PreLab: University of Latvia x VSA Thailand

PRELAB | Precarious Labour in Asia: Exploring Challenges and Solution to Labour Insecurity through Case-Study-Based Evidence from 8 Asian Countries: PRELAB

A recent ILO report estimates that two billion workers are active in the informal economy. The relevance of the phenomenon is even higher if the secondary effects of informal employment are considered and is likely to get worse, given that climate change has come to increasingly affect those living in conditions of vulnerability, pushing more people into the informal sector. Although informal economic activity is widely present in Europe and North America, constituting around 20% of the national GDP, developing and emerging economies suffer disproportionately from this phenomenon. For example, the ILO estimates that Africa, Asia and Latin America host 93% of the world’s informal employment and have been on the rise due to the Covid-19 crisis. Altogether, the World Bank and ILO estimate that almost a billion people entered precarious work because of the pandemic, with women and young people being the most affected categories.

PRELAB network includes academic and development organisations, all with a major focus on informality and development, to:

1) Train researchers in methodologies to measure informality in a global perspective;

2) Conceptualise ways to apply qualitative and quantitative methodologies that were successfully used Eastern Europe and Central Asia to our target countries in the Asia Pacific region;

3) Produce a consistent narrative on how to measure and tackle informality in emerging economies; and

4) Engage with policymakers and business actors, in addition to the scientific community, to identify ways to apply these approaches into development practice worldwide.

รับเชิญไปงาน The Research and Business Conference จัดโดยคณะเศรษฐศาสรร์และบริหารธุรกิจ Kaunas University of Technology ลิทัวเนีย 10 กุมภาพันธ์ 2567

คุยกันเรื่อง ธุรกิจครอบครัวในสามประเทศ ลัตเวีย ลิวทัวเนีย และไต้หวัน เพราะธุรกิจครอบครัวในกลุ่มประเทศบอลติก เป็นเรื่องค่อนข้างใหม่ เกิดขึ้นจริงจังหลังจากแยกออกจากสหภาพโซเวียต ธุรกิจจึงกำลังเพิ่งเริ่มมาที่เข้าสู่ยุคที่สอง (2nd generation) ของครอบครัว  ขณะนี้จึงเริ่มมีการวิจัยเกี่ยวกับกระบวนการ ปัญหาอุปสรรค และแนวทางในการดำเนินต่อไปในอนาคต

VSA Thailand Director Jarinya Krittikan was invited to the Research and Business Conference on February 10, 2025, at the School of Economics and Business, Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania."

RESEARCH AND BUSINESS CONFERENCE: "Navigating Challenges and Opportunities of Family Businesses" – A real-world experience at the family-owned business Mītavas Čiekur (The Pinecone Products), located in Jelgavas Novads, Latvia, 13th February 2025

The business was founded around 11 years ago by a family with a passion for health, aiming to become the world's leading pinecone product company.

If you're hesitant to try pinecone products, keep an open mind and give them a chance before making any judgments. There’s no guarantee you'll fall in love with this unique plant, but it’s worth exploring.

Navigating Challenges and Opportunities of Family Businesses in Latvia, Lithuania, and Taiwan

University of Latvia Hosts International Conference on Family-Owned Firms

Riga, Latvia – On February 13, 2025, the University of Latvia, in cooperation with the Baltic Family Firm Institute (BFFI), hosted an insightful conference focused on the unique dynamics of family businesses in Latvia, Lithuania, and Taiwan. The event took place at the University of Latvia’s Faculty of Economics and Social Science.

The conference brought together scholars, industry experts, and business leaders for an in-depth exploration of the challenges and opportunities that shape family-owned enterprises in these three countries. Attendees had the opportunity to engage with keynote speakers and participate in expert-led discussions, which covered key topics such as innovation within family businesses, strategies for generational succession, resilience in the face of economic uncertainty, and sustainable growth practices.

As family businesses continue to play a vital role in the economies of Latvia, Lithuania, and Taiwan, the event aimed to foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing, equipping participants with practical insights to enhance their businesses and overcome common obstacles. The conference underscored the importance of adapting to evolving market conditions while preserving the core values and traditions that make family businesses unique.

The event also provided a platform for networking and potential collaborations, setting the stage for future growth and innovation in the family business sector across these regions.

Family firms visiting 14th Feb.25

1. Baltic Bonsai Park Sprīdīši, Krustiņi, Inčukalna pagasts, Siguldas novads, LV-2141, Latvia

2. Eyeball factory Pils iela 13a, Sigulda, Siguldas pilsēta, Siguldas novads, LV-2150, Latvia

3. Lunch at Viesnīca un restorāns Aparjods

4. Boltu Rotus at castle Of The Livonian Order In Sigulda, Siguldas Viduslaiku pils

5. Dinner at Osta, Restorāns ar skatu

1.Baltic Bonsai Park Sprīdīši, Krustiņi, Inčukalna pagasts, Siguldas novads, LV-2141, Latvia

2. Eyeball factory Pils iela 13a, Sigulda, Siguldas pilsēta, Siguldas novads, LV-2150, Latvia

3. Lunch at Viesnīca un restorāns Aparjods

4. Boltu Rotus at castle Of The Livonian Order In Sigulda, Siguldas Viduslaiku pils

5. Dinner at Osta, Restorāns ar skatu

By Jarinya Krittikan, Director of VSA Thailand PreLab: University of Latvia x VSA at Riga, Latvia andKaunas University of Technology, Lithuania 7th-17th February 2025