Embassy of India

Hungary and Bosnia & Herzegovina

Embassy of India
 Budapest

India-Hungary Bilateral Relations

India’s relations with Hungary have been close and friendly, multifaceted and substantive. They have survived the vicissitudes of political and economic changes, particularly in Hungary and reorientation of its foreign policy in the post-cold war period. Hungarians are extremely grateful for India’s role in the 1956 uprising in Hungary. India’s intervention with the Soviet Union saved the life of Dr. Arpad Goncz who subsequently served as President of Hungary from 1990 to 2000. India is seen as a country whose ancient culture and spiritual traditions and the academic and scientific excellence specially in the “knowledge sector” is deeply attractive to ordinary Hungarians. Bilateral economic relationship has also been strengthened with investments of approximately US$ 3.3 billion from India to Hungary.

High level visits

Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi visited Hungary in 1988. The Hungarian President, Dr. Arpad Goncz visited India in 1991. It was the last presidential visit from Hungary. President of India, Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma visited Hungary in 1993. There have been visits of Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy in 2003 and Prime Minister Gyurcsany’s State visit in 2008 on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. From Hungary, the visit of PM Orban to India took place during the 65th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations in 2013. Vice-President of India, Shri M. Hamid Ansari, visited Hungary from 15 – 17 October, 2016. The visit took place as Hungary prepared for commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the 1956 Revolution of October 23, prompting recall of the role played by the then CDA, Shri M.A. Rahman, in saving the life of Arpad Goncz, who subsequently became President of Hungary.

Visit of PM Orban to India

Prime Minister Viktor Orban led a 100-member strong delegation including a 80-member business delegation on his visit to Delhi and Mumbai from October 16-18, 2013. He was accompanied by Minister of National Economy, Mihaly Varga, Minister of Human Resources, Zoltan Balog among other officials. He called on President, Vice President and held delegation level discussion with Prime Minister. MoUs on Traditional Systems of Medicine, Cooperation in the field of Sports, Cooperation in the areas of Defensive Aspects of Microbiological and Radiological Detection and Protection and Cultural Exchange Programme were signed. In addition, Letters of Intent on Revision of Air Services Agreement and Indo-Hungarian Strategic Research Fund were also signed. PM Orban delivered the keynote address at ICWA on “Hungary and Europe in a Changing World”. He addressed Business Forums in both cities and a meeting with Indian investors at the Mumbai Stock Exchange.

Visit of EAM to Hungary

External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar visited Hungary from 25-27 August 2019. During his visit, EAM held discussions with Hungary's Foreign Minister H.E. Mr. Peter Szijjarto on a wide range of bilateral and multilateral issues. The two Ministers signed a Cultural Exchange Programme between India and Hungary for the period 2019-22. The Hungarian side announced their decision to join the International Solar Alliance. Five main areas of film production, digitalization, water management,solar energy and pharmaceuticals were identified for strengthening cooperation. The two Ministers also agreed to also intensify bilateral interaction in the fields of education, tourism and science.The External Affairs Minister had meetings with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Mr. Mihaly Varga and Chairman of Hungary-India Parliamentary Friendship Group Mr. Peter Cseresnyes. EAM addressed the annual conference of Hungary's Heads of Missions on August 26,2019. This was a special honour bestowed upon External Affairs Minister by the Hungarian side. The External Affairs Minister also inaugurated a photo exhibition commemorating the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations at the Amrita Sher-Gil Cultural Centre at the Embassy of India on August 26. The photo exhibition between India and Hungary showcased several historical photographs. A reception was hosted by the Ambassador in honour of EAM.

Recent high-level visit from India

Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Jal Shakti visited Budapest on October 14-17, 2019 at the invitation of the Hungarian side. He participated in the Budapest Water Summit 2019 and delivered a keynote speech at the Inaugural Session of the Summit. He had meetings with Mr. János Áder, President of Hungary as well as with Ministers of Agriculture, Interior and Foreign Affairs and Trade. Shri Shri Hardeep Sing Puri, Hon'ble Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs and Petroleum & Natural Gas visited Hungary in February- March 2022 to oversee the evacuation of Indian students from Ukraine under the Operation Ganga. He met with Foreign Minister Szijjarto during the visit and conveyed thanks of the Indian government for the cooperation and facilitation extended by the government of Hungary. He also handed over a letter from PM Modi addressed to PM Viktor Orban.

 Recent high-level visit from Hungary

At the invitation of EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar, Mr. Peter Szijjarto, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary visited India on 26 - 27 May 2022 acompanied by a business delegation. At the delegation level talks, the two Ministers exchanged views covering the entire gamut of bilateral relations, including political, economic, cultural ties and also the global economic situation, developments in India-EU relations, Indo-Pacific, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Ukraine.  EAM thanked the Hungarian government for facilitating the evacuation of more than 6000 Indian citizens through the Ukraine - Hungary border and for their offer to accommodate evacuated Indian medical students in Hungarian universities. The Ministers noted that bilateral trade was approaching US $ 1 billion, and Indian investments in Hungary were increasing across sectors. The Hungarian side also signed the International Solar Alliance Framework Agreement.

A India-Hungary Business Forum, co-chaired by Foreign Minister Szijjártó along with Smt. Meenakashi Lekhi, Hon'ble Minister of State for External Affairs, was also held on 27 May 2022 where senior business leaders from both countries participated. Two commercial agreements were signed at the Business Forum. Foreign Minister Szijjártó also met Shri Hardeep Sing Puri, Hon'ble Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs and Petroleum & Natural Gas and discussed cooperation in the energy sector between the two countries.

Mr. Peter Szijjarto had earlier visited India on a three day visit on 14-17 January 2020 to attend Raisina Dialogue. He visited Mumbai on 14-15 January and called on Hon’ble Governor of Maharashtra and met with CEO’s of some leading Indian companies. In New Delhi, Mr. Szijjarto met Hon’ble Prime Minister of India on 15 January and participated in the 5th edition of Raisina Dialogue. On 16th January, Szijjarto and EAM held bilateral talks. He also met Minister of MSME, Mr Nitin Gadkari and Mr Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Railways. 

Important Bilateral Treaties and Agreements

• Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion (2003)
• MoU on IT Cooperation (2003)
• Agreement on Defence Cooperation (2003)
• Agreement on Exemption of Visa Requirement for holders of diplomatic and official passports (2003)
• Agreement on cooperation in the field of Health & Medicine (2008)
• Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Agriculture and allied sectors (2008)
• Letter of Intent on Strategic Research Fund between India and Hungary (2008)
• MoU between Oil and Natural Gas Corp. Ltd. and MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas Plc. for Cooperation in Hydrocarbon Sector (2008)
• Agreement on Social Security between India and Hungary (2010)
• Agreement between Semmelweis University Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences (TF), Hungary and Sport Authority of India (2011)
• MoU on Traditional Systems of Medicine (2013)
• MoU on Cooperation in the field of Sports (2013)
• Letter of Intent for Indo-Hungarian Strategic Research Fund (enhanced contribution of Euro 2 million each for 2014-17.
• Education Exchange Programme signed in Budapest on 19 November 2014.
• MOU on Cooperation in the field of Water Management – October 2016
• MOU between the Indian Council of World Affairs and Institute of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary – October 2016.
• MOU between Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences and the University of Debrecen for establishment of European Institute of Ayurvedic Sciences, in October 2017.
• MOU between Eotvos Lorand University(ELTE) of Hungary and Indian Council for Cultural Relations(ICCR, New Delhi for establishment of Hindi Chair at ELTE university in September 2018.
• MoU between Council of EU Chambers of Commerce in India (CEUCCI) and the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry on 26 June 2018 in Budapest
• MoU on Cultural Exchange program for the period 2019-22 between India and Hungary on 26th August 2019.
• Letter of Intent was signed between Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) and Hungarian Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (MAJOSZ) with a view to re-energizing their cooperation on 5 February 2019 in Budapest. 
• MoU between WAPCOS and Budapest Waterworks in Budapest on September 12, 2019. 
• MoU on Investment Promotion between Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency (HIPA) with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) - 27 May 2022, New Delhi
• MoU between Invest India and Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency (HIPA) at the 5th India-Hungary Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation held on  5-6th March 2018, New Delhi. The MoU was renewed on 27 May 2022, New Delhi and signed as an MoU on Enhancing bilateral Investment Relations.
• MOU for Student, Staff Exchange Program and Master's Program between Semmelweis University, Budapest and St. Joseph Dental College and Hospital, India signed on 01 November 2022
• MOU between Marwadi University, India and the University of Public Service (UPS), Hungary signed on 7th of June 2022

Bilateral visits
Over the years, several high-level visits have taken place:

India to Hungary

 Hungary to India 

Bilateral Commercial & Economic Cooperation

Economic cooperation between India and Hungary has a long history. Cooperation in this field was institutionalized in 1949 with the signing of a rupee trade agreement, which operated through the negotiation of annual protocols which fixed the products to be traded and the amounts thereof, with the trade being canalized through government agencies. The major items of export from India before 1990 were tea, tobacco, pepper and other spices, de-oiled cakes, finished leather and shoe uppers, iron ore and pellets, cotton and jute goods, engineering goods, Maruti vehicles, chemicals and chemical products. Imports from Hungary included steel and steel products, chemicals, machine tools, pulses, peas, newsprint and engineering goods, especially for railways and power projects. Over 25 collaborations had also been established in India by Hungarian companies. Trade has surpassed the levels of 1980s and now stands at around USD 750 mn, with balance of trade in India’s favour. 

Bilateral Trade

Major Hungarian Exports to India: Machinery and mechanical appliances and parts, electrical machinery and equipment, television image and sound recorders and parts, organic chemicals, optical photographic, cinematographic measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and accessories, vehicles and parts, pharmaceutical products, plastics, articles of paper, iron and steel, plastics.

Major Indian Exports to Hungary: Machinery and mechanical appliances and parts, organic chemicals, pharmaceutical products, electrical machinery and equipment, television image and sound recorders and parts, vehicles and parts, footwear, rubber articles, iron and steel, plastics.

Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation: The Indo-Hungary Joint Committee on Economic cooperation provides the institutional framework for intergovernmental discussions on economic cooperation. The Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion is our nodal agency. The Fifth Session of the JCEC was held on March 6-7, 2018 in New Delhi. The sixth Session was held in Budapest on 17-18 October 2022 when the Protocol for cooperation was reviewed and signed. Both Sides agreed that the full potential of co-operation in several areas has remained untapped and shared the view that both the government and private sectors in their respective countries should take further steps in order to promote trade and investment as well as to strengthen business relations. 

Joint Business Council (JBC): A Joint Business Council of Indian and Hungarian companies was set up in 1979 under an agreement between FICCI and Hungarian Chamber of Commerce to promote direct contacts between business delegations. A meeting of the Joint Business Council was held on the sidelines of JCEC meeting in Budapest, Hungary, on June 2, 2016. FICCI brought an 18-member Indian business delegation for the Joint Business Forum. Over 100 B-2-B meetings were held between the Indian companies and the Hungarian companies which participated in Joint Business Forum.

Cooperation in Science and Technology: Cooperation in S&T is a key focus area in India-Hungary relations. Currently, the bilateral cooperation is being executed through two agreements - between Indian National Science Academy (INSA) and the HAS and between Department of S&T and NIH, Ministry for National Economy. The 11th India-Hungary Joint S&T Committee Meeting [Online] was held on 29 July 2020, hosted by NRDI Office, Hungary. Seven joint projects were identified in the fields of Energy, Environment, Water, Biotech, Agriculture Food, with other four potential project have been also discussed.

Indian Investments in Hungary: India was the largest greenfield investor in Hungary in 2014 and third largest in 2015. The major Indian presence in Hungary includes Apollo Tyres, SMR Automotive, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Orion Electronics Ltd., Sona BLW and major IT companies TCS, WIPRO, Cognizant and Tech Mahendra. Apollo Tyres set up a greenfield tyre production factory in Hungary with an investment of Euro 475 million in 2015. PM Viktor Orban and Apollo Chairman Onkar Kanwar laid the foundation stone of the factory on 10 April 2015. As of 2020 total investment value reached EUR 700 million, with the company employing over 800 workers. In May 2018 Samvardhana Motherson Group (SMG) inaugurated a HUF 5 billion (€ 15.3 million) expansion at its base in Túrkeve (SE Hungary). SMGʼs moulded plastics division, Motherson Automotive Technologies & Engineering (MATE) will build a 12,000 square-meter plant creating 100 jobs. Gurgaon-based multinational group SRF limited announced in June 2018 the setting up of a packaging plant in the city of Jaszfenyszaru (approx. 70 kms from Budapest). The company is investing Euro 60 million and will employ 100 workers. On 21st November 2018, a greenfield investment of Euro 71.50 million by Flex Films Europa, a subsidiary of Uflex India Ltd was announced. The company will set up a flexible packaging materials production plant in Rétság. On 22nd May, 2019 Samvardhana Motherson Automotive Technologies & Engineering (MATE) inaugurated a EUR 15.3 million expansion at its base in Túrkeve. Samvardhana Motherson Group (SMG) employs more than 2,000 in Hungary to date. In December 2020, SMG group announced an investment of appx EUR 15.5 mln on developments of its four bases in Hungary, and  is building a 9,000 m2 production hall at its base in Kecskemét. Apollo Tyres announced an investment of appx EUR 12.2 mln to upgrade production and widen its portfolio in Gyöngyöshalász. On 26th November, 2020 Kischemicals announced further additional investment of EUR 32 million. In January 2022 HCL Technologies, India signed an agreement to acquire Hungarian big data company Starschema for Ft 13 billion (appx EUR 36 mln). The acquisition will contribute to the development of HCL’s data
processing expertise and help strengthen the company's presence in Central and Eastern Europe.  Eurolife, a Mumbai-based Pharmaceutical company, acquired the Intravenous Infusion business of TEVA Pharmaceutical Industries limited in 2021 but got their licenses only in August 2022 and though having started production in December 2022 are facing serious operational crisis due to the high gas prices.    Indian companies in Hungary provide employment to over 10,000 people. There are a small number of first-generation Indians who have also set up businesses.

From Hungary, there is only one significant investment. Richter Gedeon, the Hungarian Pharma major has invested USD 20 million in 51:49 joint venture with an Indian firm Themis Medicare Ltd., for production of intermediates, the entire production is exported to Richter Gedeon, Hungary. Efforts are being made to augment Hungarian investments into India. A small number of Hungarian Water and IT companies seek to establish their businesses in India.

Cultural Links

Indian Cultural Centre in Budapest was formally opened in November 2010 and was renamed Amrita Sher-Gil Cultural Centre on 15 August, 2014. The Centre has been organising regular cultural activities since 2010. In addition, Yoga, Dance, Music and Hindi classes, screening of Indian films are also being held regularly. A bi-monthly ‘Amrit‘ magazine is brought out by the Centre. The Embassy has also organised Indian cultural days in several major cities in Hungary. Bhartiya Samaj has been constituted in 2010 to cater to the cultural needs of the community. The International Day of Yoga was first celebrated in Budapest on 21st June 2015 showcasing yoga, Indian cultural performances, henna painting, and Indian cuisines, handicrafts. The Ganga-Danube Cultural Festival was launched in June 2016, featuring cultural troupes of a diverse variety of dance performers and artists from India. The 5th International Day of Yoga was organized in June 2019 in 17 cities of Hungary. Embassy celebrated the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on October 2, 2018 in the Hungarian Parliament's prestigious Szell Kalman Hall. The Speaker of Hungarian National Assembly, and Members of the Hungarian Parliament participated in the event. On 21 February, 2019, in collaboration with the Embassy, the Magyar Posta issued a commemorative miniature sheet of four stamps on the occasion of the celebration of 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in forty thousand copies. The 4th Indian Film Festival was organized from 4-10 October, 2018 in Puskin cinema, Budapest and the 5th Indian Film Festival was organised in October 7-13, 2019 with participation of noted film personalities.

Scholarships:

India has provided slots to Hungarian nationals for training under the Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme. The Government of India bears all expenses including return international passage, visa, accommodation etc under this programme. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary also sends its diplomats to attend the courses organised by the Foreign Service Institute of Ministry of External Affairs of India. 44 candidates from Hungary availed the ITEC programme between 2007-2023.

 Indian Community

Indian Community There are about 5500 Indians living in Hungary. Most of them are ICT professionals, while some are working in the manufacturing sector of Indo-Hungarian joint ventures. There are about 1090 Indian students studying in various universities in Budapest, Pecs, Szeged and Debrecen.  The Indian association called the Bharatiya Samaj of Hungary is presently inactive. There are a few other regional associations like the  ''Keralites in Hungary'', Telegu Association of Budapest, etc.  The community normally celebrate Indian festivals like Navratra, Diwali, Holi etc.  There is an Indo-Hungarian Friendship Society which was reconstituted in 2011, which is mainly run by Friends of India comprising Hungarians who have an interest in India and Indologists.   From time to time, there is an exchange of research scholars and scientists for a period ranging from three weeks to six months under our exchange programmes. In addition, there are a few Indians who are married to local Hungarians and permanently settled in Hungary. It is widely believed that the number of community members has been steadily increasing.

February  2023