Jelgava and optimism

I am confident that Latvia with its geographical position, flexible economic policies and educated workforce has good prospects of recovery. Yesterday’s visit to Jelgava - organised by the British Chamber of Commerce in Latvia - was perfect back-up for this optimistic outlook. I should immediately acknowledge an historical tie with Jelgava, for it is there that 36 British troops lie buried in the Nikolai Cemetery. Every autumn the British embassy hold the key Remembrance Day wreath-laying and service ceremonies there, kindly attended by the city’s representatives, colleagues from the diplomatic community as well as Brits honouring all the war dead and specifically those who died in 1919 so that Latvia could be free. But my visit this week was looking into the future, not the past.  I salute Jelgava’s sound policies – the city led by Mayor Andris Ravins is doing a fantastic job even under the current crisis. The new DHL logistics hub was impressive, as were all the companies that we met (Evopipes, AMO PLANT). For me personally, the Zemgale Technological Centre and the Jelgava Education Centre for Adults were the highlights of the visit. Zemgale Technological Centre has brought SMEs developing cutting-edge technology to the city. The centre strives to attract similar innovative SMEs, helped by this technical ingenuity. A skilled workforce is vital too. The thoroughly modern Education Centre for Adults not only reacts to the needs of the city’s business environment, providing vocational training and adult education, but also serves as a community centre, integrating schools’ and family-centred activities, as well as adult education. This is perfect use of EU funds and a fantastic job by the local government and the city’s businesses driving Latvia forward along the right way – bringing to life innovative, knowledge-based economy about which there is so much talk. And that is what the EU is really about.