Friday News: First Issue of the Season 2016/2017

Dear Members and Friends,

BritCham's new season is about to begin and we start today with our first newsletter for the season 2016/2017. The official opening of the season is on 13 September with our 10th Annual Curry Cook-Off.

There are plans being made already for many events for this season, which are well known, and we have had them for years. We have also some new and different things planned that will be announced when the arrangements are made. Just follow the information and all will be revealed, and do not forget to add the dates to your calendars to make sure you do not miss your favorite events. 

Please do remember that we are happy to publish your company news, achievements, promotions and special offers in BritCham's weekly newsletter, therefore do inform us about your news.

We wish you all a long Indian Summer and productive and fun season with BritCham!

Contents

Upcoming Events

• Curry Cook-Off Teams: BritCham Season Opening: 10th Annual Curry Cook-Off NEW
• Save the date! Joint Chamber Luncheon with NATO Integration Unit on 22 September
• Save the date! Monthly Dinner with Tim Colley on 27 September

News

• Informal Summer Gatherings 2016 NEW
• SOS Children’s Villages Latvia Realizes Their Grief Program with the Support of BritCham Fund NEW
• PwC Will Host National Blood Service of Latvia On 9 September NEW
• CBRE Investment MarketView H1 2016 NEW
• A New Private Preschool “Putnu dārzs” NEW
• St. Saviours News NEW

Member to Member Offers

• New Member to Member Offer - SemaraH Hotel Metropole NEW

Upcoming Events

BritCham Season Opening: 10th Annual Curry Cook-Off

View full size poster here.

On 13 September we invite you to BritCham Season Opening: 10th Annual Curry Cook-Off at the Star Lounge and terrace of the Albert Hotel.

This year it will be a chance to experience already familiar and also new tastes and activities. We have several teams (but we are looking for more!) to take care of the curries, and Indian Raja restaurant will supply accompaniments so we can truly appreciate the dishes. The beverage of the event will be the famous Cobra Beer! It is an Indian beer brand manufactured in the United Kingdom and it complements Indian food perfectly. The “Singh’s” restaurant will provide Indian desserts – attendees will have an opportunity to watch the process of making one. And that is just the gastronomic part of the event; as usual we will have henna artist at the event and more. 

Those interested to cook curry and participate in the cook-off contest are very welcome to sign up. The ‘rules’ can be found here.

Three best curries will be chosen by a jury blind tasting and the audience will choose their favorite. We are diligently working to make sure that the winners will receive great and various prizes. Do not miss your opportunity to take part in the most spicy event of the BritCham Season! To sign up a team contact BritCham by email events@britcham.lv or call (+371) 25 45 6000.

Date & Time: Tuesday, 13 September 2016, 18:30
Venue: Albert Hotel Star Lounge, 33 Dzirnavu Street, Riga
Admission: EUR 25 members; EUR 40 non-members; 50% off for children tickets
Registration: website sign-up, email events@britcham.lv or call (+371) 25 45 6000

News

Informal Summer Gatherings 2016

During our and Friday News' "summer vacation" we had three Informal Summer Gatherings - at the Casa Nostra restaurant in June, at Radisson Blu Elizabete Hotel restaurant C.U.T. in July and at the Indian Raja restaurant just a few days ago. 

They were great summer evenings that allowed us to meet up with BritCham members and friends in very relaxed environment that encouraged lively discussions that sometimes lasted late in the night. We think it's safe to say that it's not just us who have their fingers crossed that we can do this again next year. 

We would like to send our thanks to our hosts for inviting us and ensuring we have everything we might need at the Gatherings! 

SOS Children’s Villages Latvia Realizes Their Grief Program with the Support of BritCham Fund

A problem shared is a problem halved.

To a child, family is their whole world. Therefore when a loved one dies it seems to a child the whole life falls apart. They start questioning: “How will I live now? Am I to blame? How did this happen? Will I die too?” In this time of grief many questions arise that kids can’t always get answers to. Therefore helping a child get through this difficult time is crucial.

In 2014 SOS Children’s Villages Latvia began to realize a grief program to help children overcome bereavement. This year the program was carried out mainly thanks to the support of the BritCham Charity Fund and the International Women’s Club of Riga.

Read full article here. 

PwC Will Host National Blood Service of Latvia On 9 September

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) would like to invite you, your colleagues, friends and family to participate in the Blood Donor Day.

On 9 September from 10:00 to 14:00 on the 3rd floor of PwC  premises (21 Valdemara Street) everyone will have the chance to donate blood and help someone recover their health. One blood donation can save a victim of a traffic accident, patient with burns and help cancer patient. One donation can help several patients! 

Please book 9 September in your calendars! More information will be available soon. 

If you wish to receive information regarding this Blood Donor Day directly to your inbox, please send your email to PwC representative dita.burve@lv.pwc.com. If you have any questions, please contact Dita through email or call 67094400.

Useful information and virtual tour for the donors can be viewed here.

CBRE Investment MarketView For The 1st Half of 2016

CBRE have published a report on the Investment Market in Baltics for the 1st quarter of 2016. Investment market continues to be very active

• Commercial Investment down by 15 %
• Investment Volume down by 353.6 mEUR
• Transaction Count down by 19
• Overall Cap Rate has remained stable when compared with H2 2015 - it is 7.78 % *

*Change from the corresponding period of previous year

The leading position in H1 2016 was held by Latvia (37%), whilst from all investment 35% was generated in Estonia, leaving Lithuania in third position with 28%

Download the report here.

A New Private Preschool “Putnu dārzs”

Our member “Putnu dārzs” has received the pre-school status! Our congratulations!

If you have not heard about them yet, here is a bit about them - “Putnu dārzs” is a new private pre-school in Riga, Baložu 11 and they offer a new concept of pre-school education and childcare service. The “Putnu dārzs” aim is to help parents develop their children into free and creative personalities with critical thinking skills.

Teachers at the ”Putnu dārzs”  believe that every child from birth has an enormous potential for development and treat him/her as an equal member of the community. The staff in daily life take into account each child’s unique personality, religious affiliation, perception and learning pace.

Read more about “Putnu dārzs” here. 

Contact:
info@putnudarzs.eu
+371 27812827
www.putnudarzs.eu

St. Saviours News

SERVICES and EVENTS

Sunday services every Sunday at 11.00

Sunday 11 September - Holy Communion Service with members of the Nordic and Baltic Deanery of the Diocese in Europe.
Preacher: Rt Revd David Hamid, Suffragan Bishop. Followed by refreshments and Dedication of the Undercroft.

NB Please note in your diaries:
St Saviour's Annual Retreat will take place in Līgatne 23/24 September. Last year's event was a time of refreshment and prayer, much appreciated by all who came.

For more information about St Saviour's, please visit www.anglicanriga.lv/ or contact the Chaplain, Jāna Jēruma-Grīnberga (chaplain.riga@gmail.com)

Member to Member Offers

New Member to Member Offer - SemaraH Hotel Metropole

On Weekdays, 12:00 - 17:00 - De Commerce Gastro Pub 1871, the signature restaurant of SemaraH Hotel Metropole offers an exclusive member 10% Discount on the business set lunch menu that changes weekly. The lunch includes a choice of two or three courses, featuring an appetizer, main course and dessert. Organize a power lunch, business meeting, or converse with colleagues all in an elegant, relaxed setting. 

View Menu and Prices

Make a Table Reservation: +371 66010333

Check Out Current Member-to-Member Offers, Use Them Actively & Add Your Offer.

Gallery of Past Events

BritCham Platinum Members

How to Publish Information in BritCham Friday News?

Would you like to share information with other members by publishing it in BritCham Friday News and/or on our website, facebook, or twitter?

You can do it by contacting Santa Rudzite by e-mail santa.rudzite@britcham.lv or by calling: (+371) 25 45 6000. Please point out when you would like the information to be published; however, if you wish the information to be published in the current week's Friday News, it needs to be sent in by Wednesday afternoon. Information received latter will be published in the next week’s Friday News.