On March 11, members had an opportunity to meet Anita Muizniece, Minister of Education and Science and hear more about the upcoming changes in the education system of Latvia. The Minister spoke about the necessity of advancing digital skills and life-long learning to adapt to the changing labor market needs. 

AmChams in Europe held a live webinar with Andy Hunder, President of AmCham Ukraine, and AmCham representatives from Ukraine’s neighboring countries – Irisz Lippai-Nagy, CEO, AmCham Hungary, Mila Milairau, Executive Director, AmCham Moldova, Tony Housh, Chair, AmCham Poland, Ionut Simion, President, AmCham Romania, and Ronald Blaško, Executive Director, AmCham Slovakia. Revisit the event!

On March 10, AmCham held its 29th Annual General Meeting to review the past year’s activities, elect the Board of Directors and make other important decisions for the business continuity. Zanda Kalnina-Lukasevica, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and U.S. Ambassador Carwile opened the meeting with remarks focusing on on the current Ukraine-Russia war. The AGM elected new member Edgars Labsvirs of Medtronic and re-elected Liene Dubava of Nasdaq Riga, Dita Erna Sile of Novartis Baltics and John Tully of MikroTik to the Board of Directors. All are elected to serve two-year terms.

AmChams in the Baltics in cooperation with the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) met for a webinar to explore border security and labor issues. Representatives from all Baltic Immigration offices and industry representatives discussed opportunities, challenges and risks for recruiting talent from neighboring non-EU countries. They touched upon the current situation in Ukraine which will change the situation in the Baltic labor market. The event was moderated by Roberts Melbardis, Vice President of AmCham Latvia and Co-Chair of OSAC Riga.

On March 3, AmCham in cooperation with the Latvian Institute of International Affairs held a discussion with prominent speakers from NATO, the Atlantic Council and Citadele bank on the Ukraine-Russia war and its implications to individuals and companies doing business in the region. Experts touched upon risks, challenges and opportunities in an increasingly complicated geopolitical environment.