Kazakhstan and Hungary to launch direct flights between Shymkent and Budapest

Kazakhstan and Hungary are set to establish direct flights between the cities of Shymkent and Budapest, as announced by Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu.

According to Report's Kazakhstan bureau, the new route, scheduled to commence in May, is expected to foster deeper cooperation between the two nations.

"I am confident that the direct Shymkent-Budapest flight, which will open in May, will contribute to enhanced interaction between us," stated Nurtleu. The minister also revealed plans for Hungarian President Tamás Sólyom and Speaker of the National Assembly László Kövér to visit Kazakhstan later this year.

Trade between Kazakhstan and Hungary has been on the rise, with Nurtleu highlighting a 4.4% increase in turnover last year, reaching $200 million. The two countries have set an ambitious goal to eventually boost this figure to $1 billion. Over the past two decades, Hungary has invested more than $370 million in Kazakhstan's economy, with several bilateral investment portfolios currently underway.