Feb 20 2012, no 332
20.02.2012, 16:10
Highlights from this issue:
TOP STORIES
- More than 20 years after the restoration of independence, Latvians had to go and vote on the very basis of their country: the state language. The referendum was doomed to fail from the beginning, but some regions show disturbingly large support for the idea. Moreover, the referendum is bound to leave its mark on Latvian politics. (Page 12) Read more here
- The Latvian GDP data shows the largest growth in the European Union, but the growth is slowing down. Is Latvia about to be hit by the second wave of European recession? (Page 13)
- If it were not for Latvijas Krajbanka, the Latvian banking sector would have been back in profit in 2011. Now, however, it has continued its three-year losing streak, although the largest banks are again profitable. (Page 3)
MANUFACTURING
- Swedish export insurers upgrade Latvia's risk ratings
- Industry keeps its focus on exports, but industrial output slows down
FINANCE
- Latvijas Krajbanka drags the banking sector in the red
- Ralf Cymanek of UniCredit Bank speaks about the bank's unique place in a Scandinavian-dominated market
- Finnish Evli changes focus in the Baltics, eyes Russia
PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION
- Departure of Russian pop festival could bring down property prices
ENERGY & RESOURCES
- Fuel price exceeds LVL 1 and prepares to reach new heights
- Newspaper study suggests that Latvians enjoy cheap energy, but the bills remain large
TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS
- Norwegians take away Volkswagen dealership from locals
- airBaltic's former CEO Bertolt Flick finds a new job in Germany
FOOD & AGRICULTURE
- Balts take over a Swedish chicken handling business
- Swedish salmonella-free chicks gain a share in Baltic market
IT & TELECOM
- Seamless to use Latvia for expanding in Baltics and Poland
- Finns take over a Baltic online recruitment service
RETAIL & SERVICE
- New alcohol retail regulations planned for 2013 and 2014
ECONOMY & POLITICS
- Latvia says no to Russian as second state language
- Latvian GDP shows a 5.3 growth in 2011, but can Latvia keep it up?
- New border crossing rules cause protests among shuttle traders
- Latvians at a large risk of poverty
EVENTS
- Joint Business Lunch, 22 February
- AmCham movie night, 23 February
- DCCL Seminar, 23 February
- AmCham Member Lunch, 28 February
- AmCham Outlook, 1 March
- BCCL Annual General Meeting, 13 March
- DCCL Annual General Meeting, 13 March
KEY FIGURES
- Wages, inflation, consumer price index, producer price index, industrial output, construction price index and construction volumes, real estate prices and transactions, retail trade, sentiment indicators, currency, credit, interest rates, money supply, stock exchange, foreign trade, current account, GDP, FDI, unemployment, country rating, regional data, real earnings and key economic data forecast 2011-2013.