On January 23, 2017, Mr. Ivan Sokolov was appointed the Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic in Plovdiv. Besides the Ambassador of the Czech Republic in Bulgaria D. Štrauch and the Deputy Head of mission Mr. Jaroslav Kamas, also the deputy governor of Plovdiv region Mr. G. Pilev and most of the local Honorary Consuls (Czech HC in Plovdiv is the twelfth HC in the city) were presented at the official ceremony. In his opening speech the Ambassador of the Czech Republic emphasized the personal qualities of the new Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic as a respected businessman and a successful pedagogue of the Economical University in Plovdiv and greeted the fact that Mr. Sokolov is ready to fulfill the function of HC of the Czech Republic at his own expenses as well as to dedicate his time to consular help for the Czech citizens. He is also ready to support the bilateral economic relations between the Czech Republic and Bulgaria in the second biggest city in the country.