On November 14, the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga celebrated its 30th anniversary by organising the 2nd Baltic Business and Public Policy Summit jointly with the House of Governance and Public Policy at the Stockholm School of Economics. Main theme of the event was building resilient and healthy societies while fostering economic growth in the public and private sectors. Three key areas covered at the Summit: security, economy and society.
A line of prominent Nordic guests was present at the event with experts from academia, public and private sector giving keynote speeches or taking part in panel discussions. Karen Ellemann, Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM), and Stefan Eriksson, Director of the NCM Office in Latvia, were also present at the event. Following the opening remarks by Anders Paalzow, Rector of the SSE Riga, the Swedish Ambassador to Latvia, Karin Höglund, addressed the audience, noting the role of Sweden in establishing the SSE in Riga and the international cooperation that has grown from it along the decades.
In her keynote speech, Karen Ellemann emphasised the importance of building resilient Nordic-Baltic economies and societies to withstand external pressures, whether economic, political or otherwise. She highlighted the unique partnership between the Nordic and Baltic countries, rooted in shared values as small, liberal and open societies with high levels of trust – both among citizens and in democratic processes. Ellemann stressed that while this cooperation has historically been strong, it should never be taken for granted. In the light of current challenges and opportunities, she called for even closer Nordic-Baltic collaboration to ensure a more resilient, sustainable and robust future for the region.
Concluding the speech, she called for putting the close friendship to practical use and taking real action for a better tomorrow:
“Stay active, stay alert, stay positive, not naive. And look in the mirror and know that we were created, at least most of us, with two ears and one mouth for a reason – to listen more than we speak.”
Other Nordic participants speaking at the event were: Karl Wennberg, Scientific Director of the House of Governance and Public Policy at the Stockholm School of Economics; Jens Henriksson, CEO of Swedbank; Li Bennich-Björkman, Johan Skytte Professor in Eloquence and Politics at the Uppsala University; Monica Mee, Director Governance and Finance at the NORCAP part of Norwegian Refugee Council; Henrik Landerholm, National Security Advisor to the government of Sweden and former Ambassador of Sweden to Latvia; Pär Malmberg, Chair of the Swedish Government’s Inquiry into the Security of Supply; Erik Scheller, State Secretary to Minister for Education of Sweden; Mikael Wigell, Research Director at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, and Torbjörn Becker, Director of the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics.
Additionally, keynote speeches were given by two Latvian ministers: Kaspars Briškens, Minister of Transport and alumni of the SSE Riga, and Baiba Braže, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Further information: Contribution by the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga to Latvia’s economy.
Photos: Stockholm School of Economics in Riga (SSE Riga).
