DUSHANBE, June 11, 2011, Asia-Plus — On Friday June 10, TajikPresident Emomali Rahmon arrived in Hungary for a two- day official visit.
During his stay in Budapest, Emomali Rahmon held talks with Hungarian President Pal Schmitt in the Sandor Palace. The two sides a number of issues related to bilateral cooperation between their countries.
According to Hungarian media outlets, Rahmon and Schmitt signed several cooperation agreements. The Hungarian president’s office says the sides signed agricultural, health and foreign affairs cooperation agreement as well as an Olympic committee cooperation agreement.
It was reportedly the first official visit of President Rahmon to Hungary. Tajikistan and Hungary established diplomatic relations on July 2, 1992.
Visit to Hungary is a part President Rahmon’s tour of Europe that started on June 6 and is ending on June 12.
In the meantime, Tajik presidential press service reports that before leaving for Hungary President Rahmon visited the European Investment Bank (EIB) in Luxembourg and held talks with EIB President Philippe Maystadt. Tajik leader expressed gratitude to the EIB management for opening of its representative office in Tajikistan. Two agreements were reportedly signed between Tajikistan and the EIB under which EIB will provide a €14 million preferential loan and a €7 million grant for enhancement of energy sector in Tajikistan’s northern Sughd province.
Established in 1958, the European Investment Bank (EIB) is an international financial institution, a publicly owned bank. Its owners are the Member States of the European Union, who subscribe to the Bank”s capital. As shareholders the Member States are represented on the Bank”s main independent decision-making bodies – the Board of Governors and the Board of Directors. Since the year 2000 the Bank itself became a member of the EIB Group (including its venture capital arm – the European Investment Fund).
