Exclusive - Armands Krauze on business aviation role

During IV Annual Baltic Business Aviation Conference we had amazing opportunity to talk with Armands Krauze, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia and find out his opinion regarding the role of business aviation in further country development.

Q. What are your associations with the word aviation?

A.K. Primarily I associate aviation with a convenient and fast way to get to almost anywhere in the world. A unique chance to look at daily life and events from a different perspective during the flight. Aviation, technological development and the impact on our lives inevitably go forward, making big steps, so I hope that Latvian people will be able to keep up.

Q. Were you dreaming as a child to become a pilot, or did you know you would do something quite different?

A.K. No, my childhood dream was to become a railway locomotive driver. During my service in the army, I got to know about aviation and performed many parachute jumps, so therefore many years later learned how to fly a paraglider. It is my hobby now, a way to get pleasure, but unfortunately I don't have so much time to fly as often as I would like to.

Q. From the national development perspective, how crucial do you think, the role of aviation sector in general and business aviation in particular is?

A.K. Efficient and modern aviation industry is an important factor in ensuring the country's sustainable development. Travelling by railroad transport is relatively difficult due to gauge differences in the European Union and the former Soviet Union territories, as well as the Rail Baltica project being at an early stage. So travelling by air is the primary alternative for passenger transportation between Latvia and the rest of Europe. The strength of the aviation industry is a powerful driving force for other sectors, especially tourism, simultaneously giving major contribution and stimulating employment. Business Aviation, is considered to be a relatively new and promising industry in both Latvia and Europe as a whole. Each euro invested in this sector is invested in the public awareness, promoting and highlighting Latvia on the European transport map.

Q. Do you agree that international sectoral conferences are an important tool for attracting foreign partners?

A.K. I believe that participating in international conferences and organizing them are very powerful tools for finding potential partners for a very large number of industries, including aviation. World technological development reduces distances, breaks down barriers and is an invaluable part of daily business communication within people, but for initial contact between potential partners, meetings with many representatives of the companies "face to face" that conferences provide, still are and will be an indispensable cornerstone of the business environment.

Q. The Baltic countries in general and Latvia in particular, are considered to be business aviation regions with positive dynamics. Is Latvia planning to take any measures to promote this sector?

A.K. Business aviation is a sector where development is very closely linked to European economic growth and progress in the relevant segment. As well as the direct impact of the relationship dynamics between the West and the East. I believe that the development of this sector is directly linked to promoting Latvia and Riga as a substantial regional business center, as it would lead to the influx of investments and people, opening of business representative offices and bringing in a number of international conferences and events to be held in Latvia on regular basis. The state considers the development and improvement of „Riga International Airport” territory, as well as development of aviation infrastructure in regional centers like Liepaja, Ventspils and Tukums as one of the primary goals in order to introduce the united air traffic system compliant with international safety and quality standards.