The Plovdiv Chamber of Commerce and Industry honored leading business and academic leaders.

The solemn ceremony of the BCCI in Plovdiv gathered leading figures from business, academia and local government. The event was opened with greetings from Prof. Hadzhiev, member of the Board of Directors of the BCCI and the Union of Scientists - Plovdiv, Prof. Traikova, Vice-Rector of the Medical University in Plovdiv, and the Governor of Plovdiv, Prof. Dr. Hristina Yancheva. They emphasized the importance of cooperation between business and education for the economic development of the region.

The newly elected Chairman of the Plovdiv Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Simeon Tonev, was also presented at the ceremony, who received congratulations from the Chairman of the BCCI, Mr. Tsvetan Simeonov, for the successful establishment of the regional chamber.

The main part of the event was dedicated to the awarding of distinguished individuals from the business and academic circles in Plovdiv. Honorable diplomas were presented to Eng. Nikola Dobrev, Eng. Dimitar Georgiev, Eng. Sergey Stoyanov, Svetla Ruseva, Prof. Dr. Iliyan Doikov, Hristo Rogachev, Eng. Antoaneta Kaloferova and others, honored for their merits in the development of business, education and science in the region.

Special awards were also received by representatives of the Medical University in Plovdiv - Prof. Maria Kazakova, Dr. Hristo Ivanov, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kiril Atliev, Prof. Margarita Kasarova-Traikova and Prof. Dr. Veselin Belovezhdov, for their contribution to the linking of medical education and practice.

The honorees also included Assoc. Prof. Dr. Svetla Dimitrova, President of VUAR, Prof. Dr. Valentina Alexieva, Dean of SU and Chairman of the Reengineering School at UHT, Dilyana Stoilova from EMCOM BULGARIA EOOD, Peya Karova, head of a student team from UHT, and Prof. Dr. Nicoleta Traikova, Vice-Rector of MU Plovdiv.

The Chairman of the BCCI, Mr. Tsvetan Simeonov, surprised the audience by presenting an honorary diploma to Prof. Hadzhiev for his overall contribution to the development of the links between business and education.

After the official part, the Chairman of the BCCI invited the guests to an informal networking session.