Azernews.Az

By Abdul Kerimkhanov

Dynamic reforms in Uzbekistan open up new opportunities for deepening mutually beneficial cooperation in the tourism sector with foreign countries.

Hungarian airline WizzAir became interested in direct flights between Tashkent and Budapest, Podrobno.uz reports.

During the stay of the Uzbek delegation in Hungary, the parties discussed these and other prospects for cooperation.

“The new phase of Tashkent’s cooperation with Budapest is impossible without discussing the potential for creating additional transport corridors, therefore the delegation’s meeting with the head of WizzAir’s private airline Jozsef Varadi should be emphasized,” reported the press service of the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade.

The airline is the third largest low-cost airline in Europe, operating flights to more than 250 destinations in 29 countries.

Joseph Varadi noted the attractiveness of direct flights and supported the view that it is necessary to study the civil aviation market of Uzbekistan for a clearer vision of the format and strategy of cooperation. The management of the company will visit Uzbekistan in April-May of the current year.

The Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade, Sardor Umurzakov, also held a meeting with the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Laszlo Parrag. The parties discussed issues of expanding bilateral cooperation between the business circles of Hungary and Uzbekistan.

A separate meeting was held with Heinz Messinger, financial director of the Vienna Financial and Economic Forum. It brings together the countries of Europe and the CIS. The parties discussed plans to organize a number of business events for Austrian and Uzbek business circles.

In addition, negotiations with Tibor Horvath, a representative of Gedeon Richter, were promising. The parties discussed the issue of setting up pharmaceutical production in Uzbekistan under a well-known Hungarian brand.

As a result, the parties agreed on a business visit to Uzbekistan of the pharmaceutical company’s management in order to study the economic potential and industrial infrastructure of free pharmaceutical industrial zones, the markets for raw materials and the sale of finished products, as well as the prospects for its implementation in neighboring countries.

Following a decade of solid growth to become Central and Eastern Europe’s largest low-cost airline. Wizz Air successfully completed an initial public offering on the 25th of February 2015 and was admitted to the London Stock Exchange. The company is now listed on the LSE under the ticker WIZZ and employs more than 3,000 people.

On its 11th anniversary in May 2015, WIZZ announced a full brand rejuvenation and new aircraft livery to respond to maturing traveller requirements, taking its place among Europe’s major airlines.

Wizz Air was named 2016 Value Airline of the Year by Air Transport World, a leading industry magazine.

Diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and Hungary were established on March 3, 1992.

The countries signed a number of intergovernmental documents, including an agreement on economic cooperation, mutual protection and promotion of investment, international road transport of passengers and goods.

An official opening ceremony of the Hungarian Embassy in Tashkent took place on June 27, 2017.

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Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94

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