Girts Kronbergs

In accordance with the proposal of Environmental Protection and Regional Development Minister (EPRDM) Edmunds Sprudzs the Head of Liepaja division of Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Girts Kronbergs has been elected in the Board of Ventspils Free port on Tuesday, July 10.

Kronbergs has been working at the LCCI for 15 years and is currently the Head if its Liepaja division. His former professional experience is tightly linked to improving business development in Kurzeme, Latvia and abroad. He also had a hand in the development of the Kurzeme Business Incubator, and now works there as a member of the Board. The EPRDM reports that his main priority is ensuring and improving the adoption of new services.

When evaluating potential EPRDM representatives to the VFP, candidates were mainly assessed on their ability to improve entrepreneurship in Latvia. The so far successful cooperation between EPRDM and LCCI is a positive example and gives an optimistic view on the future, where VFP will operate not in the interest of just one city, but will invest in the development of the entire region, the ministry points.

Even though until now Kronbergs has been actively working at the LCCI every day, one of the main objectives of his new posts will be the ability to propose and realize priorities that are based on common regional and state interests, not the interests of companies or social partners.

Long term state development is closely related with regional development and Kronbergs proposed not only the necessity to improve the port’s business environment, but also the development of the port’s investments in business development in the whole region as important objectives during his meeting with the minister.

Sprudzs proposed the compliance with the good management principle as Kronbergs’ significant objective in his work on improving VFP activities, including encouraging greater openness and preventing corruption risks.

The ERPDM as an environment protection institution expects active involvement of the new VFP member in balancing environment protection requirements and port development interests on VFP territory.

On Tuesday, July 10, Vilis Avotins was withdrawn from the post of VFP. He, supposedly, was in the midst of a conflict of interests for a long time, while being a Member of the Board of VFP and Director-General of the State Environmental Service at the same time. This case is a prime example of a long term and open lack of understanding about following the principles of good management while working for different state and municipal institutions, the ministry notes.

Ref: 102.109.109.2522