Although it’s still the landlocked country it is in Central Europe, Hungary is now much closer to the Philippines with the comeback of the Hungarian embassy in Manila last year. The reopening of the embassy after a 21-year hiatus was made to “bridge the gap” since the embassy’s closing in 1995. For the past year, the two countries’ bilateral relations have expanded in many fields such as trade, industry, research, education, and media.
PCOO, Embassy of Hungary sign agreement on partnership between PNA and Media Support and Asset Management Fund of Hungary. @Team_Inquirer pic.twitter.com/JovG3gNSzX
— Julie M. Aurelio (@JMAurelioINQ) August 6, 2018
H. E. Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Hungary, reopened the embassy and signed some bilateral relations agreements, including the Agreement on Economic Cooperation that established the Philippines-Hungary Joint Economic Commission. Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol and Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez have also visited Hungary to further boost ties.
A year after the 2017 comeback, the Hungarian embassy established a new Honorary Consulate in Davao last Oct. 12, bridging a “live local connection” between Hungary and the Mindanao region.
The opening coincided with the appointment of businesswoman Mary Ann Montemayor as the new honorary consul. Montemayor has held managing positions in Davao’s tourism and hospitality industry. She was also part in indigenous initiatives that include fair trade activities in the city, where she was also the tourism council chair in 2016.
This opening ceremony actually marks the third Honorary Consulate of Hungary in the Philippines, following the ones opened in Angeles City, Pampanga, and Cebu.
Header image courtesy of Unsplash
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