Latvia, Markets and Companies, USA

Zinta Jansons is Co-Head of the Finance and Tax Practice at Ellex Klavins. She has more than 20 years experience advising foreign investors, multinationals and leading Baltic companies on complex acquisitions and mergers, establishing business operations and related tax matters in Latvia.

Zinta is a licensed attorney in NY and NJ and is a certified Latvian tax advisor. She has contributed to many publications and articles on Latvian tax and business issues including for BNA Bloomberg, the World Bank and Thompson Reuters. Zinta is also a guest lecturer at the Riga Graduate School of Law. In the past she served as a member of the expert committee of the Baltic American Partnership Program and as internal auditor of the International School of Riga. Previously she has also served on the Board of the Foreign Investors Council in Latvia (FICIL).

Zinta was born and educated in the U.S. and has lived in Latvia since 1998. Through Ellex Klavins, she has advised on a pro bono basis various non-profit organizations including Iespējamā misija, RMHC Latvija and Mentor.

On the occasion of election as Chair of the AmCham Board, Zinta said: “I am honored to lead the board of AmCham in Latvia. During these turbulent times we must all work together and take responsibility for the safety and health of our community. We must also look towards the future. AmCham intends to advocate for our members and the business community in Latvia to support a swift revitalization of the economy and promote the principles of sustainability and transparency in the business environment.”

Earlier this week on March 30^th AmCham held its 27^th Annual General Meeting (AGM) to review the past year’s activities and elect the Board of Directors.

John L. Carwile, U.S. Ambassador to Latvia opened the AGM with remarks, emphasizing the importance of AmCham’s advocacy activities and the close cooperation between the U.S. Embassy and AmCham. The Ambassador said: “The coronavirus pandemic has severely damaged the world economy, however, the U.S., EU and others have taken action to stabilize markets and set the stage for economic recovery. When the crisis reconciles we must work together and ensure that the recovery is successful here in Latvia, pursuing good governance, transparency and anti-corruption reforms.”   

Ingrida Karina-Berzina, Partner at COBALT Latvia resigned from her position of President and Chair of the AmCham Board due to the term limits. Members sincerely thanked her for her leadership and dedicated service in the course of last seven years on the Board.

During the AGM the Board outlined the Chamber’s accomplishments over the past year, addressed the goals for the next year and introduced the following policy priorities AmCham will be focusing on going forward: enhancing transatlantic trade, improving the investment and business climate in Latvia, strengthening Latvia as a career destination and improving health outcomes of Latvia’s society.

Members elected a new board member – Dita Erna Sile, Baltic Head of Public Affairs and Patient Access of Novartis Baltic and re-elected the following individuals Liene Dubava of Nasdaq, George Miu of Radisson Blu Hotels and Renate Strazdina of Microsoft Baltics.

The full Board of AmCham for 2020-2021 consists of:

§  Liene Dubava, Member of the Management Board, Nasdaq Riga and Head of Issuer Services,
Nasdaq Baltic

§  Zinta Jansons, Foreign Counsel at Ellex Klavins

§  Roberts Melbardis, Country Manager Operations Director, Encompass Digital Media

§  Pauls Miklasevics, Individual member

§  George Miu, Cluster General Manager at Radisson Blu Elizabete Hotel and Radisson Blu Ridzene Hotel

§  Ieva Racenaja, Director, Riga Graduate School of Law

§  Dita Erna Sile, Baltic Head of Public Affairs and Patient Access, Novartis Baltics

§  Renate Strazdina, Country Manager, Microsoft Baltics

§  Liga Smildzina-Bertulsone, Executive Director of AmCham Latvia