The co-operation of LCCI with other entrepreneurs’ organisations and the local authorities continued successfully. For instance, thanks to the support of the Jēkabpils town and district authorities, the LCCI Jēkabpils Regional Bureau started its operation in 2006. We are sure that only by close co-operation we are able to achieve efficient representation of the entrepreneurs’ interests. In autumn 2005, the LCCI Vidzeme Regional Development Commission and the Regional Consultative Council of the State Income Service resumed their active work.

The development of the entrepreneurs’ international co-operation is also quite important; it has always been in the centre of attention of LCCI. During the reported period, LCCI has concluded co-operation agreements with Shanghai (China), the Turkish and the Israeli Chambers of Commerce and Industry. We have actively participated in different events and projects of the European Association of Chambers of Commerce – EUROCHAMBRES. In June 2006, the Annual Meeting of the Baltic Sea Chambers of Commerce Association (BCCA) took place in Riga, during which, among others, important problems of the economic development of the Baltic Region were discussed. Mr. Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, the former Danish foreign minister, and Mr. Valdis Birkavs, the former Latvian foreign minister, were guests of the event.

In December 2005, during the annual Chamber Member's Party, LCCI Development Awards were awarded for the third time. This time, one of the evaluation criteria, which we took into consideration, were the companies’ activities in the aspect of socially responsible entrepreneurial activities, thus strengthening the principles of responsible entrepreneurial activities among the Latvian entrepreneurs.

The stable growth of the LCCI members is a proof of the maturity of our organisation. The participation of economically strong and active enterprises in the activities of LCCI strengthens our position among the entrepreneurs, provides support for us in the solution of problems of the business environment, provides an incentive for the participation in new projects and look for different possibilities in further development of entrepreneurial activities.

In its activities, LCCI will continue to follow the liberal traditions of the development of the Latvian economy, will strengthen the image of Latvia as a country with perennial fast developing market economy with excellent possibilities for the entrepreneurs.

As a conclusion, I would like to invite the entrepreneurs to continue to participate actively in the LCCI activities, express their opinions, since the experience and viewpoint of each entrepreneur regarding the problems of entrepreneurial activities may be a new beginning in the search for new solutions and possibilities.