Daniels Pavluts

Minister of Economy Daniels Pavluts plans to appoint nonparty business representatives to the Board of Riga Free port; these individuals will be chosen during the consultation process with the Latvian Employer’s Confederation, Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Foreign Investors Council in Latvia.

Keeping in mind that along with positive reports about the improvement of port activities and the increase of cargo transport there have also been regular scandals and suspicions about unequal game rules for different businessmen; the Minister of Economy asked the largest business organizations to prepare and present their own vision about the improvements for the future development of Latvian ports. Their proposals will be compiled and handed to the Ministry of Transport and to the Saeima Commission of Economic, Environmental and Regional Policy, as well as offered to the Latvian Port, Transit and Logistics Council. These proposals are also planned to be made available to the public as well, Minister of Economy reports.

Seeing as though the authority of the current representative of the Ministry of Economy in the Board of Riga Free port Olafs Pulkis expired on May 8, 1021, the minister asked business organizations to give their proposals for an appropriate candidate for this position, as well as the main objectives that this candidate will need to work with.

«Close cooperation and an open dialog with business representing organizations are significant parts of my work. Keeping in mind the port’s role in Latvia’s economy as well as in the forming of the business environment, I believe it is necessary to also appoint business representatives to the Board of the free port. A similar model is successfully implemented at Liepaja port. Also, it is very important to publish the objectives of the possible Riga Free port Board candidates, in order to avoid any speculations about trying to «privatize» or in any other way interfere with the port’s activities», – Pavluts says.

Business organization candidates are allowed to be proposed according to the criteria previously voiced by the Reform party: higher education in management disciplines, law, financial management, economics or another related field, at least five years of experience in law, economy, business or organization-related fields (experience in port, transit and logistics considered an advantage). A good professional and personal reputation is also important.

Business organizations are welcome to compile their proposals until May 25, 2012. After that, all proposals will be summarized and evaluated, and, it is planned that the candidate proposed by the businessmen will be presented to the Cabinet of Ministers for approval in the first weeks of June, and the summarized proposals will be presented to the Ministry of Transport and Saeima Commission of Economic, Environmental and Regional Policy by the middle of June.

Ref: 102.109.109.1716