Economy and Transport Minister Dr. János
Kóka participated in the Texas leg of a Hungarian investment Road Show on
November 29-30, initiated and lead by Ambassador George Herbert Walker,
U.S. Ambassador to Hungary, and Hungarian Ambassador to the U.S. András
Simonyi.
In addition to the Minister's keynote
addresses at the seminars in Austin and Houston, Minister Kóka met with
Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst and Speaker of the Texas House of
Representatives Mr. Tom Craddick. The further development of
Texan-Hungarian business, political and cultural ties were the focus of
the discussions.
Minister Kóka and the Ambassadors
visited the M.D. Anderson Cancer Institute in Houston to encourage closer
cooperation between Hungary and the institution in the ongoing health
reform in Hungary, as well as the headquarters of the Dell Corporation,
where they met with the company's chairman, Michael S. Dell.
After the Austin and Houston leg of the
Road Show, Ambassadors Walker and Simonyi visited St. Louis, MO and
Denver, CO. The two Ambassadors were accompanied by Mr. Abel Garamhegyi,
Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy and Transport, and Mr.
Adam Tertak, CEO of the Hungarian Investment and Trade Development Agency
(ITDH).
Both cities hosted business seminars,
where the two delegations introduced new business and investment
opportunities and carried out negotiations with local business partners
and investors. Beyond these discussions the Ambassadors had meetings with
political leaders and university presidents in the two states.
Assistant Secretary of Commerce, Ms.
Rhonda Keenum joined the road show in St. Louis, where she presented the
Export Achievement Award to Mr. Zsolt Rumy, Hungarian-American
businessman, President of Zoltek Co.
In Denver the Hungarian and the American
delegation paid a visit to the StorageTek Corp., and met with Mr. Bill
Owens, the Governor of Colorado.
Minister Kóka speaks at the trade Road Show in Austin
Ambassador Simonyi addresses business leaders at the
Austin Community College as Ambassador Herbert Walker listens
Amb. Walker, Minister Kóka, Texas Secretary of State
Geoffrey S. Connor. Amb. Simonyi, and the Hungarian Honorary Consul in
Houston, Mr. Philip Aronoff (from left)
The Secretary of State awards Amb. Simonyi the title of
"Honorary Texan"
Amb. Walker, ExxonMobil Vice President Rich Rosenberg, Minister Kóka, ExxonMobil Global
Services President Sherman J. Glass and Amb. Simonyi
Minister Kóka met with Dell founder and Chairman
Michael S. Dell
Minister Kóka with Texas Lt. Governor David Dewhurst
The panel of experts at the St. Louis road show:
Patricia Gonzales, Commercial Officer of the U.S. Embassy in Budapest; Ádám
Terták, CEO of ITD-H; American-Hungarian businessman Zsolt Rumy,
President and CEO of Zoltek; Ábel Garamhegyi, Deputy State Secretary for
Investments at the Ministry of Economy and Transportation; and Ambassadors
Walker and Simonyi
Rhonda Keenum presents Mr. Rumy with an export
achievement award is St. Louis
Amb. Walker, Rhonda Keenum, and Amb. Simonyi
Colorado Honorary Consul Eugene Megyesy, Amb. Walker,
University of Denver President Marc Holzman, and Amb. Simonyi
Amb. Walker, Colorado Governor Bill Owens, Amb.
Simonyi, and Mr. Megyesy
