Organized by the General Consulate of Hungary in Toronto on the 14th of April 2016, the business conference offered possibility for Hungarian companies and their potential Canadian partners for a professional introduction. The event was graced by the presence of dr. Sándor Fazekas, Hungarian Minister of Agriculture and dr. Bálint Ódor Ambassador of Hungary to Canada.
"Hungary has been exporting food products that represent the best of the Hungarian land to over 100 countries all around the world. Some products, such as the Tokaji aszú placed Hungary on the world wine map, and we can be justly proud of the international success of other Hungarian wines, too "- emphasized the Minister, who as part of his visit to Canada - besides visiting the SIAL International Food and Beverages Trade Show in Montreal - conducted negotiations with Canada’s Federal Agricultural Minister, as of the well as the Minister of Agriculture of Quebec and Ontario provinces.
"If you think of Hungary, it is important that in addition to the tradition, innovation can be reminded. Hungary has outstanding achievements not only in machinery and automotive industry (eg. Mercedes and Audi), it’s not only the info-communication sector (eg. Prezi) that creates innovative, but innovative technology exists in agriculture and agricultural products as well. In recent years, the Hungarian food production has moved towards high-quality and socially responsible products "- said in her welcome speech the host of the event, General Consul Stefánia Szabó.
One of the leading and successful examples of co-operation developed along the Hungarian wines is the business relationship established between Mad Wine Ltd., Vinum Tokaj Canada and Vinum Tokaj International. Enikő Magyar, Wines of Excellence’s Project Director presented to the guest the wine promotion program launched and supported by the Ministry of Agriculture aimed at third-country markets, the achievements of the program on the Canadian market and the efforts that aim to have the dry Tokaj wines included on the world wine map. She expressed special thanks to the Ministry and representatives of the Agricultural Marketing Centre General Directorate of the Hungarian National Tourist Office for the exemplary co-operation shown and presented the Hungarian Wines of Excellence selection package that in co-ordination of Mad Wine Ltd. comprises wines of three Hungarian wine regions - Tokaj, Villány, Eger – and includes some excellent wines that were presented and delivered by Minister Fazekas to his Canadian partners.
The Mad Wine Ltd.’s Head of Marketing, Tamás Nagy made the guests acquainted with the Tokaj Wine Region, delivered a presentation about the unique characteristics of Mád and varieties such as Furmint considered as being a new flavor to be discovered by the world. Their winery, with an 18th generation winemaker – István Szepsy Jr., is present in about 35 countries around the world with high-quality products that justly represent the Hungarian wine industry at a number of prestigious international events. President of Tokaj Vinum Canada, Sándor Balla outlined the achievements of co-operation as result of which more than 20,000 bottles of Hungarian wines - including St. Tamás Winery's products – were imported by the company to the Province of Ontario.
During the wine-tasting that followed the conference two white wines were presented to the guests: the “Top Imported White Wine of Canada” award winner Dry by Tokaj, as well as the Mád Furmint competing with growing success on the international market.
Province of Ontario is a prominent target of the Hungarian agricultural exports so we hope that the Hungarian product range will further expand in the future in Canada’s retail stores, including several Hungarian wine to be seen on the beverage store shelves.
