On December 15th, the Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade (IFAT) hosted a lecture of His Excellency Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Albusaidi, the Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman titled: “Dynamic Relations and the Security of the Gulf and the future of Green Hydrogen” with Ambassador Márton Schőberl, Director of IFAT, and Tamás Péter Baranyi, Deputy Director for Strategy at IFAT. Ambassador Schőberl delivered a short welcoming speech, highlighting the importance of not just the Middle East and the Gulf in global affairs, but the very important part that Oman plays in the region, being of the most developed and peaceful nation in its neighborhood.
His Excellency lauded the warm, friendly relationship between Hungary and Oman, welcoming the recent opening of a Hungarian embassy in the country. In addition to the historic and economic ties, there is also a growing cultural exchange between the two countries. Agreements on double taxation and investment protection, as well as high-level visits and academic scholarships characterize the always-improving bilateral ties. Oman is a country whose fortunes are closely linked to fossil fuels, therefore the green transition is one of the absolute priorities for the country – the Foreign Minister said. This is especially true, because for a country that is only a consumer of energy, the transition is much easier, than it is for a country that is an energy producer and exporter. Oman is well-equipped to produce solar and wind energy, but a particular focus of the country is green hydrogen, the technology in relation to which Oman is keen to cooperate with other nations. In terms of foreign affairs, the need for an inclusive security agreement for the Gulf was stressed, as well as the importance of dialogue in solving international crises such as the War in Ukraine.
Photos by: Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade (IFAT)