Hungary’s Amb. to Jordan pledges to expand trade, investment, continue with scholarship programme

Hungary’s Ambassador to Jordan, Péter Jakab, outlined his country’s commitment to strengthening ties with the Kingdom, focusing on promoting peace and stability, boosting trade and investment, and expanding educational cooperation.

In an interview with Roya, Ambassador Jakab highlighted that Jordan is a “country pursuing peace and stability in the region and also hosting a very high number of refugees,” underscoring that this constructive role is "very important for us."

Stipendium Hungaricum

Education remains a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship between Hungary and Jordan. Hungary currently provides 400 scholarships annually to Jordanian students covering all fields of studies, a program Ambassador Jakab said is "mutually beneficial for both countries."

He shared a personal anecdote illustrating the deep connection forged through this exchange:

"Some Jordanians came to me... and they said, ‘We don’t like Hungary. We adore Hungary. We love Hungary,’ and in fluent, perfect Hungarian, because they are alumni... they keep in their hearts our country."

Ambassador Jakab views the alumni as a "great asset for us," serving as "our ambassadors and forever friends," and he stressed that their educational experience offers them a vital "international outlook" and an "international environment."

The Ambassador also noted that Hungary will continue with this program and maintain it in the future.

Stipendium Hungaricum is the Hungarian Government’s most prestigious higher education scholarship programme, and offers a range of courses for high-achieving international students with an excellent academic track record.

Stipendium Hungaricum was founded by the Hungarian Government in 2013, and it is available on five continents in over 100 countries, attracting tens of thousands of international students each year. Applicants are offered around 900 full degree programmes, covering all higher education fields at all degree levels, including part-time and doctoral programmes.

Jordan is one the biggest beneficiaries of Hungary’s programme.

Support for Peace and Regional Stability

The Ambassador affirmed the close political alignment between the two nations, especially following the recent visit of Abdullah II to Hungary, where he met with the country’s leadership.

King Abdullah met with Hungary’s President Tamás Sulyok, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, and heads and members of parliamentary committees and groups in the Hungarian Parliament in Budapest.

Commenting on the meeting, which Prime Minister Viktor Orbán described as between "pro-peace leaders," Ambassador Jakab stated that both countries "want peace" and that "Hungary is working together with Jordan for peace."

Referring to the Gaza War, the Ambassador stressed the shared goal of both governments:

"Most important now is to have humanitarian access and then work together for a political horizon with a clear mandate for lasting peace."

He commended the Jordanian government's efforts in hosting refugees, acknowledging the burden on the country while noting the people's "very generous and welcoming" nature.

Hungary supports this effort through its Hungary Helps Agency, which has a regional center in Amman, assisting both refugees and vulnerable local communities.

This assistance manifested in several ways, one of which is contributing to seven health facilities also available for use by the local community.

Hungary also recently supported the construction of the new Latin Catholic Church at the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ (Bethany Beyond the Jordan), which will contribute to increasing the number of Christian visitors to the site in Jordan.

Trade and Investment Focus

Bilateral trade between Jordan and Hungary has doubled since 2010. The Ambassador sees “there is still room for improvement."
Following the recent Joint Economic Committee meeting, the countries have a clear plan to boost commercial ties.

Key sectors for future cooperation and investment include:

• Water Management and Sanitation: Leveraging Hungary’s expertise in dealing with floods and desertification.
• IT and Advanced New Areas: Exploring more sophisticated technologies beyond current agricultural trade.
• Tourism: Promoting Jordan as a stable destination, aided by the recent resumption of direct flights from Budapest to Amman (four times per week).

The Ambassador also acknowledged regional stability's direct impact on economic growth. He pointed out that opening new trade routes would help as "maritime trade is much more expensive than the traditional trade routes from Jordan to Europe."