Honorary Consular Office Report  - April 3, 2014 

Ambassador Szapáry visited Twin Cities to open the Honorary Consulate. Csilla Grauzer will represent Hungary in the State of Minnesota as Honorary Consul. During his visit the Ambassador met the Hungarian community, visited the Minnesota Trade Office and the Immigration History Research Center.

To promote improved trade, tourism, educational opportunities and cultural exchanges between Minnesota and Hungary, the government of Hungary is for the first time in history setting up a consular office in Twin Cities. “This decision by the leaders of Hungary proves that Minnesota, its people and companies, are now major contributors within the international community”, stated Csilla Grauzer of Minnetonka, who shall serve as the first Honorary Consul of Hungary in Minnesota.

The Hungarian Consular Office officially opened in Saint Louis Park, when Hungary’s Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency György Szapáry visited Twin Cities on March 28-30, 2014. Ms. Grauzer was officially installed and inaugurated as Honorary Consul at a ceremony and reception on Saturday, March 29, 2014 at the conference center of Unity Church-Unitarian in Saint Paul. The Ambassador officially presented the Keynote Address at the Installation Ceremony on his government’s efforts to bring about closer ties between Minnesota, U.S. and Hungary. Tom Merritt (Unity Church-Unitarian, St.Paul), Kjell Bergh (President, Minnesota Consular Corps), Greg Bohrer (Outreach Director, Office of U.S Senator Amy Klobuchar), Chao R.Lee (Senior District Office Representative, Office of Congresswoman Betty McCollum) and Jennifer Hartman (Minnesota International Medicine) were also among the speakers.

The Official Ceremony was followed by a reception hosted by Csilla Grauzer and M.Jay Shahidi and the Vidéki Dancer Group Performance.

During his visit the Ambassador had a business meeting with Jamshed Merchand, Consul General of Canada and Ed Dieter, Deputy Director of Minnesota Trade Office. He also visited the Immigration History Research Center and Archives (University of Minnesota) and met Ellen Engseth, Curator and reference librarians.

Ms. Grauzer shall organize and conduct programs for expanded trade, economic development, mutual tourism, educational exchanges for university students, scholarly research, cultural exhibits and events, immigration and emigration issues, financial and host family arrangements for high school students, support and advice to Hungarian citizens in Minnesota, etc. She will strive to deepen the economic and cultural partnership between Hungary and Minnesota.

Please find more pictures about the Ambassador's visit and the Installation Ceremony & Reception in the Photo Gallery.

Please read:

HonoraryConsul Csilla Grauzer's Speech

Official Congratulaory letter from Senator Amy Klobuchar

Official Congratulatory letter from Congresswoman Betty McCollum