Prime Minister Viktor Orbán told Saudi business leaders in Riyadh on Tuesday that he proposed the establishment of a Saudi-Hungarian Joint Committee.

Orbán spoke before members of the Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry during an official visit to the Middle Eastern country.

Abdallah S al-Mobty, who heads the Council of the Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said Saudi-Hungarian cooperation had fallen short of desirable levels until now. He said there were chances for cooperation in the areas of healthcare and education, in renewable energy, in the drug industry and the farm sector.

László Parragh, the head of Hungarian business association MKIK, noted the chemicals industry, water management, medical tourism, the farm sector and property development as possible areas of cooperation.

al-Mobty asked for Orbán’s assistance to see a free trade agreement between the European Union and Saudi Arabia signed as quickly as possible.