The era of the Republic also sought Hungarians in Izmir and its surroundings: Hungarian mason Béla Waldinger built the pedestal of the iconic statue of Atatürk, and Hungarian experts participated in the railway, draining and other water management projects of the area. Imre Dologhi was one of them, playing a major role in the building of the pumping facilities of the city. The descendents of the Dologh family are important citizens of the city up until now, and Christopher Dologh is the honorary consul of Hungary in Izmir.