On 7 December 2005, President Václav Klaus visited ČMKS — Lokomotivy, a.s. in Česká Třebová as part of an official three-day visit to the Pardubice region. During his visit to one of the largest companies in Česká Třebová, the Czech president christened the new 709-621.1 class diesel-electric locomotive. The vehicle is the first in a series of ten locomotives that HOLDINGU ČMKS is making for Serbian Railways. The president thus gave the locomotive a champagne send-off to Serbia and Montenegro. As a memento of the day, the president was presented with a small-scale model of the locomotive by the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of ČMKS holding, a.s., Mr. Josef Bárta. Mr. Klaus was pleased to learn of the success of HOLDING ČMKS’s companies in preserving the diesel locomotive manufacturing tradition in the Czech Republic, which almost died out following the collapse and dissolution of engineering giant ČKD. He also praised ČMKS’s financial results and the fact that ČMKS — Lokomotivy, a.s., which has a manufacturing tradition stretching back more than 150 years, is succeeding in a region blighted by high unemployment. ČMKS representatives were flattered that theirs was the only industrial firm visited by the president during his trip to the Pardubice region.

Also worthy of mention is the fact that the just-christened 621.101 diesel locomotive this year won Gold Medal in the “equipment for transport and logistics” category at the 47th international engineering fair held in Brno on 3—7 October 2005. The award-winning locomotive was the only one of the powered rail vehicles exhibited to have the status of new product. The all-new locomotive is expected to sell on all European markets. For this reason, the first, prototype 709.401-4 “Effishunter” locomotive is currently undergoing tests and trial operation both in the Czech Republic and with selected foreign customers.