October 4, 2007

New Hungarian Consulate General Opened in Chicago

The Republic of Hungary opened its new Consulate General in Chicago on Thursday, October 4^th. The new mission was officially opened by State Secretary László Várkonyi in the presence of Hungarian ambassador to the U.S. Ferenc Somogyi, Deputy Minister for the Economy and Transportation Ábel Garamhegyi, Hungary’s Consul General in New York Viktor Polgár, wife of Chicago's Mayor Maggie Daley, as well as representatives of the city of Chicago, the Department of State, and local Hungarian Americans.
 

Guests of honor at the opening of the Hungarian Consulate General in Chicago: Deputy Minister Ábel Garamhegyi, the Mayor's Chief of Protocol Eileen Hubbell, wife of the Mayor of Chicago Maggie Daley, Ambassador Ferenc Somogyi, Honorary Consul Kaarina Koskenalusta

The business program organized for the executives of various multinational companies, organizations and institutions in the Chicago area, coinciding with the opening of the Consulate General, was designed to generate interest in Hungary as an investment location.
 

Ambassador Somogyi speaking to a business forum at the Chicago Club

The newly opened Consulate General, is headed by the Consul General Dr. István Mezei, a distinguished diplomat among other assignments with years of Washington D.C. and Brussels experience. The new Consulate has jurisdiction over 15 states, Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, West Virginia and Wisconsin. It may be contacted in the so-called "classical" consular cases, such as application for Hungarian citizenship, issuing Hungarian passport, acting as notary and civil registrar, safeguarding the interests of nationals, both individuals and bodies corporate, however it will not issue visas. (Visas for Hungary can be obtained at the Hungarian representations in Washington DC, Los Angeles and New York.)
 

Chicago's First Lady, Maggie Daley, and Ambassador Ferenc Somogyi at the opening reception

The Hungarian delegation on the roof top of Chicago's City Hall (Chicago Consul General István Mezei, New York Consul General Viktor Polgár, Director of Trade Office Miklós Martin Kovács, Deputy Minister Ábel Garamhegyi, Kaarina Koskenalusta, State Secretary László Várkonyi, Ambassador Ferenc Somogyi, Egri Magdolna)

 

The contact details and opening hours of the Hungarian Consulate General in Chicago are the following:

Address:	500 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 750, Chicago, IL 60611
Phone:	(312) 670-4079
Fax:	(312) 670-4276
E-mail:	consulate.chi@kum.hu
Office Hours:	Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 9.30 am - 12.30 am