Long-standing ties, co-operation with Hungary

Egypt and Hungary have been working hard to develop political and economic relations in recent years.

Last September, Egypt’s House of Deputies and Hungary’s National Assembly signed a co-operation protocol on legal expertise exchange.

On Tuesday, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi met with Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to review means to strengthen ties between both countries.

The Hungarian prime minister is on a three-day official visit to Egypt.

Hungary has also supported Egypt inside the European Union in view of Egyptian efforts to prevent irregular migration to Europe over the past decade.

With regard to trade, Egypt exports cotton, vegetables, fruits, cement, fertilizers and carpets to Hungary.

Imports from Hungary are electrical appliance, glassware, aluminum, rubber and organic chemicals.

In October 2021, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said it is in the EU’s interest to strengthen relations with Egypt in light of its success in preventing boats carrying irregular migrants from leaving Egyptian coasts since 2016.

In a press conference following the meeting of the Visegrád Group (V4), of which Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic, in addition to Egypt, are members, Orbán warned that Europe will be in “great trouble” if Egypt cannot continue its current policies to rein in emigration to Europe.

President Sisi visited Hungary’s capital Budapest in July 2017 and October 2021 to attend the Visegrad Group summit to discuss issues of terrorism and irregular migration. Orbán visited Egypt in June 2016 to discuss boosting political and economic relations with Cairo.

Egypt and Hungary also share strong economic relations as trade exchange between the two countries was worth $400 million in 2021, according to data provided by Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó last February.

In 2018, Egypt and Hungary signed a contract for the building and delivery of 1,300 rail passenger rolling stock.

Meanwhile, President Sisi received honorary PhD from the Hungarian National University of Public Service during his two-day visit to the Hungarian capital, Budapest, in June 2015.

In April 2015, Egypt and Hungary signed an agreement on operating flights between Hurghada and Hungary.

In November 2022, President Sisi received Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary László Kövér, asserting keenness on boosting partnership in parliamentary domain.