The Baltic Sea Region Business Forum (BSRBF)

The world of globalised markets carries both challenges and opportunities. The significance of the cross-border activities and free movement of goods and services across countries and continents, are constantly growing. This trend makes it ever more important to exchange views and share knowledge for the development of close economic ties within the Baltic Sea Region.

Acknowledging the importance of promoting the region’s competitiveness and the need to strengthen collaboration and dialogue among business leaders and government representatives, Latvia will host The Baltic Sea Region Business Forum (BSRBF) on the 3rd and 4th of June in Riga. The forum, organized back to back with the 7th Baltic Sea States Summit concluding Latvia‘s presidency of The Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS), will discuss such important topics as energy, finance & banking and transport & logistics.

The main issue on the agenda for the CBSS Baltic Sea States Summit will be to decide on CBSS reforms relating to a new Baltic Sea Region strategy of intergovernmental cooperation in order to ensure the region’s further competitiveness on a European and global scale.

The morning session of The Baltic Sea Region Business Forum on June 4th, government leaders participating in the summit will share their vision of the region’s development. The moderator of the discussion will be Mr. Klaus Schwab, founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum. European Commissioners on EU energy and transport issues have been invited to participate in the session. The discussion will be complemented by remarks and questions from business leaders and investors.

Energy in the Baltic Sea Region will be an important discussion topic in the business forum. With the presence of the EU Energy Commissioner, Mr. Andris Piebalgs, and leading regional politicians and business community representatives, a wide range of core topics will be discussed including, security of energy supply, demand and infrastructure, future perspectives and potentials for renewable energy and diversification of primary resources.

Future Challenges and Perspectives for the Baltic Sea Region in the Global Finance Market will be an important discussion topic in the business forum. A plenary session, moderated by the Governor of the Bank of Latvia Mr. Ilmars Rimsevics, will be devoted to exchanging views among leading professionals in this field.

The Competitiveness of the Baltic Sea Region in global Eurasia transport corridors will be an important discussion topic. A plenary session of the business forum on June 4th, moderated by the Minister of Transport of Latvia, Mr. Ainars Slesers, will be devoted to the exchange of views between leading regional politicians and the business community about a wide range of core topics. This will include prospects for development of competitive multimodal services, maritime cargo transport and new inland transport corridors, future cargo flows and their distribution, trends in the container cargo market, development projects for the region’s sea-ports, airports and cargo terminals, logistic centres and value added services.

Participation in the forum will be free of charge.

Registration forms, hotel and transportation bookings and regularly updated information will be available on the official website of the forum: www.bsrbf.com (will be launched on April 21, 2008)

Inquires and questions, please refer to the organizers of the Baltic Sea Region

Business Forum:
Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA)
2 Perses Street , Riga , LV 1442, Latvia
Tel. +371 67039466
Fax: +371 67039401
http://www.liaa.gov.lv
E-mail : andra.minkevica@liaa.gov.lv
peteris.zarins@liaa.gov.lv