The need to increase energy security was also a topic at the talks, Havasi said. The EBRD chairman also met economy minister Mihály Varga on Monday.

Hungary expects the EBRD to support Hungary’s SME sector, promote the regional expansion of Hungarian mid-size companies and cooperate domestic financial institutions in the next three years, a statement from the economy ministry read in part.

The EBRD plans to continue the successful cooperation in the field of the energy sector and public transport as well, the statement added.

In a brief interview with national news service MTI on the weekend, Chakrabarti commented that “many investors raise the question of predictability” in connection with the Hungarian financial sector, and therefore he would like to “obtain information on what predictable economic policy framework can be expected,” while praising the National Bank of Hungary (MNB) Funding for Growth scheme. 

Sir Chakrabarti said at then that the EBRD would provide financing of about €100 million for Hungarian programs this year, a substantial increase from last year.

— material from MTI was used in this article