The Consulate General of Hungary in Düsseldorf, Germany was officially reopened on Thursday. The foreign mission in the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia was inaugurated by Minister of State for Economic Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Levente Magyar.
“The world order has been restored, at least in our Hungarian world and in Hungarian-German relations", the Minister of State said on the occasion of the reopening of the Consulate General closed in 2009, emphasising that “it was an unreasonable, untenable and harmful situation that Hungary had no official foreign mission in the most populous state of Germany”.
North Rhine-Westphalia has the strongest economy in Europe, it is „one of the strongholds" of the German economy and the homeland of several German companies that significantly contributed to the Hungarian economy’s exceptional growth rate compared to the EU, its “return to a dynamic growth trajectory that offers bright prospects” and the stable macroeconomic environment, Levente Magyar added.
He emphasised that it is a “principle” that Germany is „a point of reference” for Hungary both from a political and an economic point of view, so it is extremely important that in addition to central government relations, “deep and substantive cooperation” will be established with the states as well.
In her speech, Angelica Schwall-Düren, Minister for Federal Affairs, Europe and the Media called the German-Hungarian economic cooperation exemplary and welcomed the reopening of the Consulate General. “We are glad that you are here again”, the Minister said.
The politician of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) emphasised that Hungary opened the way towards the unity of Germany and Europe by opening the border in1989, and the cooperation has been intensive in the last 25 years as well. She added that the relations between North Rhine-Westphalia and Hungary will become even closer thanks to the decisions adopted at the meeting of the Joint Committee of Hungary and North Rhine-Westphalia, which ended on Thursday, emphasising that “a whole set of new programs” will be launched in various areas including higher education and scientific research.
Lord Mayor of Düsseldorf, Thomas Geisel pointed out in his speech that cultural relations are also quite intensive, as it is demonstrated by Ádám Fischer’s appointment to Chief Conductor of the Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra.
Ambassador József Czukor talked about the economic importance of North Rhine-Westphalia, a state of almost 18 million inhabitants, pointing out that should it be a country, it would be Hungary’s 13th largest trading partner. Hungarian companies export more goods to North Rhine-Westphalia than for example to China, Croatia or Slovenia, the Ambassador said.
The Consulate General in Düsseldorf is also responsible for representing Hungary in Hesse; about 60,000 Hungarian citizens live in the two states altogether, added József Czukor.
Consul General Balázs Szegner emphasised that the foreign mission is seeking to develop the economic relations as well while fulfilling its classic consular duties. Foreign investment is not a unilateral activity, "not a one-way street". The Hungarian SME sector is getting stronger and more successful in terms of exports, so the number of Hungarian companies that are active in North Rhine-Westphalia and Hesse may increase, whereby investment may become a “mutual, two-way” activity, the Consul General said.
At the ceremony, the Knight's Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit was awarded to Jörg Wendisch, former head of department at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, for his outstanding efforts to strengthen Hungarian – German agricultural relations and to Reinhard Muth, former President of the German Wine Growers' Association for improving the competitiveness of the Hungarian wine sector and for his commitment to Hungary.
Balázs Szegner will work with three diplomats and local employees at the Consulate General in Düsseldorf. Customer service will be launched gradually in the following months as the foreign mission settles in its office in Düsseldorf downtown.