News > Riga welcomes 80 Latvia's Honorary Consuls from 49 countries

Riga welcomes 80 Latvia's Honorary Consuls from 49 countries

Riga, 13 July 2010. By Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia. 

On July 8-9, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will host the fifth meeting of the Honorary Consuls of Latvia, with the aim of discussing the economic situation and the growth strategy of Latvia, the new tourism strategy of Latvia, the matters of the country's image, and the topicalities of consular work. The meeting at the Foreign Ministry will bring together 80 of Latvia's Honorary Consuls from 49 countries around the world.

With regard to the development of economic contacts as one of the principal priorities in Latvia's foreign policy, the meeting of Honorary Consuls will highlight the need to continue and intensify the efforts to promote Latvia's exports and attract foreign investments with the help of the Honorary Consuls' knowledge and experience, as well as their expertise and personal contacts.

The meeting will be opened by Andris Teikmanis, the Foreign Ministry Secretary of State. Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis will deliver an address. Ints Dālderis, Minister of Culture, Riga Mayor Nils Ušakovs, Andris Ozols, Director of the Latvian Investment and Development Agency, Armands Slokenbergs, Director of the Tourism Development State Agency, Kārlis Bauze, Head of the Bank of Latvia Monetary Policy Department, and Ojārs Kalniņš, Director of the Latvian Institute, will speak in the panel discussions. A reception for the Latvian Honorary Consuls will be hosted by President Valdis Zatlers.

On July 9, the Latvian Honorary Consuls will visit JSC Grindeks, Film City Cinevilla at Slampe in Tukums district, as well as meet with the Mayor of Jūrmala, Romualds Ražuks, other members of the Jūrmala City Council, and Jūrmala businessmen.

During the meeting, the Audience Award of the European Film Festival in Toronto, Canada, will be presented to the film Little Robbers, directed by Armands Zvirbulis of F.O.R.M.A Studio. The studio's executive producer, Mārtiņš Slišāns, will receive the award.

The Honorary Consuls will receive a book issued by the Foreign Investors' Council, which includes interviews with the Council members and information on the most significant events in the Latvian economy during a decade of the Council's activities. Latvia has Honorary Consuls in almost all of the countries represented in the Council, and therefore success stories and experiences of foreign entrepreneurs presented in the book could help Latvia's representatives abroad encourage businesses to invest in Latvia.

The Foreign Ministry has been organising the gatherings of Latvia's Honorary Consuls on a biennial basis since 2002. The meetings have become a tradition, which allows Latvia to promote economic, cultural, and consular co-operation, in particular, in the countries where Latvia has no diplomatic missions.

Latvia has 125 Honorary Consuls and 11 Honorary Consuls General abroad. An Honorary Consul or an Honorary Consul General is a person entrusted by Latvia to perform representational or consular functions for the state in accordance with the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and other international agreements, The Law on Diplomatic and Consular Service, and other laws and regulations. Both citizens of Latvia and citizens of foreign countries can be Honorary Consuls, and an Honorary Consul should have an outstanding reputation. An Honorary Consul is appointed by the Foreign Minister, and he or she is not paid a salary from the state budget.

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