activities of the Agency, the support measures for the establishment of links between entrepreneurs, and the implementation of joint initiatives.
Bilateral meetings of entrepreneurs were held at the Business Forum, and issues of partnership development were also discussed.
