Szijjártó said Hungary wanted a closer economic cooperation with Uzbekistan in future. Hungarian exports to Uzbekistan grew 50% in the first half of this year from a year earlier, he added.

Talks have started on doubling the number of transport permits Uzbekistan issues to Hungarian haulage companies, Szijjártó said, going on to add that nn agreement on the matter is important because a Hungarian company will export €5m of cattle to Uzbekistan under a farming agreement.

The sides agreed that the Hungarian energy group MVM will participate in the modernization of Uzbekistan’s electricity network. Talks also took place on a partnership in medical training between the two countries’ universities.

Partnership agreements were signed between Hungary’s Eximbank and Uzbekistan’s HamkorBank, between the Pest County Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the chamber of the Tashkent region, and between the Hungarian Chamber of Agriculture and the Uzbek farmers’ association.