The 1990s

The United States and Latvia began cooperation back in 1991. The United States supplied nearly $60 million dollars worth of aid over an 8 year period through the work of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which is part of the US State Department. Gustav Plato, a founding member of LatCham, began working in Latvia in 1991 with the US Agency for International Development and worked on Latvias privatization strategy. Later, in the mid 90s, Gustav teamed up with Latvian thought leaders to create "Latvia 2000".The support by the US government was delivered in two major phases. During the first phase the US objectives were to promote private sector growth, strengthen the financial system and democratic policy, encourage key energy and environmental reforms and promote health care reforms. During the second stage the US focused on two major areas: to strengthen capital markets in order to enhance Latvias ability to attract domestic and foreign capital and to create the legal and regulatory framework necessary to facilitate the privatization of state-owned energy utilities.These initiatives, as well as countless others laid the foundation for the idea of the Latvian Chamber of Commerce in the Americas.

The 2000s

The next logical step for advancing US and Latvian business relations would be to encourage trade and investment. That process was one of steady progress. In 2006, the The Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), which is part of the Latvian Economics Ministry, opened a representative office in Washington DC. Fast forward to 2007, Gustav Plato started his own international global strategy consultancy, iiGrowth LLC. He engaged with Egils Milbergs (who at the time was the Founder and President of Center for Accelerating Innovation - he is now the Director of the New Economic Development Commission in the State of Washington). Gustav had worked with Egils in the early 1990s on promoting US and Baltic business cooperation as a result of the work Gustav had been doing with USAID. Together, they decided to reenergize efforts around accelerating business development between the US and the Baltics.One of their first meetings was with Uldis Salenieks, LIAA representative in Washington, DC. Uldis had been stationed by the Economics Ministry to spearhead Latvia's economic growth strategy with the United States. It only took one meeting and all agreed, creating a Latvian Chamber of Commerce was the next logical step to involve the business community on both sides of the Atlantic.In Latvia, the American Chamber of Commerce, including Jerry Wirth, Liga Bertulsone, and many many other AmCham members were very helpful in providing LatCham with guidance on how to get started. AmCham shared many lessons learned, provided guidance on organization, membership, and services that all have helped shape the LatCham value proposition. In the United States, Latvian businessman and entrepreneur, Juris Lazdins, with extensive experience in working with large and medium business enterprises and government stepped forward to help shape the look and feel of LatCham. Juris, together with Gustavs, were the driving forces in the early days of LatCham.

By May 2009, LatCham had grown to over 50 members.  It continues to grow at a steady pace as more businesses and entrepreneurs learn about the Chamber and its activities.  In addition, LatCham created a board structure and the initial board members included Gustav Plato, Juris Lazdins, Brian Carlson, Chris Lombardi, Karlis Antons, Talivaldis Berzins, Brigita Rumpeters, and Janis Meija.  In May 2009 LatCham created its first regional branch, which was in Ohio and headed up by Talivaldis Berzins.  In addition, LatCham opened a branch in Latvia headed up by Janis Meija.  In November 2009, LatCham launched its New York/New Jersey Chapter headed up by Brigita Rumpeters.  LatCham had its designs on creating additional branches in Chicago and in California in early 2010.