A Jobbik érdeklődéssel várja a kormányzat válaszát: ki az a húsz "üzletember", aki tagja volt Gyurcsány és Kóka küldöttségének? Továbbá ha tavaly létezett magyar vállalatoknál ezer milliárd forint befektethető tőke, miért nem a magyar gazdaság fejlesztésére fordították? Ilyen kormányzati működés mellett isteni csodának tekinthető, hogy nem következett még be a teljes gazdasági összeomlás. A Jobbik azt javasolja, hogy csomagolás helyett valódi gazdasági program kerüljön kidolgozásra, mely működőképesebb, mint Szumátrán vasutat építeni...


Z. Kárpát Dániel,
a Jobbik EU-kabinet elnöke



Hungarian companies to invest $4 billion in South Sumatra

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

South Sumatra's economy is to receive a massive boost following the signing of an agreement worth about US$4 billion on Monday, between the representatives of Hungarian investors and the province's administration.

Visiting Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany and economic and transportation minister Janos Koka, who witnessed the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU), said the deal would focus more on the development and construction of infrastructure.

"This morning, an MOU with the South Sumatra administration and representatives of Hungarian businesses was signed to develop power, coal mining, port and rail projects," Koka said at the State Palace.

South Sumatra Governor Syahrial Oesman said the projects would include the exploration of a coal mine in Banyuasin regency, the construction of a railroad from the mine to Bagan Siapi-Api port in Riau province and the construction of a power plant to support the mine.

"The $4 billion investment deal is a breakthrough for us. Usually, the central government deals with every major economic activity in our province. But now, we are managing to do it alone," said Syahrial after accompanying President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to meet Prime Minister Gyurcsany at the palace.

Syahrial said the coal mining site in Banyuasin was estimated to have a proven reserve of about six billion tons of coal, while its neighboring site in Muara Enim regency had about 13 billion tons.

He said the coal-fired power plant would have a capacity of about 4,000 megawatt (MG), which was significant given the electricity problem in the province.

The Hungarian government has also pledged to provide about $25 million in soft loans for the natural resource-rich South Sumatra to help develop a highway that would link several business areas in the province with Bagan Siapi-Api port.

Meanwhile, during a joint press conference with the President, Prime Minister Gyurcsany offered the government several of its information technology (IT) products and services, as well as a selection of its military equipment.

"Export of Hungarian products to Indonesia is 10 times smaller than imports from Indonesia. We would be very delighted if Indonesia explored several of our IT products as well as our military equipment industry," said Gyurcsany.

According to Indonesian Minister of Trade Mari Elka Pangestu, Indonesia's direct export to Hungary stands at about $96 million annually, while import from the country is less than $10 million.

Mari said that about 50 percent of Indonesian exports to Hungary was in the form of electronic goods, and the remainder was in the form of agriculture produce and food products.

Hungary, which has a population of about 10 million people, has also appealed to the Indonesian government, as well as its business community, to import wheat from Hungary.

Indonesia imports some five million tons of wheat annually, most of which is Australian.

Mari, however, said that importing wheat from Hungary would require greater effort due to the high transportation costs compared to importing it from neighboring countries.

"I think the products with the most potential for us are processing machinery for our forestry industry and IT products. Hungary excels in those sectors," Mari said.

Meanwhile, during a bilateral meeting, the two countries agreed to sign an agreement on economic cooperation and an MOU on the tourism sector.



Hungarian PM to visit Indonesia to boost trade ties

Saturday, July 23, 2005

Veeramalla Anjaiah, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Hungary's Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany will arrive in Jakarta on Saturday for a three-day state visit to boost ties with Indonesia, Hungary's Ambassador Gyorgy Busztin said in Jakarta.

"The main aim of the visit is to strengthen the relations -- especially trade ties -- between Hungary and Indonesia. Our prime minister is bringing a 25-member business delegation with him. The business delegation is expected to clinch several business deals with Indonesian businesspeople," Hungarian Ambassador Busztin told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

Busztin said Gyurcsany and his entourage would arrive in Jakarta on Saturday evening. On Sunday, the prime minister will leave for Yogyakarta, the cradle of Javanese culture, to meet Yogyakarta Sultan Hamengkubuwono X.

Gyurcsany will be received by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday. Susilo will host a state banquet on Monday evening in honor of the prime minister.

During his stay in Jakarta, Gyurcsany will meet House of Representatives Speaker Agung Laksono and People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Hidayat Nurwahid. He will also meet the chairman of the Regional Representatives Council, Ginandjar Kartasasmita.

There is another dimension to Gyurcsany's visit.

"This year, we are commemorating 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations with Indonesia," Busztin said.

Hungary, a Central European nation with a population of 10 million, is a member of the European Union. Indonesian businesses could use Hungary as an entry point to the heart of Europe because it is a gateway to several Central and Eastern European countries.

Bilateral trade between Indonesia and Hungary has been growing at a tremendous pace.

"Our bilateral trade with Indonesia increased to US$180 million in 2004 from a mere $39.10 million in 2000. That is over a 400 percent increase." said the Hungarian Embassy's economic counselor, Andras Hrabovszki.

But according to Busztin, a huge portion of the two countries' trade is being conducted through third countries.

"According to estimates, last year the total trade value of this indirect trade between Hungary and Indonesia reached almost $200 million," Busztin said.

Indonesia mainly exports information technology products, electronic appliances, garments, shoes, coffee, rubber and furniture to Hungary, and imports information technology software, power generation equipment and pharmaceutical items.

The Hungarian delegation is expected to sign several agreements and memorandums of understanding, including an economic cooperation agreement and a memorandum of understanding on tourism, during the visit, Hrabovszki said.