Gateway to the USA Līga Smildziņa-Bērtulsone, Executive Director of AmCham Latvia March 9, 2016

AmCham mission Foster and promote trade, investment, partnership and friendship between the United States and Latvia Serve as a business, knowledge, networking and policy forum for Members and partners Advocate for a better business and investment environment in Latvia

INTEGRITY We are committed to operating in business and in society with integrity, transparency and accountability. RESPONSIBILITY We are responsible for our actions –towards ourselves, our communities and the environment. COOPERATION We seek to cooperate with other organizations and persons, with a view that joint action can facilitate the achievement of common goals and the enactment of positive change. EXCELLENCE We continually strive to achieve our best level of performance. AmCham values

- Raise awareness of TTIP - Foster the knowledge about the U.S. market Policy priority: enhancing transatlantic trade

Gateway to the USA Encouraging Latvian companies to do business in the USA

Joint platform of AmCham and LCCI tailored to the needs of individual companies, members of AmCham and LCCI What is it?

- Promote bilateral trade and investment between Latvia and the U.S. - Encourage Latvian companies to do business in the U.S. - Develop and expand business ties between Latvia and the United States What are the goals?

1.Identify business representatives in the U.S. who will provide expertise and advice to the Latvian companies seeking to start or expand their business in the U.S. and add them to the business contact network. 2.Inform Latvian businesses about possibility to get connected to certain industries/regions in the U.S., get a general overview of the business environment or customized market-entry. 3.Collect information from the local companies and pre-screen them. 4.Connect them. 5.Next steps depend entirely on mutual agreement between them. How will it work?

-Useful information on how to access the U.S. market -Identification of the right partners and customers -Targeted networking -Valuable insights from our network of business experts What’s in it for businesses in Latvia?

-Provide your expertise to the Latvian companies -Connect with new business opportunities and selected partners in Latvia -Assist Latvia to increase its business presence in the U.S. What’s in it for U.S. business representatives?

-Provide critical information about the U.S. market and the business environment in certain sectors and/or regions in the U.S. -Market entry services -Industry segment analysis and research -U.S. site location analysis -Connections to the state and municipal institutions, local business organizations, industry associations and businesses. -Response to the request indicating if they are able to assist in a particular case. -A certain fee for their services may be required or advice may be offered free of charge. To be specified on an individual basis. What is expected from business representatives in the U.S.?

Get prepared! -A summary of their business development plans in the U.S. and assistance they are seeking -Get acquainted with American business culture -Be prepared to present a concise business pitch in fluent English -Be ready to promptly answer any questions posed by the U.S. business representatives What is expected from companies based in Latvia?

-Only U.S. business representatives who have filled in the survey will be connected to pre- screened companies -Only AmCham and LCCI members will have access to Gateway to the USA Who may participate?

Questions?