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LV Daily Business: The circle of the most influential lobbyists remains unchanged
The most influential business organizations in Latvia are the Foreign Investors Council in Latvia, LDDK and LTRK, as well as
This week, leadership elections were held in several influential business organizations – LTRK (new chairman of the council – president Aigars Rostovskis), LDDK (long-time leader Vitaly Gavrilovs retained the position of president), as well as LIKTA (signe baliņa retained the position). It should be noted that in previous years there was not such an active interest in participating in these organizations, but currently the situation has changed and there are even fights for positions.
Impact weight
Many business organizations have emerged over the past 25 years, but the circle of the most influential ones is not very wide. The aforementioned non-governmental organizations can be considered as a kind of extra league players, followed by industry business associations and unions, which are often also members of these premier league players. Among them, the most influential is the Latvian Commercial Banks Association, which also proved its "power" in connection with the introduction of the key principle in Latvia, which resulted in amendments by the majority of parliamentarians. Similarly, and LOSP, the Latvian Forest Owners Association, whose leaders or representatives do not miss a single issue important to these organizations. Although representatives of associations of builders, traders, road hauliers, transit businesses, timber industry, food companies, IT, metal processors and other sectors are less common in the parliament building, this does not mean that they are not influential, but rather that these organizations operate more not at the level of lawmakers, but at a much earlier stage, when documents are still being created that will sooner or later end up on a specific minister's desk or on the government's agenda. Such tactics allow you to be in the "shadow", while at the same time being able to achieve favorable (if not otherwise, then neutral) decision-making. It should be taken into account that after Latvia's accession to the European Union, many important decisions that affect entrepreneurs in Latvia are made in the offices of Brussels and Strasbourg, therefore the search for allies of business organizations in other EU member states, as well as attempts to use European associations - confederations of the relevant sectors, is becoming increasingly important.
Two giants
Undeniably, several years ago, the Foreign Investors Council in Latvia and the Latvian Employers' Confederation could be considered the most influential organizations, but in recent years, the oldest business organization has won its place at the table of politicians and senior officials – the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, for whose council member positions there has just been a fight. «I consider influential business non-governmental organizations to be those that participate in the development of the state strategic plan, the development of the state budget draft and sit at the same table with the government at the meeting of the National Tripartite Cooperation Council,» this is how former Prime Minister Māris Gailis answers the question about which business organizations are influential. He points out that both the LDDK and the LTRK are active in these processes. «These are the two largest business organizations, which are also the most influential for the reasons mentioned above,» admits M. Gailis. Former Prime Minister Andris Bērziņš also mentions the LTRK and the LDDK as the most influential in Latvia. «They have the capacity, they include the most active entrepreneurs in all regions,» A. Bērziņš answers the question of why they are the most influential. He adds that the leadership of business non-governmental organizations, the formulation and defense of their position are also important. «Of course, it is also important how the stars align in a specific situation,» A. Bērziņš answers the question of the ability of these organizations to achieve a specific decision. He points out that the next league is played by industry business associations, whose (their members) are often members of the two mentioned large ones (LTRK and LDDK). «Electronics, road builders, builders, etc.,» A. Bērziņš answers the question of the most influential industry business organizations in his opinion.
He also does not deny the influence of the Foreign Investors Council in Latvia, but believes that in the past, when foreign investors themselves came, it was more prominent than recently, when it is more represented by management. "If businessmen in the sector invest money in their non-governmental organization, then we can also talk about some results and influence," A. Bērziņš mentions the most important aspects of the activities of business non-governmental organizations.
"The LDDK was once active, but it seems that the LTRK has become louder recently, although its activities are not remembered during the time when I headed the government," former Prime Minister Gundars Krasts says, drawing on a scene from many years ago. In his opinion, the "volume level" of business non-governmental organizations has not changed significantly in terms of content, both then and now.
«At least that's what I've heard,» G. Krasts justifies his statement. In his opinion, if businessmen do not direct resources to non-governmental organizations to defend their interests, then it is not surprising that the activities of the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, led by its then-leader Juris Radzevičs, are more memorable than those of the trade unions. «The Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, also the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, but more of other (non-business) organizations,» is how former Prime Minister and former Minister of Economy and Agriculture Aigars Kalvītis answers the question of which organizations have been the loudest. He points out that the Foreign Investors Council in Latvia was different from the aforementioned organizations. «The annual meeting of top-level leaders and the government is something else,» is how A. Kalvītis answers the question of the influence of foreign investors.
Farmers' weight
Meanwhile, the wealthiest and largest farmers' non-governmental organization should be considered influential since the turn of the century. Its "victims" include former Minister of Agriculture Mārtiņš Roze, who was forced to leave his post due to peasant unrest. demonstrated its influence also in January of this year, when the issue of overgrown defining usable land as forest land. Although this norm was adopted three years ago and came into force in 2015, after s "request" was changed so that the overgrown land will not be considered a forest and trees will be able to be cut down there regardless of their size, age and area occupied. This organization is also credited with influencing the amendments adopted last year regarding restrictions on the acquisition of rural land, which the Saeima considered last year.
FOR INFORMATION
PREMIER LEAGUE
Latvian Employers' Confederation (LDDK)
Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI)
Foreign Investors Council in Latvia
Farmers' Parliament
TOP LEAGUE
Latvian Commercial Banks Association
Latvian Transit Business Association
Latvian Non-Bank Lenders Association
Latvian Information and Communication Technology Association
Latvian Open Technology Association
Latvian Timber Industry Federation
Latvian Forest Owners Association
Latvian Tax Consultants Association
Latvian Building Materials Manufacturers Association
Latvian Association of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Entrepreneurs
Latvian Generic Medicines Association
Latvian Pharmacists Association
Mechanical Engineering and Metalworking Industry Association
Latvian Logistics Association
Latvian car
Latvian Federation of Food Enterprises
Latvian Fishermen's Union
Latvian Food Traders Association
Latvian Traders Association
Latvian Builders Association
Construction Development Strategic Partnership
Latvian Real Estate Association
Cooperation Council of Farmers' Organizations
Latvian Heating Companies Association
SOURCE: DB COMPILED INFORMATION
NEWSPAPER ARTICLE: DB newspaper
