It is the first time that the Forum has been set in Finland and on this occasion it will be addressing “Universal Education – NGOs and Private Enterprises”, “Health and Social Welfare”, “Children and Youth Empowerment – A Multi-Sectoral Approach” and “Society Empowerment via Gender Equality.”

Minister for International Development, Mr. Pekka Haavisto, recently elected as chairman of the International Dialogue on Peace building and State building (IDPS, an international forum promoting the development of fragile states, focusing on countries suffering from conflicts and instability), stated that in fragile countries, the activities of civil society can be very difficult, even paralyzed. That attention must be paid to the position of women, education and the basic pillars of democracy. The treatment of minority groups, for instance the situation of people with disabilities, may be very poor. The international community must also support the implementation of civil rights.

Some of the expected participants will include BRAC International, the largest NGO in the world and Turkey’s Country Director of International Medical Corps, whom are providing medical assistance to many of the Syrian refugees on the Turkish borders. This years NGO Day is sponsored by Finland’s Slot Machine Association (RAY). All NGOs interested in attending to attend should register via http://yourngoday.com

Mr Marcis Liors Skadmanis is initiator of World NGO Day and he has been leading this international initiative for the last 3 years, after first coming up with the initial idea for this international day, during his Master in International Law. By establishing several NGOs, including the Latvian British Chamber of Commerce in the UK, Mr. Skadmanis comprehended some of the problems NGOs face on a daily basis – locally, nationally and internationally. This led him to create the World NGO Day initiative.

More information about the event and the World NGO Day initiative:Phone: +44 (0) 20 73872185

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The event is being held by the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Nordic Council of Ministers Office in Latvia, the Danish Cultural Institute in Latvia, the Latvian British Chamber of Commerce in the UK and the International Exhibition Company BT 1. Chief Executive Officer of the Latvian British Chamber of Commerce in the UK and one of the initiators of the forum Mārcis Liors Skadmanis explained that “This will be a significant event for the Baltic and Nordic fashion and textile industry in Latvia, a gathering of great minds, which drive the fashion industry within our region and beyond. I am confident that this forum will open up new doors and opportunities, discussing ideas to build a sustainable and profitable fashion business.”

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Ms Sung-Joo Kim (center) and Mr Marcis Liors Skadmanis (right)

Mr Ian Liddell-Granger MP will be holding an introductory meeting to discuss the initiative known as World NGO Day at the House of Commons on the afternoon of 14^th March 2012. The vision for this initiative is that the United Nations (UN) General Assembly will pass a resolution establishing a day where the contribution of all NGOs to society throughout the world will be celebrated through local events, global awards and projects that will further enhance their role and develop their capacity to continue their vital activities and contribution. The UN has recognized through much of its work that NGOs are a key partner to ensuring the success of development, relief, education, human rights and conflict prevention schemes that the UN pursues. This day will highlight this contribution and raise the profile of NGOs and all that they do. In order to achieve the adoption of such a resolution the General Assembly requires a considerable degree of development of the concept, lobbying of key decision makers and demonstration of how the concept will work through country, regional and local, events or projects.

World NGO Day, an initiative first conceived in 2008 by Marcis Liors Skadmanis COO of the Latvian British Chamber of Commerce, was officially accepted as a resolution by members of the Baltic Sea Region NGO Forum in April 2010. The Baltic Sea Region NGO Forum was represented at this event by over 200 civil society organisations from Belarus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Island, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Norway and Sweden.

In April 2011 World NGO Day initiative carried out a series of discussions with UN representatives who have acknowledged the great potential of the initiative and on 1^st November 2011 the World NGO Day Secretariat was established, having its headquarters in London. The Secretariat has the responsibility to perform the functions necessary to maintain and support the World NGO Day Initiative’s development. On the 18th of November 2011 for the first time in history various NGOs around the globe celebrated the international World NGO Day.

This meeting is to promote this concept to key players in the NGO or Third Sector community in the UK and the UK Government’s focus on the “Big Society” concept has much synergy with the World NGO Day initiative.

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Running along side the Intertextil Balticum 2012 is the International Textile and Fashion Industry Forum for the Nordic & Baltic Sea Region.  The first of its kind at this event, the forum is the brain child of Marcis Liors Skadmanis COO of the Latvian British Chamber of Commerce, is being organised in conjoint with the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Latvia), the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (Latvia), Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry Latvia Office (Russia), Pskov Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Russia), Latvian American Chamber of Commerce (USA), Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Latvia, as well as different state and public organisations from China, the United States, Great Britain and Nordic countries.

Considering the wealth of diversity in global representation the forum will present an outstanding opportunity for an international exchange of ideas and the creation of future business contacts and for manufacturers and distributors to meet with and generate discussions with designers face to face.

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The Baltic Sea Region Development Forum which was held on 24^th to 26 October 2011 in Gdansk, Poland showed great interest in this upcoming global initiative and noted it as a significant achievement and necessary value for NGOs and NPOs around the world.  In April 2010, on behalf of Marcis Liors Skadmanis CEO of the Latvian British Chamber of Commerce (LBCC), Mrs Rasma Pipike (Head of the Civic Alliance-Latvia) presented the World NGO Day – INITIATIVE 2010, at the 9th Baltic Sea NGO Forum in Lithuania. The initiative World NGO Day was accepted as an official resolution by members of the Baltic Sea Region NGO Forum 2010 in Lithuania, representing over 200 civil society organizations from 12 countries in the Baltic Sea Region.

“It gives me a great pleasure to welcome you to the World NGO / NPO Day! This global initiative is a positive platform bringing together Non-Governmental Organizations, Non Profit Organizations and all of us involved in this sector from every continent, to build a strong future for everyone.’ said Ms Sung-Joo Kim the Chairwoman and CEO of  Sungjoo Group and MCM Holdings AG. Ms Sung-Joo Kim was ranked among the “Top 50 Women to Watch” by the Wall Street Journal in 2004 and Selected as one of the “New Century Leaders” in CNN for the Best of Asia in 2003. She is known for being actively involved in promoting women’s leadership and for supporting humanitarian causes worldwide. By donating 10% of her net income to NGOs that support global health care and serving as a proponent of women’s rights and leadership, Sung Joo Kim provides a strong role model for those seeking to give back to society in a meaningful way.

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Nigeria is a fast developing state, the largest and one of the wealthiest countries in African with 120 million inhabitants with fast a growing need for telecommunication technologies and manufacturing opportunities. It is one of the world’s largest gas producers and mineral extractors and is interested in the renewable energy as a resource field.

Latvia has much to offer with its proven capabilities in invention and innovation; on the table for discussion were opportunities for mutual support and collaboration in the field of education, developing exchange programs for students and professionals, and cooperation with science centres, renewable energy, natural resources and technology manufacturing.

Nigeria would be interested in creating collaboration with private companies in the Baltic States. Mr. Skadmanis and Mr. Musa were considering the options available to generate the most beneficial partnerships between Nigerian companies and private Latvian entrepreneurs, represented by the LBCC, to develop and make use of the maximum opportunities available.

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Currently the Latvian British Chamber of Commerce (LBCC) is working together with Live Riga to develop good Business Tourism relations between UK and Latvia. Chief Operations Officer of Latvian British Chamber of Commerce (LBCC) in the UK, Marcis Liors Skadmanis is quoted as stating that Latvia can take experience from the UK, where tourism is one of the main economic drivers in the region.  The UK has the Green Tourism Business Scheme, which is Sustainable Tourism – tourism which takes into account the needs of the environment, local residents, businesses, and visitors; now and in the future. It is important to any tourism enterprise, large or small, rural or urban, whether focused on ecotourism, business tourism or any other tourism niche market. Green tourism businesses are those actively engaged in reducing the negative environmental and social impacts of their tourism operations. The Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) accredits a variety of tourism related businesses, beyond places to stay and visit.  All these businesses are making an effort to reduce their environmental impact and are assessed every two years against rigorous criteria, covering areas like energy efficiency, waste minimisation and recycling, use of local produce, and support of public transport.

According to the Latvian Central Statistical Bureau’s (CSB) information summarised by the Riga Tourism Development Bureau (RTAB), the number of guests staying at Riga (capital city of Latvia) hotels and other tourist accommodations in 2010 increased by nearly 15%. The increase was especially steep in terms of the numbers of tourists coming from such Live Riga campaign target countries as Russia, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Estonia and Germany.

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Just such an opportunity was taken up with gusto by LBCC (Latvian British Chamber of Commerce) who recently set up their organisation with the implicit intention of aiding and encouraging Latvian businesses building their presents here in the UK and those Latvian enterprises wishing to do business with UK; as well as UK businesses interested in commencing business with Latvia. The Nordic-Baltic Summit gave organisations such as the LBCC a chance to speak with many ministers such as the Latvian President Valdis Zatlers and the Minister for Foreign Affairs. During the summit the LBCC also met with many other ranking Latvian officials in relevant Associations and Industries, invaluable for their organisation and its members, an opportunity rarely available all in one place and time.

The Nordic-Baltic Summit proved invaluable not just between different Economic States and their Ministers, but in promoting smaller individual corporations eager for a chance to network and endorse their members and associated smaller organisations so supporting future growth in their individual industries.

Picture: Anete Vignere CEO of LBCC, President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers, Marcis Liors Skadmanis Chief Operations Officer of LBCC

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The event was to launch the formation of the Latvian British Chamber of Commerce (LBCC) to encourage further ties between the two regions and help and support  organisations in the global economic crisis.

The key guest was the Latvia’s Ambassador to the UK, HE Eduards Stiprais, the Ambassador made a speech highlighting the delight in the formation for all in the UK and Latvia and has great confidence in its success.

The LBCC was formed by the creative thinking and foresight of Anete Vignere, Chairman (Director of Board and Co-founder, center in picture), Marcis Liors Skadmanis, Executive Director (Director of Board and Co-founder, right in picture) and Datsa Gaile, Head of Marketing and PR (Director of Board and Co-founder, left in picture).

photography by Reinis Fjodorovs

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