Secretary Locsin Meets Hungarian Business Leaders to Enhance PH-HU Economic Relations

Hungarian Watertechnology Corporation Chief Executive Officer Adrian Kiss tours Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. through the grounds of his company’s headquarters. (Budapest PE photo)

BUDAPEST 19 February 2019 — Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. met with officials of the Hungarian Watertechnology Corporation (HWTC) in Erd, Hungary on 14 February 2019, to look into possible synergies between Philippine and Hungarian companies in enhancing economic relations and exploring new avenues for cooperation.

HWTC Chief Executive Officer Adrian Kiss welcomed Secretary Locsin to the company headquarters, and presented the possible areas for cooperation between Philippine and Hungarian businesses.

Secretary Locsin was accompanied at HWTC by retired Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr., who is also a consultant for Ayala Corporation, one of the largest conglomerates in the Philippines involved in real estate, water management, renewable energy and infrastructure.

HWTC officials have previously visited the Philippines to personally see Laguna de Bay and discuss possible projects with the Laguna Lake Development Authority. They have also offered support to the Philippine government through possible cooperation with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to improve the government’s capabilities to utilize state-of-the-art water technology in times of calamities.

Secretary Locsin conveyed the appreciation of the Philippines for Hungary’s donation of a water treatment facility to the people of Eastern Samar after the destruction caused by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in 2013, which is still in operation today.

Secretary Locsin welcomed further Hungarian assistance that can help Filipinos whose lives are affected by natural and man-made disasters, including families in the city of Marawi which was destroyed by terrorist actions in 2017. The Secretary also invited Hungary to look into applying its expertise towards the rehabilitation of Lake Lanao.

Secretary Locsin was shown the various types of compact water treatment units of HWTC during his visit. Officials from RAFAKO and Animative also presented their respective companies’ activities in different countries to the Secretary. END

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