Big congratulations on the grand opening of Latvian Guangdong Chamber of Commerce

The first business conference of the Chamber of Commerce of the largest Chinese province of Guangdong (Latvian Guangdong Chamber of Commerce) took place on 21 February 2023.  The conference was attended by a delegation from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Latvia, leaders of Latvian business associations and local Chinese businessmen.

The head of the Latvian Guangdong Chamber of Commerce is Jie Long, a Chinese businessman, International Epee Champion, Latvian National Epee Team Leader and Technical General Advisor of the Latvian National Modern Pentathlon Team. Mr. Long sees his mission in establishing friendly and fruitful business and cultural relations between Latvia and his home province of Guangdong.

Guangdong is the richest province in China with colossal modern industrial centers. The basis of Guangdong's economic power is the manufacturing of high-tech products, such as computers, smart phones, solar panels, wind turbines, etc. The main manufacturing centers of Huawei and Apple products are located exactly in Guangdong.

Guangdong has opened its Chamber of Commerce in our country to stimulate the development of direct economic ties between Latvia and Guangdong industrial clusters.

"My sincere wish is to directly connect Latvia and Guangdong. Guangdong produces almost the entire range of high-tech products. We can supply Latvia with electric cars, solar panels, silicon batteries, wind turbines, energy-saving semiconductors, and much more. We are also interested in such Latvian goods as meat products and dairy products," Mr. Long said at the opening of the conference.

Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the Embassy of China Jinhuan Sun said that the Chinese Embassy would provide all possible assistance to the initiatives of the Guangdong Chamber of Commerce in order to give new impetus to the development of relations between the two countries.

Gatis Silakaktins, the head of the Riga Business Chamber, welcomed Mr. Long's initiative and assured that Latvia would have to do a lot in the areas of green energy development in the coming years. Therefore, the links with Guangdong manufacturers of wind turbines and solar panels could be especially useful for Latvia. According to Mr. Silakaktins, the Riga Business Chamber and the Guangdong Chamber of Commerce can work together to promote new products, export markets and business areas.

"We can build mutually beneficial relations. We can be useful to each other," said Mr. Silakaktins.

Maris Sproga, a member of the board of the Latvian Energy Efficiency Association, noted that solar energy should become one of the priorities in trade relations between Guangdong and Latvia.

"It is a myth that solar energy is expensive. It will become cheaper. It will continue to develop and will become more efficient. It is a matter of the near future and, perhaps, with the help of Mr. Long and the Guangdong Chamber of Commerce, Latvian solar energy will receive yet another impetus for development," said Mr. Sproga.

In conclusion, Mr. Long noted that in June this year, he will bring the investment team from Guangdong to visit Latvia for the first time.  The Latvian Guangdong Chamber of Commerce will play a milestone role in promoting the future economic and trade exchanges between Latvia and Guangdong Province of China.