The initiative “Functionary shadows an entrepreneur” organised by the Ministry of Economics in cooperation with the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCTC), the Employers’ Confederation of Latvia (ECL), the Business Union of Latvia (LBS) and Junior Achievement Latvia was held on September 16 for the second time.
This is a unique project directly aimed at strengthening cooperation between the public and private sectors. 100 functionaries from 25 state institutions visited 41 companies within the scope of this initiative this year. Companies such as Draugiem Group, Salaspils Siltums, Swedbank Latvija, Eco Baltia grupa, Silja, Wunder Latvia, Ingrid D, Peruza and other participated in the initiative.
The State Secretary of the Ministry of Economics Edmunds Valantis: “The initiative is important for public administration employees, because it provides an opportunity to familiarise with the work of the company and the topical issues for entrepreneurs on the spot, which in turn makes it possible for the state to be aware of the issues to be focused on. This year, meetings with entrepreneurs further allowed for an assessment of state aid and assistance for business in mitigating the effects of the Covid-19 crisis. And finally, the initiative makes it possible to familiarise with the products and services provided by our entrepreneurs, to recognise the importance of innovation in improving competitiveness and the ability of our companies to enter the world markets successfully, to compete and bring the name of Latvia to the world!”
Chairman of the Board of Eco Baltia Group Māris Simanovičs: “We have been participating in the “Functionary shadows an entrepreneur” initiative for the second year and this year we have introduced state representatives to the process of recycling of packaging in two of our plants – AS “PET Baltija” and SIA “Nordic Plast”. We appreciate this initiative, because it creates an excellent platform for functionaries to get to know daily activities of companies, see production processes with their own eyes and discuss with entrepreneurs what we can do together so that Latvia moves more rapidly towards strengthening the principles of the circular economy and also develop the country’s overall economy and well-being. This year, the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the waste recycling industry, where demand for secondary raw materials has fallen sharply in our export markets and only now is beginning to recover very gradually, was at the forefront of talks. Moreover, it is important that we are developing not only in exports, but also in Latvia we are able to create a policy that supports and stimulates the sorting, recycling and wider use of recycled raw materials. Promoting green procurement for public policy, for example, plays a crucial role in rooting these principles and making them the standard, not an exception.”
For more information about the initiative see the “Functionary shadows an entrepreneur” website.