About us
Peter Kouroumbashev
„I am delighted that you have the opportunity to visit the official website and to use the services of the Honorary Consulate of Malaysia in Bulgaria.“
Peter Kouroumbashev – born on January 28, 1968, in Pleven, Bulgaria. He has four children. He graduated from Sofia High School of Mathematics and he has a master’s degree in Computer Science from the Technical University in Sofia. He is one of the establishers of the legendary student show “Ku-ku” from the early 90’s. He was a reporter, editor, editor-in-chief and producer of the show.
Between 1995 and 1996 he worked as editor-in-chief at Nova TV and was responsible for public relations and entertainment programs. In 1997 he became the general manager of BNT (Bulgarian National Television).
Since 2006 he has been investing in power plants that produce energy from renewable sources, and now is an owner of power plants with a total installed capacity of 5 500 kW and a total annual production of 8 400 000 kWH.
From 2007 to 2009 Mr. Peter Kouroumbashev was a councilor in the Sofia Municipal Council from the list of the Bulgarian socialist party. In the periods of the 41st (2009-2013) and 42nd (2013-2014) National Assembly, Kouroumbashev was a Member of Parliament from Coalition for Bulgaria. In the 42nd National Assembly, he was a Chairman of the Committee on Environment and Waters and a Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Group of the Coalition for Bulgaria. He also participated in the campaigns of Presidents Petar Stoyanov in 2001 and Rumen Radev in 2016. Between 2017 and 2019 he was a member of the European Parliament, elected from the list of Coalition for Bulgaria. Peter Kouroumbashev took part in the Group of Socialists and Democrats in EP.
As a member of the Transport and Tourism Committee (TRAN), rapporteur on the Bus Transport Directive, rapporteur on the European Cyber Security Directive Agency, and a member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), Kouroumbashev was one of the most active Bulgarian members of the European Parliament on the Mobility Package.
He was also a member of the Delegation for relations with the People’s Republic of China, a member of the Delegation for relations with South-East Asia, a member of the Delegation for relations with the Republic of Albania. He was Vice Chair of the Delegation to the EU-Montenegro Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee.
In May 2020 he was appointed Honorary Consul of Malaysia in Bulgaria based in Sofia. From October 2023 Mr. Peter Kouroumbashev begins his second Mandate.
Career at a glance
1968
Born on January 28 in Pleven, Bulgaria
1990s
Co-founder, reporter, editor-in-chief and producer of the legendary student show “Ku-ku”
1995–1996
Editor-in-chief at Nova TV
1997
General manager of BNT (Bulgarian National Television)
2006
Investor in renewable energy — 5 500 kW installed capacity, 8 400 000 kWh annual production
2007–2009
Councilor in the Sofia Municipal Council
2009–2014
Member of Parliament (41st and 42nd National Assembly); Chairman of the Committee on Environment and Waters
2017–2019
Member of the European Parliament — TRAN and ITRE committees, rapporteur on the Bus Transport Directive and the European Cyber Security Agency Directive
2020
Appointed Honorary Consul of Malaysia in Bulgaria
2023
Begins his second mandate as Honorary Consul
Relations between Malaysia and Bulgaria
Malaysia and Bulgaria established their diplomatic relations in 1968. In 2007 the Bulgarian Ambassador in Jakarta was also accredited for Malaysia. The Malaysian Ambassador in Hungary is also accredited for Bulgaria until 2010. In 2013 Malaysia accredited its ambassador in Bucharest for Bulgaria.
In January 2005, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Prof. Ognian Gerdjikov, paid an official visit to Malaysia. During the ninth ASEM summit in November 2012, a meeting was held in Vientiane, Laos, between the President of Bulgaria Rosen Plevneliev and the Prime Minister of Malaysia Najib Razak. The first official visit of the Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs to Malaysia took place in March 2016.
Even though the Bulgarian trade and economic relations with Malaysia are mainly through Singapore, direct trade has also intensified recently. There is a moderate increase in tourist travel of Malaysian citizens to Bulgaria.
The EU-ASEAN dialogue provides opportunities for the development of cooperation within ASEM. Malaysia is the third country in the region with which the European Union is in talks to conclude a Free Trade Agreement.
In 2004 the Malaysian businessman and Honorary Consul of Bulgaria in Malaysia Stephen So Tech To, was awarded the Golden Laurel Branch by the Minister of Foreign Affairs for his contribution to the development of bilateral relations.
Bilateral agreements between Bulgaria and Malaysia
1970
Air Communications Agreement
1971
Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation Agreement
2016
Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation on Legal Affairs