On May 16, AmCham Investment work group members gathered for another meeting to discuss ways to improve the investment environment and promote Latvia as an FDI destination. The group is looking at how to promote the impact of FDI on the economy and will gather best practices from the AmCham network in Europe.

On April 28, Nils Melngailis, Chairman of the Supervisory Council of Luminor Bank and non-Executive Director at Printful addressed AmCham members on recent challenges the banking industry is currently facing, including aggressive interest rate hikes, increasing competition, enhanced regulation, and slow economic growth. He emphasized that European banks, including ones represented in the Baltic region, are in much better shape than the ones in the U.S. 

At the Healthcare work group meeting on April 25 Edgars Labsvirs of Medtronic and Alise Krumina of Roche were elected the Co-Chairs of the group. The work group members expressed gratitude to Dita Erna Sile who stepped down after driving the group's activities over the last two years. The work group focuses on completing several projects, mainly in the field of value-based healthcare, healthcare financing, digital health, secondary health data as well as works closely with the government in implementing the group's agenda.

More than 200 members and guests celebrated AmCham 30th Anniversary with a festive black-tie dinner last Saturday, April 22 at Small Guild and the participation of distinguished guests President of Latvia Egils Levits, U.S. Ambassador Christopher Robinson, former President of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves and Mayor of Riga Martins Stakis. AmCham reflected on the evolution of the organization and offered an overview of the most significant milestones and recognized AmCham past and present board members, presidents, vice presidents and founding members. In a silent charity auction €3150 was raised to the Children's Hospital Foundation, Latvian Foster Family Association and SOS Children's Villages.

A group of members, representing various industries joined the AmCham board and staff representatives for Member Focus Lunch on April 13 to discuss their businesses and provide feedback on AmCham’s activities. Among the topics discussed were value-based procurements, public-private partnerships, tax system improvements, and sustainability issues. We are grateful to Nasdaq Riga and Domino's Pizza for hosting and supporting the event!