May 17 2010, no 295
17.05.2010, 18:20
Highlights from LATVIA no 295:
TOP STORIES
- The latest Latvian statistical data looks increasingly optimistic and strongly suggests that the economy is well on its way to recovery. As a particularly encouraging feature, the latest GDP data suggests that the lengthy recession may finally be over (page 13).
- Q1 industrial output shows its first quarterly increase in more than two years, after a gradual recovery throughout 2009. Several hurdles remain,
though: industry turnover is still low and Latvia's main export markets could go down (page 2).
- A Latvian insurance brokerage company has launched an innovative and unique product: an ATM that sells car insurance. It now plans rapid expansion in Latvia and abroad (page 4).
MANUFACTURING
- Local wool processor resumes production after a three year halt
FINANCE
- Parex resumes its leasing operations in the Baltic states
- Banks hated it, debtors didn't like it: Government finally drops troubled debtor support programme
FOOD & AGRICULTURE
- Latvia's thirst for beer unquenched by crisis, large brewers report
- Largest Latvian rapeseed oil producer declared insolvent, but hopes to continue production
- Swedish forestry fund falls far short of investment limit
PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION
RETAIL & SERVICE
- While overall retail is picking up, supermarkets still report a drop
IT & MEDIA
- Another new medium in making: former Radio SWH DJs start their own radio, promising nothing short of a radio revolution
- Latvian mobile phone operators report mixed results in Q1
TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS
- Going to Russia: Latvijas Dzelzcels finally starts online ticket sales, but the service still remains severely limited
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
- Latvenergo to raise electricity imports from Russia, claiming that it has no other options
- Power monopoly opens first public charging station for electric cars and soon plans buying a car to go with it
ECONOMY & POLITICS
- PM Valdis Dombrovskis promises that 2011 budget cuts will be significantly less drastic
- The police catches the elusive hacker responsible for a massive taxpayer data leak, violates freedom of press in the process
EVENTS (Riga)
- AmCham Meeting, 18 May
- SSE Executive Education, 17-28 May
- AmCham Meeting, 21 May
- DBHK Conference and Business Meetings, 24-28 May (Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius)
- SCC General Meeting, 26 May
- DBHK Members Event, 26 May
- FICIL High Council Reception, 27 May
- SCC Business Lunch, 2 June
- DBHK Award Ceremony, 3 June
- DBHK Business Contacts Exchange, 3 June
- DCC Summer Party, 6 June
- DBHK Conference and Business Meetings, 7-11 June (Riga, Tallinn and Vilnius)
- DBHK Members Event (Liepaja), 17 June
- CanCham Forum, 26 June
KEY FIGURES
- Wages, real earnings, foreign trade, money supply, lending, inflation, interest rates, consumer price index, currency, stock exchange, prices of key commodities, retail trade, industrial output, producer prices, GDP, current account, foreign direct investment and key economic data forecast 2010-11.