Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins: support to businesses remains a priority for foreign service [25 Feb 2010]

On 24 February, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins opened a new round of discussions "Foreign Service for Latvia's exports. Entrepreneurs meet Latvian Ambassadors", this year's focus being on specific sectors of economy with high export capacity.

At today's event, Latvian ambassadors to Russia, Belarus, Japan, Norway and Lithuania met with business people representing chemical and pharmaceutical sectors, and told about opportunities for those sectors in the respective countries.

In his opening address, Foreign Minister Riekstins noted that the foreign service was interested in the continuation of the dialogue and invited entrepreneurs to come forward with proposals and recommendations for an even closer co-operation. "Support to businesses in export promotion remains a top priority for foreign service," indicated Minister Riekstins.

During the round table discussion, President of the Association of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Companies of Latvia, Vitālijs Skrīvelis, informed about the situation in the chemical and pharmaceutical sector and its development perspectives, highlighting export capacity, knowledge base, and sustainability of the sector. The Ambassador of Latvia to Japan Pēteris Vaivars, Ambassador to Russia Edgars Skuja, Ambassador to Belarus Maira Mora, and Ambassador to Norway Andris Sekacis, spoke about market trends in their countries of residence via video conference facilities; Ambassador to Lithuania Hardijs Baumanis was present in person.

The participating companies "Grindeks", "Olainfarm", "Silvanols", "Biolar", "PharmIdea", "Larifans", "Grand Synthesis Latvia", "Tenax", "Rīgas laku un krāsu fabrika", "Dzintars" and the Institute of Organic Synthesis presented their products and interests in external markets, as well as indicated at the existing restrictions to exports (e.g., certification problems on the CIS markets). Foreign service representatives, for their part, expressed readiness to support the operations of chemical and pharmaceutical companies on foreign markets, their expansion into new markets and eliminating obstacles to exports. 

This event launched a new round of round table discussions initiated last year by the Foreign Ministry and entitled "Foreign Service for Latvia's exports. Entrepreneurs meet Latvian Ambassadors", it aims at providing opportunities for business people to build direct contacts with Latvian ambassadors abroad and raising awareness of the capability by Latvia's foreign service to facilitate exports.

Meetings of Latvian ambassadors with representatives of associations and companies from sectors with highest export capacity will be held on monthly basis all the year round. Next meeting has been scheduled for 29 March. The event will deal with the tourism sector and will be organised in association with the National Agency for Tourism Development.

Businesses are invited to follow the calendar of discussions, and apply for participation at an event of their interest by writing to Dagnija Lace-Ate, 2nd Secretary of the Foreign Economic Relations Promotion Division of the Foreign Ministry, e-mail: dagnija.lace-ate@mfa.gov.lv. 

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