“As the founding president of the Central European Knowledge Center for Africa Business Studies established in August 2019, I consider it important to promote cooperation between Hungary, in a broader sense Central Europe and Africa for sustainable development in line with Hungary’s national interests and the Southern Opening strategy.

In our rapidly evolving world, only a nation whose citizens have up-to-date knowledge can stand up to the competition. I believe that by working in the Knowledge Center, we are able to bring this up-to-date knowledge together, communicate it together and professionally, thereby other nations can experience the basics of sustainable development in their local environment, in their homeland. ”

István Jakab was born in 1949 in Hajdúbagos. After primary school in Hajdúbagos, he completed his secondary school studies in Debrecen, then he obtained a degree in livestock breeding engineer in 1972 at the Faculty of Livestock Breeding of the Szeged College of Food Industry.

He gained several decades of practical experience as an expert of the Hajdú-Bihar County Feeding and Livestock Breeding Inspectorate, as the head of the Sáránd – Hajdúbagos Szabadság MgTsz livestock breeding sector and then as the deputy breeding director of ISV Rt. After the change of regime in 1989-1990, he used his acquired knowledge in production as a head of interest representation and in public administration. From the 1990s to this day, he has been the president of the Association of Hungarian Farmers’ Communities and Cooperatives (MAGOSZ) and he served as vice president of the Hungarian Chamber of Agriculture for seven years, as well.

His life and work are the service and cooperation of the Hungarian farmers’ society in the motherland and beyond the border. He works at several domestic and international organizations, maintaining constant contact with the leaders of European farmer organizations.

Since 2006, he has been a Member of Parliament, deputy parliamentary group leader of Fidesz, vice president of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, president of the Forestry Subcommittee and a member of the Committee on Legislation. He is a member of the Committee on National Cohesion.

He has been the president of MAGOSZ for almost three decades and he has been the deputy speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary for the three parliamentary term. Since 2014, he has been an honorary associate professor at Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences. One of his honors is that the President Hungary recognized his work with the Golden Cross of Merit of the Republic of Hungary.

Climate change, trade wars, changes in agricultural policy pose serious challenges to nations. The challenges encourage countries to come together, apply modern knowledge and introduce new technological procedures. He is convinced that mutual respect is an essential solid foundation for cooperation.

As the founding president of the Central European Knowledge Center for Africa Business Studies, he leads the organization towards the mission and achievement of the set goals.