EU – Baltic States, Good for Business, Latvia, Markets and Companies

At the awarding ceremony in Riga, 2.06.2011. Photo: flickr.com

The German Business Award in Latvia 2011 focused on “responsibility for the future” and was conferred to Latvian enterprises that have active business relations with Germany. The award especially recognizes Latvian enterprises whose activities are governed by responsible and sustainable corporate citizenship, informed BC AHK.

SIA Veiters korporacija convinced the jury with its widespread activities to motivate and train their employees. The printing house regularly organises seminars and trainings for its employees and provides them with a motivating working environment by offering specific teambuilding events and different social benefits. It also donates books and other printed items to children’s homes and boarding schools, and organises visits for school classes and kindergartens to its printing facilities to explain the processes of printing.

SIA Veiters korporacija exports about 10 percent of their production to Germany and is regularly participating in trade fairs in Germany. The printing house works exclusively with German technology and also developed marketing activities especially for the German market. By doing so, the company was able to continuously increase its sales in Germany in the last years.

The award is endowed with EUR 5.000. Furthermore, the winner will receive free membership in the German-Baltic Chamber of Commerce in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania (AHK) for one year and a free flight to Germany to seek for business partners and to participate in a trade fair.

The aim and intention of the German Business Award in Latvia is to foster the development of German-Latvian economic relations and to encourage Latvian companies to expand business contacts with German partners. The award symbolizes the commitment of the German business community to Latvia and appreciates outstanding performances of companies developing export products or adjusting existing products successfully to specific demands of the German or local markets and motivate businesses to further expand their business relationships with Germany.

Focussing on the topic “responsibility for the future” the award wants to encourage companies to act sustainable within their enterprises and towards external social commitment. The award recognizes various activities in these fields, seeks to sensitize the public to the topic and aims to encourage other companies to engage in similar activities by promoting good examples of corporate citizenship in Lithuania.

Patron of the German Business Award is the German Ambassador to Latvia, Dr. Klaus Burkhardt.

The winners are chosen by a jury consisting of representatives of the German-Baltic Chamber of Commerce in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania (AHK), the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Latvia, the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), Germany Trade and Invest, the Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation as well as representatives of other institutions and sponsors.

A total of 34 companies have applied for this year’s award. The jury elected six finalists that were visited by the jury members in order to get a direct and objective impression of the activities of the companies.

The six finalists for the German Business Award in Latvia 2011 were:

- SIA ADN Castings – www.adncastings.lv

Metal processing company based in Riga

- SIA Ameri – www.ameri.lv

Manufacturer of exclusive ladies´ wear from Riga

- SIA Aviatest – www.aviatest.lv

Full-scale aircraft test centre based in Riga

- SIA Mooz! – www.mooz.lv 

Advertising agency with offices in Riga and Berlin

- AS Valmieras stikla šķiedra –  www.vss.lv

Glass fibre producer from Valmiera

- SIA Veiters korporacija – www.veiters.lv

Printing house and polygraphic company from Riga

Previous laureates:

• SIA Mádara Cosmetics
• SIA UNDA und SIA Jāņa Rozes apgāds
• SIA Dīlers und SIA Arhis
• SIA Studija Naturals und Staatliche Fachschule für Landwirtschaft in Priekuli
• SIA Baltrotors, AS Valpro Corp. und Mazā Jugla Hidro
• AS Preilu siers, SIA Biosan und SIA Varis Toys
• AS Preses nams, SIA Pure Food und SIA Latvia Tours
• AS Latvijas Finieris und SIA Baltrotors
• AS Jauda und SIA Balts
• SIA Apgāds Jāņa Sēta und SIA ELMI
• AS Dati
• AS Lauma