Ind, Hungary sign MoUs on defence cooperation, joint research

An agreement for the transfer of knowhow in the field of biological and chemical warfare was among six MoUs signed between Hungary and India as part of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's visit to the country.

The Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in areas of defensive aspects of microbiological and radiological detection and protection was signed between the Ministries of Defence of the two countries in the presence of Orban and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The above MoU was signed by the Scientific Adviser to India's Defence Minister, Avinash Chander, and Hungary's Minister for National Resources, Zoltan Balog.

The two countries also decided to double to Euros 2 million their contribution to the Indo-Hungarian Strategic Research Fund for collaborative research.

The Letter of Intent in this regard was agreed upon between India's Department of Science and Technology and the National Innovation Office of Hungary. It was signed between Minister of State for External Affairs, Preneet Kaur, and Hungary's Minister of National Economy, Mihaly Varga.

Kaur signed another agreement on a cultural exchange programme between the two nations with Hungarian Minister Balog. The cooperation would be in the field of art and culture, conservation techniques for museums, exchange of curators/exhibition designers, scientists and conservators.

An MoU was signed on enhancing the use of traditional systems of medicine along with promotion of mutual exchange of information and experts for training of practitioners, paramedics, scientists, teaching professionals and students in traditional medicine.

The above MoU was signed between the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Santosh Chowdhary, and Balog on behalf of the Hungarian Ministry of Human Resources.

Another agreement was signed on replacing the existing air services agreement signed in 1966 with an updated and modern one which would meet the actual needs of the people and be suitable for the future growth of civil aviation.

The MoU was signed between Civil Aviation Secretary KN Srivastava and Peter Szijjarto of the Ministry of External Economic Relations and Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister's Office of Hungary.

The sixth MoU was on cooperation in the field of sports to encourage between the two countries and the MoU to the effect was signed between the Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, Dinkar Khullar, and Szijjarto.

"I also sought Prime Minister Orban's support for an early conclusion of the India-EU Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement, which would enhance trade and investment flows between India and Hungary," Singh said.

Stating that the two countries enjoyed a very productive collaboration in the field of science and technology, aided by an annual contribution by each of Euros 1 million to a Joint Strategic Research Fund, Singh said, "Today, we have agreed to enhance our annual contribution to the fund to Euros 2 million each. This would enable us to undertake new projects involving high-end technology."

Singh also said that the two countries had agreed to strengthen cooperation in the area of defence technology.

He said Hungary possessed advanced technology in the niche areas of the defence industry and could become a reliable partner in India's efforts to modernise its defensive forces.