In addition to the coronavirus epidemic and migration, the world also faces serious challenges in terms of climate and environmental protection, and Hungary can rightly be proud of its achievements in this field, Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, told MTI on Tuesday.
The head of the ministry pointed out that Hungary is one of the twenty-one countries in the world that was able to reduce its emissions while increasing its economic performance. He then added that our country was the first in the European Union to ratify the Paris climate agreement. He pointed out: the Planet Budapest 2021 Sustainability Expo and World Meeting held between November 29 and December 5 also proves that the Hungarian capital is "one of the centers of environmental protection efforts in the world". He emphasized that at the event, Hungarian companies that are competitive on a global level and that use especially advanced technology can present themselves, for example in industries related to environmental protection and water management.
Péter Szijjártó reported that yesterday he had a meeting with the ministers of several countries dealing with water affairs, energy and innovation.
An agreement was reached with Sierra Leone on the initiation of a 50 million dollar tied aid loan program , within the framework of which Hungarian companies will make a significant water investment in the African country. the development is to increase access to healthy drinking water, which is in line with the government's aspiration that help should be brought to where the problem is, in order to prevent migration waves and emigration processes.
In addition, they signed a water management cooperation agreement with the Cuban Minister of Water Affairs. Then, with the Uzbek Minister of Innovation, they concluded the first round of the joint call for tenders for the support of research and development startup companies. Nine projects are supported with a total of two million euros, which are jointly implemented by Hungarian and Uzbek companies. They also agreed that the parties will set aside one million euros each so that they can announce another round of tenders at the beginning of next year.
The minister stated that he also consulted with the head of the Ecuadorian Ministry of Energy, with whom it was agreed that Hungarian companies would be given the opportunity to modernize the existing infrastructure in the South American country's universities in the field of the use of nuclear energy and radiology for health and educational purposes.
Source: MTI
