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This Business Networking Luncheon with Dr. Jonathan Calof on the subject of “Mobilizing for Trade and Trade Shows” took place on Wednesday, March 26th, 2025, at the Radisson Elizabete Hotel.

Dr. Calof of the University of Ottawa was in Riga to present a mini-course on  “Preparing for Foreign Trade Show Participation with Competitive Intelligence” at the Riga Business School on Thursday, March 27th, 2025. See https://rbs.lv/lift-courses/trade-shows/. He is a renowned expert in intelligence and foresight and helps organizations anticipate future trends and develop innovative strategies. As a professor and consultant, he combines academic research with practical application to drive business success.

Dr. Calof joined us for this luncheon to provide insight into his course and accumulated experience. The main take-away from his presentation was the importance of personal contact and developing personal relationships with those in the business community in order to understand the business environment and the people we are working with, and taking advantage information gathering at trade shows and even social events.

This luncheon also provided those interested in export opportunities and/or working with Canadians wishing to do business in Latvia to come together to start a process of engagement with the CanCham to develop business opportunities and strategic partnerships between Canada and Latvia. As Trump terrorizes the international community with tariffs, CETA, the free trade agreement between Canada and the EU, promotes the development of alternative trade and business relationships. We need to take advantage to this.

Dr Calof was asked about CanCham’s approach of developing strategic partnerships not only between businesspeople but also between businesses in either Canada or Latvia that are interested in accessing the other’s markets. In the latter case it was recognized that Latvian companies have experience in the European market, while Canadian ones have experience in North America. By partnering with organization with similar profiles, each partner can benefit from an expanded market and an increased range of products and services. This approach was endorsed by Dr Calof who recognized that such a strategy is consistent with the establishment of personal relationships he promotes as part of competitive intelligence. This validates CanCham’s emphasis on in-person networking and the exchange of information in in-person events.

We were also pleased to welcome Capt. Tanvir Suri and WO Emir Islamagic of the Canadian Armed Forces who have recently become our new main contacts with Task Force Latvia. We continue to build a great working relationship between the CAF and CanCham as Canada continues to play a vital role in protecting Latvia’s security. The CanCham is committed to supporting the CAF in any way possible.

A big thanks goes to  Zanda Vipule and Paula Elksne- Reveliņa of our member, the Riga Business School, who arranged for  Dr Calof’s participation in our business networking luncheon. Dr Calof is planning to expand the programs offered to the RBS, and we look forward to continued engagement with both Dr Calof and the RBS.

You are invited to review the CanCham brochure which describes important information about the CanCham and our upcoming events, and please follow https://cancham.lv/ for the latest news and event updates.