Foreign Ministry and ECL to launch discussions between businessmen and ambassadors for export development

On 6 October at 10 a.m., Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins, the President of the Employers' Confederation of Latvia (ECL), Vitalijs Gavrilovs, and the Vice President of the ECL, Vasilijs Melniks, will continue their successful long-term co-operation and hold an informative event to launch a series of round-table discussions Foreign Service for Latvia's export. Meetings between businessmen and Latvia's ambassadors.

At the informative event, Ambassador of Latvia to the Russian Federation Edgars Skuja and Ambassador of Latvia to Japan Peteris Vaivars will provide an insight into the existing co-operation between embassies and businessmen.

Vitalijs Gavrilovs notes: "The ECL has had several meetings with the responsible institutions, however a clear understanding is still lacking of what export assistance is necessary to companies and in relation to which states it should be provided. It is crucial to study the needs of particular companies now, when decline in the internal consumption of the state reduces company profit. At a situation this difficult we can ask business assistance, only having determined clear demands."

The objective of the series of discussions Foreign Service for Latvia's export. Meetings between businessmen and Latvia's ambassadors is to find specific solutions how to increase exports and expand markets using the assistance that can be rendered by Latvia's foreign service. Sector associations and companies are welcome to take this opportunity and apply for the discussions to be held by the ECL and the Foreign Ministry in order to establish contacts with Latvia's ambassadors abroad.

By describing particular examples and urging to benefit from the assistance of embassies, ambassadors will provide valuable and specific information on the markets of respective states and their vacant fields advisable for business development. The ambassadors will also share their knowledge of national and market characteristics.

During the series of discussions, the ECL will present the results of a survey carried out among ECL members concerning foreign trade priorities of Latvian companies in the field of exports. This survey is conducted for the second year thus providing an opportunity to compare the results on foreign trade potential.

The series of discussions which will include ten round-table meetings will commence on 12 October and continue until 18 December. Each discussion will be devoted to a specific region focusing on states, where Latvia's embassies are situated. Ambassadors will take part in the meetings both in person and with the help of video conferences from abroad.

 

For the attention of the media!

On 6 October at 10 a.m., the opening of the informative event in Z. A. Meierovics hall of the Foreign Ministry.

 

Photo and video opportunity: media representatives are requested to register participation in advance with the Foreign Ministry Press Centre by telephone 67016198 before 4 p.m. on 5 October.

 

Press contacts: Press Centre Division, 3 Krisjana Valdemara iela, Riga, Telephone: (371) 67016 272, Fax: (371) 67222 335, E-mail: media@mfa.gov.lv

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