LCCI Directory 2006/2007

I. The most important events of 2005

On January 27, 2005, the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry - Eurochambres organised a meeting of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the European countries with the deputies of the European Parliament (EP) in Brussels. About 150 deputies of EP arrived at the meeting with the representatives of entrepreneurs’ interests, among them the deputies elected from Latvia. The purpose was to establish successful co-operation with EP in order to develop the European integration.
On March 21, 2005, the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) organised a Bulgarian – Latvian Business Forum to mark the visit of the Bulgarian President in Latvia.
In March 2005, LCCI arranged a business lunch with the Latvian Prime Minister Aigars Kalvītis.
On May 10, 2005, the General Meeting of the National Bar Code Organisation took place, and the name "EAN Latvija" was changed to "GS1 Latvija".
On May 19, 2005, a meeting of entrepreneurs with the Minister of Economics Krišjānis Kariņš took place during an Entrepreneurs’ Night organised by LCCI.
On June 16, 2005, the Annual General Meeting of the LCCI members "New Challenges in the Development of the System of Professional and Higher Education in Accordance with Today’s Requirements of the Labour Market" took place. LCCI, inspired by its members and other entrepreneurs, put forward a request to introduce cardinal changes in the Latvian system of professional education. The entrepreneurs are aware that the level of the professional education is unsatisfactory and is lagging behind the requirements of the labour market, and are of the opinion that development is impossible without changes in the philosophy of the Latvian system of professional education. The participants of the meeting supported LCCI’s position and called for the entrepreneurs’ organisations to develop a united position regarding the upgrading of the system of professional education.
In June 2005, Jānis Leja, Director General of LCCI, participated in the 4th World Chambers Congress.
On August 23, 2005, the Court of Arbitration of LCCI was registered in the Register of Courts of Arbitration of the Register of Enterprises.
On August 31, 2005, LCCI was registered in the Register of Societies and Foundations of Register of Enterprises as a society, in compliance with the decision by the Annual General Meeting of the LCCI members and in accordance with the Law on Associations (Societies) and Foundations.
In September 2005, "GS1 Latvija" organised the regional forum "GS1 Europe" in Riga, with the participation of 92 participants from 27 countries.
In September 2005, the LCCI Vidzeme Regional Development Commission resumed its work; Jurģis Ābele, Chairman of the Board of the Valmiera Regional Co-operative Society, was elected its Chairman.
On November 30, 2005, the Court of Arbitration of LCCI celebrated 15 years since the resumption of its operation, with the participation of the active arbiters of the Court of Arbitration of LCCI, Members of the Council of the Court of Arbitration of LCCI and other persons associated with the activities of the Court of Arbitration.
On December 2, 2005, for the third time, five best enterprises were awarded LCCI Award of Progress. Those were received by Joint Stock Co. "Valmieras piens", "Verems" Ltd., "Jelgavas būvniecības sistēmas" Ltd., "ARBO" Ltd., Joint Stock Co. "Grindeks".
On December 7, 2005, LCCI organised an Estonian-Latvian Business Forum and "round table" to mark the visit of the Estonian President in Latvia.

II. LCCI membership

As of December 31, 2005, the active membership of the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry comprised 1,054 enterprises (as of 2004.31.12. – 1,012); during 2005, 122 new members joined LCCI (in 2004 – 117). 80 enterprises were expelled from the LCCI membership (in 2004 – 66). The growth in the number of members comprised 4.15 % compared to the previous year (in 2004 – 5,4%).

III. Protection of the entrepreneurs’ interests

LCCI initiative, problems solved and position
Representing the entrepreneurs’ interests, LCCI, concentrated its activities on the following groups of problems:

Taxation policies and tax administration, administrative obstacles and barriers for the entrepreneurial activities:

Participation in the activities of the Ministry of Finance aimed at the establishment of a new penalty system. LCCI objects against the excessiveness of tax penalties, proposed that the State Revenue Service should better co-operate with entrepreneurs.
LCCI proposed to introduce a unified rate of the corporate income tax (CIT) for all businessmen, reducing the CIT rate for individual entrepreneurs from 25% to 15%.
LCCI supported the proposal to eliminate the numbered bills of lading – invoices.
Following a request by the LCCI members, LCCI drew the attention of the responsible institutions to shortcomings in the legal regulatory basis for the licensing of the retail trade in tractor equipment and trailers.
LCCI opposed the populist decision of the Ministry of Welfare to increase the minimum wages, indicating that an increase in the untaxed minimum would be a more efficient instrument, favourable for the development of the national economy.
LCCI prepared proposals for the plan of preservation and development of the Riga historical centre, participating in the discussion regarding the Riga Development Plan.
A draft of the Hague convention regarding exclusive court selection contracts.
The draft directive regarding the accessibility of the market of harbour services.
The draft directive regarding the liberalisation of services.
The draft regulations regarding registration, evaluation issue of permits and limitation of chemical substances and chemical products (REACH).
Participated in the survey on the Latvian National Lisbon Programme for the years 2005-2008 etc.
LCCI prepared a concept of development of the vocational education, which emphasises the necessity of making important changes in the education system.
The LCCI Vocational education Committee renewed its work;
LCCI opposes the proposed amendments to the Vocational Education Law, evaluating them as non-complying with the today’s realities of the professional education.

Meeting with deputies of the European Parliament
On January 27, 2005, Eurochambres organised a meeting of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the European countries with the deputies of the European Parliament (EP) in Brussels. About 150 deputies of EP arrived at the meeting with the representatives of entrepreneurs’ interests, among them the deputies elected from Latvia. The purpose was to establish successful co-operation with EP in order to develop the European integration.

LCCI representation

LCCI is represented in the National Economy Council under the Ministry of Economics.
LCCI is represented in the Council for Co-operation of the Latvian Small and Medium Enterprises and Crafts.
LCCI is represented in the Council for Higher Education.
LCCI-appointed representatives work in the working group for taxation policies, the working group for the preparation of draft regulations for documentary reproduction copying, other working groups preparing legal and administrative acts in various spheres.
LCCI is represented in the working group for the preparation of a strategy of the introduction of the Euro – section of non-financial enterprises and consumers.
There is an LCCI-appointed representative in the Public Council of the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau.
The LCCI Vidzeme Regional Development Committee and Zemgale Development Committee continue their work.
The Latvian – Russian Co-operation Council continues its work.
An LCCI-appointed representative works in the Committee for the European Economic and Social Affairs.
An LCCI-appointed representative works in the Committee for the Supervision of the EU structural funds.
On October 20, 2005, the South Latgale Vocational Education and Employment Council was established, in the work of which the LCCI Daugavpils Division also participates.

IV. Co-operation with other Latvian entrepreneurs’ organisations and local authorities

LCCI’s co-operation with the Latvian Forest Industry Federation, the Association of Textile and Clothing Industry, Association of Mechanical Engineering and Metalworking Industries continues. Representatives of the associations participated in the meeting of the LCCI Council dealing with the improvement of the system of professional education.
Participation in the events organised by the British Chamber of Commerce in Latvia.
The LCCI Daugavpils Regional Office in co-operation with the Daugavpils City Council and District Council organised the practical conference “Daugavpils Economics 2005”. Representatives from the Ministry of Economics, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Regional Development and Local Government, Latgale Regional Development Agency participated in the conference.

V. Corporate social responsibility

LCCI supported a study carried out by the School of Business Administration Turiba regarding the comprehension and perception of the corporate social responsibility in Latvia.
Within the framework of the LCCI Award of Progress competitions, on of the evaluation criteria is the enterprise’s activities in the sphere of socially responsible entrepreneurial activities.
The LCCI Court of Arbitration has considered 46 cases, out of which 29 were cases where disputed amount did not exceed 1000 lats. Four of the cases were international cases.

VI. Business promotion and international co-operation

LCCI is an active member of EUROCHAMBRES. It participates in several projects and polls initiated by EUROCHAMBRES.
LCCI successfully participates in the EUROCHAMBRES project Gateway to Japan, the purpose of which is to develop the co-operation of the EU member states with Japan. Last year, within the framework of the project 9 Latvian enterprises participated in the EU trade mission in Japan (fashion design, construction materials, food production).
During 2005, LCCI received 15 trade missions from Spain and Germany, in which approximately 93 foreign companies participated; approximately 423 negotiations between separate companies were organised.
LCCI organised bilateral Business Forums:
- to mark the visit of the Bulgarian President in Latvia,
- to mark the visit of the Estonian President in Latvia,
- the Byelorussian Business Forum in Latvia,
- the Croatian Business Forum in Latvia.
The Latvian companies participated in the trade missions organised by LCCI, going to China, Poland, Perm Region (Russia), Dnepropetrovsk (Ukraine), Minsk (Byelorussia).
In compliance with an agreement concluded with the Murcia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Spain), a Spanish trade expert worked at LCCI during August – November 2005.
LCCI organised presentations of foreign companies and separate business visits:
- Presentation exhibition FATEX (France).
- Individual business visits for the Spanish and Estonian companies.
- Visit of the Šiauliai (Lithuania) Advanced Vocational Training Centre.
Six Latvian companies participated in the events of "EU-Thailand Partenariat 2005" in Bangkok (Thailand).
Regional exhibitions of entrepreneurial activities took place in Cesis, Daugavpils, Liepaja, Rezekne and other Latvian towns.