The Red Jackets Movement Establishes the Latvian Exporters’ Association
To promote the country’s economic growth, the Latvian Exporters’ Association “The Red Jackets” was established in January this year. Operating under the auspices of the export support movement of the same name, it will bring together Latvian exporting companies and organisations working to promote the country’s export capacity. The association’s aim is to support domestic exporting companies and stimulate their growth, as well as to create and promote Latvia’s story abroad.
The association has identified three priority tasks as the foundation of its work— first, to promote and support the positioning of Latvia and its exporters in the global market, beginning by creating and establishing a unified Latvian brand story, “Created in Latvia”. Second, the association’s task is to be the voice of exporters, advocating for current issues in dialogue with public administration and the responsible institutions, with ensuring long-term funding for export promotion currently identified as the primary issue. And, third, the association’s agenda includes promoting exporters’ expertise, capacity and cohesion by organising various knowledge-transfer seminars and mentoring programmes and facilitating the exchange of experience that educates, motivates and supports promising Latvian exporting companies.
The founders of the Latvian Exporters’ Association are Balticovo’s Director of Communications and Development Toms Auškāps, Brain Games Chairman of the Board Egils Grasmanis, Skonto Prefab Chief Executive Officer Mārtiņš Ķeņģis, Ette Tete founder Linda Riekstiņa-Šnore, Gateway&Partners Managing Partner Mārtiņš Tiknuss, Krassky interior salon manager Aigars Zelmenis and Nordtext translation agency Chief Executive Officer Kristaps Kvelde. Also among the founders are DDB Latvia head Andris Rubīns and Inese Andersone, the initiator of The Red Jackets movement, while Līva Stūrmane has been elected Executive Director of the association.
“Exports are the driving force of the country, and we must ensure an environment in which they can develop. In my opinion, a strong example is the best motivation for an entrepreneur. From an outstanding achiever, one can draw energy and experience, as well as the belief that anything is possible and that Latvian products, too, have potential in the global market. The Red Jackets is a platform that highlights these outstanding achievers so that the rest of us can take pride, learn and, by working together, develop Latvia’s exports. I invite people to join the association in order to participate fully in working groups of national importance, take part in export clubs, develop Latvia’s image around the world and learn from the best. By uniting and cooperating, we are a stronger voice for exporters and can make an even greater contribution to Latvia’s economy,” comments Mārtiņš Tiknuss, Chairman of the Board of the Latvian Exporters’ Association.
“The Exporters’ Association has significant potential to speak with influence about issues important to Latvian entrepreneurs and achieve their resolution in institutions that rarely take the views of individual entrepreneurs into account. Membership in the association is an opportunity to meet like-minded entrepreneurs who are actively involved both in developing their own companies and Latvia’s overall business environment,” adds Aigars Zelmenis, head of Krassky.
