Newsletter

Sharing feedback and discussing common issues

A group of AmCham members, representing various industries were invited to the Member Focus Lunch on September 27 to discuss their businesses and to provide feedback on AmCham’s programs and advocacy activities. During these informal events members – CEOs, executives, directors, or owners – meet with their counterparts from other industries to discuss common issues. Many thanks Novartis Baltics for hosting! Read more

Value-based procurement in Latvian hospitals

On September 22, AmCham held its first webinar in the series of events dedicated to Value-Based Procurement with an aim to raise awareness of value-based procurement in Latvian hospitals. The event series is based on the VBHC concept AmCham released earlier this year. The topic was presented by Katrine Plavina-Mika of Sorainen Latvia. Read more

Exchanging best practices among Baltic AmChams

On September 15-16, members of all three Baltic AmChams gathered in Riga for the 5th Pan-Baltic conference with an aim to embrace cooperation, communication, and exchange of best practices among AmCham members across the Baltic countries. The 2-day program featured sessions on defense and security, labor force availability, healthcare, digital transformation and cybersecurity as well as included visits to MikroTik, Children’s University Hospital and Children' s University Foundation. Huge thanks to supporters Medtronic, Roche, Skaal, and all our amazing colleagues! Read more

Luncheon with Artis Pabriks, Minister of Defense of Latvia

On September 15, Artis Pabriks, Minister of Defense of Latvia addressed members of all three Baltic AmChams within the Pan-Baltic conference on NATO Strategic concept, support to Ukraine, NATO enlargement as well as the role of the private sector in ensuring the national and economic security. A live discussion was moderated by Martins Vargulis of the Latvian Institute of Foreign Affairs. Read more

Luncheon with John Carwile, U.S. Ambassador in Latvia

On September 16, U.S. Ambassador John Carwile met with members of all three Baltic AmChams in the luncheon held within the Pan-Baltic conference program. In his speech, the Ambassador focused on geopolitical security, the war in Ukraine as well as bilateral relations between Latvia and the U.S. The Ambassador emphasized the U.S. unwavering commitment to Ukraine and highlighted the important role of energy security in the region. Read more

Pre-election debate explores vision for Latvia's future

On September 12, AmCham together with FICIL and other leading foreign Chambers in Latvia held a pre-election debate with prime ministerial candidates and leaders of the leading political parties focusing on the critical issues for the development of Latvia's national economy and the attraction and retention of foreign investments such as increasing competitiveness and strengthening the economy under the current geopolitical circumstances. To revisit the event. Read more

FranklinCovey joins AmCham

FranklinCovey, a company helping organizations achieve results that require collective behavior change, has joined the Chamber as a Corporate member. FranklinCovey transforms organizations by building exceptional leaders, teams, and cultures that get results. We warmly welcome  FranklinCovey to AmCham! Read more

Welcome Longenesis to AmCham

Longenesis, a medical technology startup company, has joined the Chamber as a Corporate member. They are working towards providing a technological bridge between healthcare institutions and the BioTech industry with an aim to help identify and unlock the hidden value of biomedical data to accelerate novel drug and treatment discovery and provide better help to those in need. Welcome, Longenesis! Read more

Neiburgs joins membership

Neiburgs, a family-owned hotel praised for its elegant fusion of the historical and the modern, has joined the Chamber as a Corporate member. Guests are welcome to book any of 55 rooms offering breathtaking views of the stately Dome or the meandering medieval streets of the Old Town. For guests' convenience and enjoyment, there is a restaurant, business center, and conference rooms, as well as a fitness room and SPA. We warmly welcome Neiburgs to the AmCham community! Read more

AKitoGroup becomes a member

AKitoGroup, an IT company  specializing in technological and IT services such as web development, mobile app development, building cloud and network infrastructure, has joined the Chamber as a Small Business member. A warm welcome! Read more

Welcome, Sky High Agency

Sky High Agency, an independent, privately owned Cargo General Sales and Service Agency (GSSA) founded in 2009 in Riga offers air cargo services with commercial airlines in Scandinavia (Norway and Finland), all three Baltic countries and Ukraine. Sky High Agency recently joined the Chamber at a Small Business level. A warm welcome to the AmCham community! Read more

Inese Lowenstein becomes a member

Inese Lowenstein, a professional with over 20 years of business and leadership experience in life science, diagnostic and high-tech material industries, has recently joined the Chamber as an Individual member. Inese is passionate about developing people and creating an engaged and inclusive corporate culture. Welcome, Inese! Read more

Update on recent healthcare projects and events

On September 27, Healthcare work group members discussed the latest developments of the five ongoing healthcare projects: digital strategy, secondary data framework, VBHC approach, public health funding and value-based tenders. Members also touched upon the recent and upcoming events, webinars and conferences related to the healthcare issues. Read more

AmCham positions raised at the National Health Consultative Council

On September 14, AmCham Healthcare work group representatives met with the National Health Consultative Council to present AmCham recommendations on sustainable health financing and value-based healthcare model. With this meeting, the group called stakeholders to continue to work to improve patient access and outcomes. Let us know if you are interested to join any of AmCham's advocacy initiatives at amcham@amcham.lv. Read more

AmCham healthcare work group meets with New Unity

On September 12, AmCham Healthcare work group representatives met with healthcare experts of party New Unity to discuss AmCham latest positions on healthcare. It was agreed that the main goal should be patient-centric healthcare, which can be achieved with the help of public funding, digitalized data and a value-based approach. If you would like to contribute and join our healthcare work group let us know by e-mail: amcham@amcham.lv. Read more

Government and FICIL agree on common objectives

On September 7, FICIL High Council three-day meeting kicked off with a reception at the President’s Residence. On September 8, FICIL members held a members' meeting joined by Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš to address the business environment development. On September 9, representatives of the government, ministries and FICIL discussed priority areas to improve the country's competitiveness such as the promotion of energy independence, the fight against the shadow economy and the digitization of the public sector to accelerate and improve the exchange of data between institutions. Read more

Ellex in Latvia welcomes three new equity partners

Ellex Klavins recently announced three new associate partners – Andris Lazdiņš, Sarmis Spilbergs and Mārtiņš Gailis who have joined the partnership team in Latvia forming an executive team of 11 partners as of September 5, 2022. Congratulations to all, especially our Board Member Sarmis Spilbergs on his new post! Read more

Workcation Riga 2022 open for applications

The Riga Investment and Tourism Agency has recently launched a new program for technology and innovation-based industry companies – Workcation Riga 2022. It is a chance to explore Riga’s investment environment, receive a tailor-made visit agenda that includes meetings with city leadership, business consultancies and key-opinion leaders as well as company visits. Apply HERE! Read more

COBALT ranked as the top law firm in Latvia

According to Prospera Law Firm Review COBALT ranked as No 1 in Latvia and keeps a strong position among the top law firms in the Baltics for such performance areas as personal contacts, project staffing, digital tools and services, business-minded approach, and quality across the Baltic region. In total, the 300 largest buyers of legal services from the Baltics participate in the review and give their evaluation of overall performance, brand awareness, and legal competence across a number of areas. Read more

Creating awareness on the role of education

On September 8, Iespējamā misija launched a campaign "My Best Teacher" aiming to highlight the prestige of the teaching profession by sharing great stories about the best teachers and reminding them of the important work they do by using hashtags #mansskolotājs and #manslabākaisskolotājs by Teacher's Day to be held on October 2. You are invited to donate to the new education program by purchasing useful items such as children's drawings, hoodies and many more on their website. Read more