Evija Pudane is international relations manager at CleanTech Latvia. CleanTech Latvia was launched to foster and promote Latvian cleantech companies, organisations, joint ventures, research and educational institutions collaboration locally and globally. Cluster is meant to provide a centralised location to support co-operation between members, arranging workshops, seminars, trade missions to the key foreign markets and joint research projects to develop new technologies, products or services. CleanTech Latvia is committed to growing a vibrant clean technology industry and business community in Latvia by using regional strengths through innovation, research, new technology development and facilitation of international business opportunities. In other words raising awareness about green industry issues important to entrepreneurs and society for the better future.
This paper is a contribution to June 2015 edition of the EU-LAC Foundation Newsletter published in the framework of the 2015 EU-CELAC Summit.
Small and medium enterprises are the cornerstone and driver of Latvian economy and their global competitiveness which is based on simple management structure, ability to response quickly, make flexible decisions. Small domestic market is a major challenge for the most of Latvian companies, directing them to become more global and to take up the challenge and compete in global economy.
What makes the Latvian companies and organisations competitive in the world? It is the positive attitude and the desire for new challenges, ability to take the responsibility, creativity in solving different problems and the will to open up new horizons. Talented, creative, analytical and ambitious are the crucial characteristics of successful business owners in a small economy like Latvia. (Read paper)