The Foreign Investors’ Council in Latvia (FICIL) held a public panel discussion “Tomorrow is the Consequence of Now”, that took place on 30th of May at 13:30, at the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga, Soros auditorium (Strēlnieku iela 4a).
As 2019 marks 20 years since the establishment of FICIL, we take a look back on the already achieved while at the same time placing a strong focus on how the decisions made today will affect the investment climate of Latvia in the future. In order to make the right decisions now, Latvia needs to have a clear vision for tomorrow.
During the discussion, FICIL in collaboration with experts and state officials explored two significant areas that contribute to securing sustainable economic growth: education in connection with the ever-changing labour market and the future of transportation and logistics sector in Latvia.
Programme: (ENG, LAT)
13:30-15:00 | Panel I “Staffing a Smart Nation
Digitalisation and innovation, as well as modern and well-educated workforce are preconditions for creating a smart nation. One of the most acute problems Latvia is currently facing is the lack of workforce. Labour market demands are changing, how prepared is Latvia? How connected is the higher education system to the job market? What are the next steps for the government and employers to foster the implementation of all preconditions to increase Latvia’s economic competitiveness?
Moderator: Tālis Eipurs, journalist
- Ēriks Eglītis, State Secretary, Ministry of Economics
- Zlata Elksniņa-Zaščirinska, Chairperson of the Board, PwC
- Arvils Ašeradens, Chairperson, Saeima’s Education, Culture and Science Committee
- Vjačeslavs Kaščejevs, Associate Professor at University of Latvia, quantum physics researcher
15:30-17:00 | Panel II “Laying the Tracks Ahead for Latvia
We are currently at the dawn of one of the largest infrastructure projects the Baltics have seen. Rail Baltica will not only improve Latvia’s railroad connectivity with Europe, but also play an important role in future investment attraction to the region. Where does Latvia stand at the moment in regards to the Rail Baltica project and what still needs to be addressed? Is Latvia ready for the investment opportunities that will opens up? What does the future look like for the transportation sector as a whole?
Moderator: Baiba Rubesa, entrepreneur
- Tālis Linkaits, Minister for Transport
- Kaspars Briškens, Head of Business Development, RB Rail
- Artūrs Kokars, CEO, Aviation Association of Latvia
- Ansis Zeltiņš, CEO, The Freeport of Riga Authority
In case you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact the FICIL Office at ficil@ficil.lv