Atty. Victor Gugushev Appointed Honorary Consul of Romania

A new Honorary Consulate of Romania, headquartered in Ruse, was inaugurated on 17 October. At the official ceremony, Atty. Victor Gugushev received his consular patent and exequatur, thereby formally assuming the duties of Honorary Consul.

The event was attended by the ambassadors of both countries — H.E. Brandusha Predescu, Ambassador of Romania to Bulgaria, and H.E. Radko Vlaykov, Ambassador of Bulgaria to Romania — as well as the Mayor of Ruse Municipality, Pencho Milkov, the Regional Governor, Dragomir Draganov, and representatives of the diplomatic corps, business community, and media from both sides of the Danube.

The establishment of the new Honorary Consulate represents an important step forward in enhancing partnership and connectivity between the two countries, particularly after their accession to the Schengen Area, which opens even broader prospects for free movement, business development, and cultural exchange.

The new Honorary Consulate is the first to be opened in Ruse by an EU member state. Ambassador Predescu expressed her satisfaction that its headquarters are located precisely in the Danube city, which she described as “the place where authorities, institutions, and citizens on both banks of the Danube are closest to one another” and “a gateway for mutual connection.”Both she and the Mayor of Ruse, Pencho Milkov, expressed their readiness to provide continuous support and cooperation from their respective institutions to the Consulate.

The new Honorary Consul, Atty. Victor Gugushev, emphasized that the opening of the Consulate is a significant milestone, driven by the strategic dynamics between the two countries, which is crucial for the region. Romania ranks as Bulgaria’s second-largest foreign trade partner, while Bulgaria is Romania’s fifth-largest trade partner. Following their accession to the Schengen Area, economic, trade, and social ties between the two nations should be increasingly facilitated and actively encouraged.

Throughout his career, Atty. Victor Gugushev has demonstrated a strong commitment to promoting economic growth and cooperation between Bulgaria and Romania. His effective efforts to enhance regional connectivity were recognized bilaterally and since 2023 he has served as Chairman of the Board of the Bulgarian-Romanian Chamber of Commerce. He has also been actively involved in initiatives supporting the professional development of young people, both within the legal field and beyond.

The Honorary Consulate will focus on representation the economic interests of Romanian companies operating within the Consular District in Bulgaria, as well as Bulgarian companies seeking to expand into Romania. The Consulate will also provide assistance to Romanian citizens, interested parties, and investors, promote economic relations, and support the development of cultural and educational initiatives aimed at strengthening the partnership between the two neighbouring countries.