EU – Baltic States, Forum, Latvia

The meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be opened by Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics, and a welcome speech will be delivered by Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis. At the Saeima, the Honorary Consuls will be welcomed by the Speaker of the Latvian Parliament, Inara Murniece.

The Minister of Economy, Arvils Aseradens, will speak about economic development and challenges, while the Minister of Culture, Dace Melbarde, will introduce the visitors to the programme of events for Latvia’s centennial anniversary and the Director of the Latvian Institute, Aiva Rozenberga, will outline opportunities for cooperation with the institution. The issues of current importance in consular work will be presented by the Under-Secretary of State, Administrative Director Alda Vanga. The Director of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, Andris Ozols, has also been invited to make a presentation.

The Honorary Consuls will have an opportunity to see the renovated Latvian National Museum of Art in Riga.

A reception for the Honorary Consuls will be hosted by President Raimonds Vejonis and his spouse.

On 1 June, Latvian Honorary Consuls will go to Ventspils, where their agenda includes a meeting with the local government officials, a visit to the Free Port of Ventspils and other companies, as well as a tour of the Livonian Order castle and the Pārventa Library. On 2 July in Liepāja, the Honorary Consuls will meet with the Deputy Chairman of the Liepāja City Council, Gunārs Ansiņš. The visitors will see the “Lielais Dzintars” concert hall and learn about the history of the Holy Trinity Cathedral.

This is the eighth meeting and will bring together 90 Latvian Honorary Consuls from 52 countries. They are representing Latvia’s interests in all regions across the globe – Europe, America, Asia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In total, Latvia has 170 Honorary Consuls in foreign countries.

The Foreign Ministry has been organising the gatherings of Latvia's Honorary Consuls every other year since 2002. The meetings have become a tradition which enables Latvia to promote economic, cultural, and consular co-operation, especially in the countries where Latvia has no diplomatic representation.

Honorary Consuls are appointed by the Foreign Minister, and they are not paid a salary from the state budget.