USA and UK based company iiGrowth and the Ventspils High Technology Park (VHTP) are partnering to bring international solutions to the Latvian market. Together, we are scanning the globe for world class business partners for Latvian enterprises. The purpose of this scan is to identify new business solutions in science and research, defense, and creating new innovation and competency centers in Latvia.

There are several near term opportunities for Latvian and international businesses to form cooperative agreements.

The ERDF is sponsoring science and research projects ranging from 70-492 thousands Lats (up to 1 million USD). These are co-financing funds and project proposals in cooperation with universities must be submitted by December 14, 2009.

The network of business incubators in Latvia supports high tech companies to start business operations in Latvia, by offering SMEs qualitative infrastructure on reduced tariffs and co-financing for research and new product development.

The Investment and Development Agency of Latvia is preparing to solicit ideas/projects regarding the development of competency centers in Latvia. For example, Space, is a competency that the VHTP has already been developing for several years.

These and other focal areas are just the beginning of the new business opportunities and investment climate in Latvia. The Baltic Tiger is coming back and VHTP and iiGrowth are working together to be part of this economic resurgence. If you have an idea or capability that you would like to further explore, please contact us for a confidential consultation.

For more information please contact Ivars Eglajs (email: ivars.eglajs@vhtp.lv phone:+371 29126249) or Gustavs Plato (email: gplato@iigrowth.com or phone: 240.499.4938)

iiGrowth’s Marketing and Communications Practice has been engaged by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA). iiGrowth is providing communications consulting services for the LIAA in the Information Technology and Electrical Engineering and Electronics industry sectors. We are very pleased to be able to support LIAA, which is considered one of the premier investment promotion intermediaries in the world.

In May 2009, the World Bank published its Global Investment Promotion Benchmarking report. The report compared over 200 of the world’s leading investment promotion organizations. In this competition, the LIAA has been identified as one of the top 10 performing national Investment Promotion Intermediaries (IPI’s) in the World. iiGrowth is excited to be working with LIAA.

In May, 2009, iiGrowth CEO, Gustav Plato addressed the participants of the US Baltic Foundation’s annual gala. During this presentation he focused on the role of the Chamber in growing the Baltic Brand with a vision to increase trade between the Americas and Latvia ten-fold.

iiGrowth CEO, Gustav Plato, founded the Latvian Chamber of Commerce in the Americas in December 2008 to promote trade and investment between the Americas and Latvia. The Chamber is off to a strong start and this was reflected in the recent opening of the Chamber at the offices of the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC), which is a coalition of 14 locals governments in the commonwealth of Virginia. NVRC works regionally on issues including the international energy, the environment, human services and regional emergency preparedness.

LatCham founding member and Chairperson Gustav Plato praised Northern Virginia for its diversity and vibrant economy and expressed his interest in promoting mutually beneficial exchanges between Latvian businesses and businesses in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Mark Gibb, Executive Director of NVRC stated, “The co-location of the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and the Northern Virginia Regional Commission is a mutually beneficial partnership with many opportunities for collaboration on local, regional and international issues. This is a big advantage for Northern Virginia.” In his opening remarks, Gibb described his personal experience with the Baltic countries and said he was thrilled to cooperate with LatCham.

LatCham’s goal is to promote the partnership between Latvia and the Unites States. Currently Latvian – U.S. trade amounts to 150 million dollars a year. The Chamber’s goal is to increase this tenfold. A special guest was Latvian Ambassador to the U.S, and LatCham Honorary member, Andrejs Pildegovics who gave a brief description of historical developments in Latvia. He noted that Latvia’s accession to the EU and NATO, in addition to the expected adoption of Euro in 2012, bodes well for Latvia’s economy. He stated that the joint initiative of LatCham and NVRC is a significant step forward for Latvia and a laudatory initiative for Virginia.

The Hon. Harry J. Parrish II, Mayor, City of Manassas / Chairman, Northern Virginia Regional Commission and the Hon. Sharon Bulova, Chairwoman, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, also warmly welcomed the Latvian Chamber to the region and expressed the sentiments of NVRC that they would welcome the opportunity to work together with the Chamber and the Republic of Latvia.

iiGrowth is leading market development initiatives here in the United States and Latvia to drive the trade and investment growth goals of the Chamber. iiGrowth is meeting with companies in the United States and Latvia to discuss their unique interests and opportunities for international trade both here in the U.S. and Latvia. For more information, or to stay ahead of the latest developments, or to arrange for a private consultation regarding your particular trade and investment needs, contact, iiGrowth CEO, Gustav Plato at gplato@iigrowth.com.

Building strong relationships requires creating common foundations and mutual interests. One such opportunity presented itself recently and iiGrowth CEO, Gustav Plato, also Director of the Board of the Latvian Chamber of Commerce in the Americas became actively involved in this international relationship building opportunity through the medium of music. Last year, iiGrowth visited with the Riga Business School to begin to build what we hope is a long and last relationship with this Latvian B-School. The relationship moved forward as the Director of the Business School, Janis Grevins, contacted iiGrowth earlier in the year to share their vision of visiting the United States and Canada. The reaction of course, was, “Great Idea Jāni!”.

Working cooperatively with the Embassy of Latvia here in DC, as well as the United States Baltic Foundation, an evening event was planned that would bring together the singers, all successful, mid to top level managers, entrepreneurs, and company owners, with local DC metro business professionals. The local DC based attendees would also have the pleasure of hearing a brief excerpt of RBS’ North American tour repertoire.

The event was a great success. The Riga Business School (RBS) Choir, directed by conductor Einārs Verro, performed a short program, which was followed by hors devours and refreshments. This allowed the singers to mingle with DC-Metro area business people and forged what many hoped are the beginnings of long term relationships. The evening ended in timely fashion as the singers prepared for their Kennedy Center performance on July 8, 2009.RBS Kennedy Center Performance

RBS Choir

Ventspils High Technology Park and iiGrowth LLC sign a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate investment and trade between the United States and Latvia

Ivars Eglajs, the Chairman of the Board of Ventspils High Technology Park said that iiGrowth LLC would deliver strategy and international marketing services to companies located in the technology park. iiGrowth LLC is a global strategy and management consulting business with representation in the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

Gustav Plato, Chief Executive Officer of iiGrowth LLC, stated, “I am pleased to announce that we have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Ventspils High Technology Park to help Latvian, US, and UK businesses enhance their opportunities for trade and growth. We view VHTP as a market leader and market maker and are excited about working with them and companies at the park. I believe that our joint mission has profound importance, particularly in light of the current economic climate. Together, we can forge new inroads in terms of introducing potential Latvian businesses who will look to the United States and United Kingdom for new business opportunities and to US and UK businesses who are doing business or planning to do business in Latvia. ”

Further, both parties plan to cooperate in delivering market research services and support to USA and UK based clients considering or starting business operations in the Republic of Latvia.

Contacts:

Gustav Plato , CEO
iiGrowth LLC

5712 Bent Branch Road
Bethesda, MD, 20816, USA
Phone: 240.499.4938
gplato@iigrowth.com
http://iigrowth.com/

Ivars Eglajs, Chairman of the Board
Ventspils High Technology Park

101 Inzenieru Street
Ventspils, LV-3601, Latvia
Phone: +371 29126249
ivars.eglajs@vhtp.lv
http://www.vhtp.lv/

It is now clear what a Rock Band goes through by playing in a new city every night. Our group was in four cities in four days. It was a whirlwind tour, but one that provided the seeds of great opportunity.

During the Baltic Tour, there were many highlights.  The Department of Commerce and the US State Department were outstanding in helping to arrange meetings, providing deep insights into each country visited, and just made the trip very pleasant.

The Baltic countries including the government ministries we visited (i.e. economics, foreign ministries, and transporation) were equally hospitable and insightful.  In addition, the private sector industry associations and firms we visited were open, very excited about the opportunities for cooperation on both sides of the Atlantic, and looking forward to accelerated collaboration in 2009.

Of the many highlights, one of them was the opportunity to meet with Kaspars Gerhards, the Minister of Economics, for the Republic of Latvia. It was special in that it was an opportunity to invite Minister Gerhards to join the Latvian Chamber of Commerce in the Americas.

ii Growth CEO Gustav Plato Present LatCham Honorary Membership to Latvian Economics Minister, Kaspars Gerhards

Gustav sees LatCham as looking forward to a very active year in 2009. In particular, given the economic downturn across the globe, it is critical to focus on fundamentals. This requires breaking down economic sectors and sub-sectors and looking for areas of opportunity, building business alliances, and elevating internal business maturity.

iiGrowth’s recent trip to the Baltics (Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia) provided an opportunity to seek out and understand US opportunities in the Baltic markets and vice versa.  This trip proved very fruitful to the notion of strong economic growth opportunities between the US and the Baltics.

The transportation and Information Technology sectors were two areas of focus in the Baltic tour.  In summary, there are opportunities for economic development and fairly large infrastructure projects in aviation, highways, ports, and rail transportation.  Information technology and innovation also highlighted the high level of capability in Baltic IT firms.  The Baltic firms are ready for the US market and have a desire to seek out business partners in the United States.  More about each of the sectors in the coming week.

The US Baltic Foundation (www.usbaltic.org) invited IIGrowth CEO, Gustav Plato, to lead the USBF’s 2009 Business Program.

The U.S.-Baltic Foundation is an educational resource for U.S. policy-makers and the public. A national organization that unites all American friends of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, USBF develops and implements programs to strengthen democracy and free markets in the Baltics. The Foundation also introduces the Baltics to new American audiences with a series of public affairs programs.

The 2009 business program will be conducted as part of the US Baltic Confluence, which includes a Business Forum, Baltic Exchange, and Gala. The theme for the 2009 program is “Economic Growth Through Social Responsibility”. The Baltics have a long tradition of respect for nature, the environment, and sustainable development. It is part of the fabric of the Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian societies, and has its roots in over a 1000 years of Baltic traditions and practices.

Similar to the resurgance of the Baltic economies, there is a worldwide resurgance in sustainable development. Key Baltic industries including Transportation and Logistics, Information Technology, and Healthy Living will come together with US business leaders and financial investors to identify new collaborative business opportunities.

Maria Kivisild Ogrydziak, Chairman of the U.S.- Baltic Foundation also announced that Valdis Zatlers, President of Latvia, will headline a three-day series of Baltic cultural and business development events on May 14-17 at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel, 1127 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC. Sponsored by The U.S.- Baltic Foundation (USBF), the 2009 gala weekend will feature a business conference, an exchange program summit, a silent auction and black-tie gala dinner to highlight the special and growing ties between the U.S. and the Baltic States.

On Friday April 18th, 2008, the U.S. Baltic Foundation held the U.S.-Baltic Technology Forum, at the Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC. Over 70 participants worked together to build upon last year’s successes, as the 2008 program provided Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian and American companies the opportunity to assess current challenges and environments and explore exciting new opportunities in a range of technology innovation fields. Noted American and Baltic experts in economic and market development and technology particpated in panel discussions on cutting-edge subjects including cyber security, technology commercialization, and energy conservation and green technology.

IIGrowth LLC, CEO, Gustav Plato, worked with the USBF to design the program and led the Technology Commercialization workshops. In addition, Gustav led efforts and worked with the State of Delaware and the Maryland Estonian Exchange Council to design and implement the two-state trade mission.

IIGrowth CEO, Gustav Plato, participated in the WEL workshop for entreprenurs in March in Riga Latvia. Gustav shared his experiences in leading market development efforts and engaged the audience in a discussion of using a rapid 90-120 deployment approach to market strategy development and implementation.