13 Jun 2025

Creating a mutually beneficial partnership with a view to lure investment and leverage from Hungary’s well established manufacturing sector, will be high on the agenda as President Advocate Duma Boko meets the Hungary president Dr Tamas Sulyok, Prime Minister Mr Vicktor Okban as well as the European nation’s business community today.

This was revealed by Botswana’s Ambassador to Germany, Mr John-Thomas Dipowe in an interview after President Boko arrived in Hungary yesterday, to commence his working visit to the European Union state.

“We established diplomatic relations with Hungary in 1980 but this is the first official visit by a head of state between the two countries.  It is a great endeavour because Hungary could potentially be a great partner. They are a big manufacturing base that creates a lot of jobs and we are looking to generate industry and address youth unemployment in Botswana,” Ambassador Dipowe said.

Being hosted by the head of state, President Sulyok and head of government, Prime Minister Okban for a tête-à-tÄ›te and high level talks is a sign of the magnitude Botswana will be engaging their industrially advanced counterparts, Ambassador Dipowe said.

“The manufacturing base is one area President Boko and our government seeks to utilise to broaden income streams and create jobs.  Hungarian industry is big on automotive, energy, chemicals, fertiliser, food production and the information communication technology sectors. The President is here to deepen relations, since he prioritises the growing of our economy and job creation,” Mr Dipowe said.

He added that the two states had a Memorandum of Agreement on training, which currently had seen 17 Batswana studying in Hungary, 15 on scholarships organised by the Hungarian and Botswana governments and two self-sponsored.

“Batswana students here are studying in fields such as engineering and medicine and Hungary will be increasing the volume of scholarships offered to Batswana in their institutions. Now, the President will get to deepen relations with Hungarian government in other sectors and also meet the domestic business forum to sell the Botswana story, for investment,” Ambassador Dipowe said. 

President Boko will also meet Mr Magyar Levente, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade alongside Mr Gabor Genei, the Chief Executive Officer of Hungarian Export Promotion Agency as well as the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry accompanied by captains of industry from leading domestic companies. ENDS