Hungarian FM visits Slovenia to discuss rail project

Slovenian Foreign Minister Karl Erjavec hosted a meeting here with his Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto on Thursday to discuss the planned construction of a second rail track serving the Slovenian port of Koper.

Addressing a joint press conference, Szijjarto said Port Koper was the key port for Hungary so its development and the development of the rail link serving it was in the country's interests, the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) reported.

"It is in the interest of the Hungarian economy that Hungarian companies reach the port of Koper as soon as possible," Szijjarto said.

"Hungarian exports have been growing year by year. Last year, and the year before, we beat all records and a big portion of these exports has been delivered through the port of Koper," Szijjarto said.

Szijjarto, who is also responsible for trade, said Hungary was willing to contribute to the project financially, but listed three conditions, one of them being that Hungarian companies are involved in the construction of the rail track.

Hungary's other two conditions are access for Hungarian rail cargo companies and priority access to the port for Hungarian companies, such as through a long-term lease of port facilities.

He confirmed that Hungary was considering investing around 200 million euros (213 million U.S. dollars) in the project.

The country is still conducting an analysis into the profitability of the project, the STA report said, but has sent a letter of intent to the Slovenian government enabling it to apply for EU funds. Endit