CanCham Strategy for 2017 as of December 14th, 2016

The following is a strategy proposal to provide members with an idea of the activities the CanCham plans to undertake in 2017. It is subject to review and modification. Member input is welcome.

The CanCham will continue with its objectives as stated in its website at http://cancham.lv/about-cancham/objectives. The emphasis is on “actively promoting the business interests of its members”.

The CanCham will concentrate on the following regions in order of priority: Latvia, Canada, Taiwan and other regions where our members operate such as Central Asia and Northern Europe.

The CanCham will work closely with the Canadian Embassy in Latvia and the Latvian Embassy in Canada, and will cooperate with other organizations to promote its objectives, including (in priority order), the Canada Eurasia Russia Business Association (CERBA), the Finnish Chamber of Commerce in Latvia, Norwegian Chamber of Commerce in Latvia.

Activities in order of priority:

1. Helping members find clients

The Partnering for Profit (PfP) program was introduced in January, 2016.

The main objective of PfP is to develop business opportunities for members through networking with other members. This gives the other members a chance to sell additional products and services to their clients thereby providing additional income for themselves. It also has the effect of increasing the seller’s sales force.  

As part of the PfP program, the following actions are to be undertaken:

Sell Sheets: Members will be encouraged to prepare sell sheet which provide basic information about their services and their company. Sell sheets will be posted in the CanCham web site in the currently inactive following section http://cancham.lv/services. The section will be activated once we have a sufficient number of sell sheets to display.

Work Groups: Work groups have been established by business category (eg. export, healthcare and pharma, construction related services, business support services, and tourism & recreation). 

Each work group will have a leader who will coordinate activities. Work groups are business units whose objective is to promote themselves through the CanCham. Note that the CanCham is not a commercial organization, hence the work groups and member companies are expected to deal with inquiries and profit from the business generated for themselves.

Not all work group leaders have been identified as yet. This is a top priority. How and when work group members meet and/or communicate will be decided by the individual work groups.

Client search through work groups:  Each work group will identify priority client groups of interest to them and where they are from.

Each work group will establish the marketing approach most appropriate to themselves. This could include direct mailing, working with embassies (local and foreign), using web site(s) (CanCham / member), preparing printed materials, participating in local trade shows, etc.

2. Trade shows

The CanCham will aim to participate in at least one trade show in Canada and one in Latvia with the intent of promoting its members.

3. Events

Events will be scheduled for Mondays, when possible.

Six major events will be organized in 2017. The following are amongst potential participants to be invited: H.E. Alain Hausser (Canadian Ambassador to Latvia), H.E. Kārlis Eihenbaums (Latvian Ambassador to Canada), Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, Baiba Rubess (Rail Baltica), Artis Pabriks (re CETA), Martin Gauss (Air Baltic), Krišjānis Kariņš (re energy).

Three "meet the members" events will be scheduled at member restaurants.

Business after hours events will be promoted. We hope that Statoil / Circle-K will be one of them to provide an update on their re-branding. 

PfP orientation sessions will take place once a month.

The PfP work group meeting schedule will be announced once it has been established.

Canada Day will be celebrated on Saturday, July 1st, and the Canadian Thanksgiving on Monday, October 9th.

The AGM is expected to be on Monday, October 2nd.

4. Governance 

The Governance program was launched in September, 2016 with the intention of helping members deal with troublesome government laws, regulations and/or practices, or at least try to do something to change them.

The Governance Work Group headed by Guna Skangale will finalize practical details related to how this work group will operate. CanCham will send out a notice asking members to participate the work group. 

The Governance Council headed by Ilvars Petersons will periodically review the work of and review the involvement of other organizations in the CanCham initiative.

5. Recruitment

The CanCham recognizes the importance of quality membership and members who will support CanCham objectives and programs. In order to spread the word, the CanCham has initiated a rewards program for individuals recruiting new members for the CanCham. Our objective for 2017 is 100 members. We currently have 64.

The CanCham will introduce a membership application form in its web site to facilitate new member registrations. http://cancham.lv/about-cancham/application is currently under construction and not active yet.

CanCham will also initiate a program in early 2017 to attract Canadian companies to the CanCham. This will be in cooperation with Sam Davidovich, the CanCham Canadian Board member, the Latvia Embassy in Canada and CERBA.