The BALTIC BUSINESS COUNCIL of North America, Inc. (herein also
called: BBC, BBC-NA, Council) has a four prong purpose:
In pursuing its purpose and goals, the
BBC works in close liaison with businesses and government organizations in
Canada and in the Baltics. A number of Canadian organizations have provided and
are giving valuable advice and assistance to the BBC in its various endeavors,
e.g., the:
BBC undertakings are arranged in concert
with Canadian trade and business development activities in the Baltics.
As well, it works in close consultation with the appropriate Canadian
government departments, especially with those dealing with international trade
issues relating to the Baltics.
The Baltic Business Council was
incorporated in December 1995 (Province of Ontario Letters Patent No.
1157675). It was established with financial assistance from governments
of Canada and of the Province of Ontario; and with help and assistance from the
Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian communities in Canada. The organization
is now operating on a voluntary basis, with the cost of its operations covered
by the executives personally. For special projects, assistance is sought
from various sources.
Members of the BBC-NA are individuals,
business firms and other organizations interested in the operations of the
Council. At its Annual General Meeting, members elect its Board of
Directors, and the Board, in turn, elects the Officers of the Corporation and
an Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is elected for a two-
year term and is headed by President, who also acts as General Manager of the
corporation. Directors and members of the Executive Committee give their
time freely, without remuneration, and the Corporation has no paid employees.
During its first four years of operation,
the BBC organized three successful Trade Conferences in Toronto, known as “The
Baltic Connection”. These conferences, which also included trade fairs,
drew participants from the Canadian and Baltic business communities,
governments and the academia; as well, there were US participants - from the
Detroit and Chicago areas.
In the past few years, members of its
executive have participated in two trade missions to the Baltics -- the
"BALTIC EXPRESS" -- both organized by Government of Canada, and took
place in October 1998 and September 2000. During the trade missions,
valuable business contacts were established in Estonia, Latvia and
Lithuania. For example, participating Canadian firms found business
opportunities in all three Baltic states: in the building materials and
-systems sector, in industrial and office lighting systems, food processing and
textiles manufacturing, security hardware (steel doors and windows)
manufacturing sector and in various wood products production and marketing
areas.
The Baltic Business Council has been
playing an active role in making local arrangements for visiting Baltic
government trade officials and business representatives to Canada, especially
to the Toronto area. The most recent major event in this was a breakfast
seminar at the Ontario Club in Toronto in July 2000, where Lennart Meri, President
of the Republic of Estonia was guest speaker, giving a thorough overview of
business conditions and investment opportunities in Estonia, indeed in the
entire Baltics. The meeting was attended by a sizable group of Canadian
businessmen, and senior staff from three levels of government - federal,
provincial and City of Toronto..
As of March 1998, the Baltic Business
Council of North America Inc. has been headed by: JOHN PAHAPILL, P. Eng., as
President and General Manager. John is a seasoned Canadian business
executive of Estonian origin. He is retired from full-time work
activities but continues to provide project management and management
consultation services to a number of organizations, both in Canada and in
Estonia. For further information on John Pahapill, please refer to his
home page, a direct on-line link is provided below.
Other members of the BBC-NAs Executive
Council (as of its last election) were:
Contact: E-mail:
Links:
This page was last updated: May 8,
2006