22.02 jury - cee business services awards 2024

Meet and greet Alesja Kircenko, Deputy Head at SEB Global Services in Riga and Chairperson of the Board at ABSL Latvia. She will be joining the jury at the CEE Business Services Awards 2024, held in Warsaw in early March. Alesja will have the honor of reviewing nearly 100 shortlisted organizations - the most ambitious and successful business service centers from the whole Europe. Together with other jury members, she will make the most responsible decisions on which organization deserves to win in each of 30 categories.

19.02 shortlisted companies for CEE business Services awards 2024

We are delighted to announce that six GBS/IT organizations from Latvia have been shortlisted for the CEE Business Services Awards 2024.

Furthermore, Riga has been nominated in the category of 'Most Dynamically Developing City' in the CEE this year. The Gala Dinner is scheduled for March 7th, during which all winners will be announced. We eagerly anticipate an outstanding industry event, bringing together the best and most ambitious business centers from Europe.

05.02 ABSL Brussels establishment

In the mission to meet the evolving needs of the business services sector, ABSL IS NOW ESTABLISHED IN BRUSSELS. This helps foster collaboration among ABSL Country organizations and aims to unify the voice of members in engagements with European Institutions and key stakeholders—advocating for the development of our dynamic industry. The Founding Leader Board seated in Brussels will guide ABSL toward a brighter future, working to enhance our sector's competitive advantage and amplify our impact on the global stage.

19.01 ABSL Latvia volleyball tournament 2024

ABSL Latvia has never experienced such high interest in any of its initiatives before. This year kicked off with a list of inquiries - Is it going to happen? When is it going to happen? Can we apply? The only answer to all these questions is "yes"!

We've decided to keep the indoor beach volleyball tournament as our annual tradition, allowing industry professionals to come together, play, and have fun by uniting them in a healthy competition of volleyball. As many of you recall, last year If Insurance team won the traveling cup, which has been safely stored at their office for all those months. Now, the time has come to determine whether the cup should embark on a journey to a new organization or remain in the possession of If Insurance for another year. For those eager to participate, all team application requirements can be obtained by reaching out to ABSL Latvia at [email protected] or contacting your HR department for further information. Please note that participation in the volleyball tournament is exclusive to ABSL Latvia members and strategic partners.

16.01. TSI successful partnership with absl latvia - 7 lectures cycle

ABSL Latvia is more than proud and thankful for the successful cooperation with Transport and Telecommunication Institute (TSI), offering a 7-lecture cycle titled "Introduction to Global Business Services" to students. It has been an exciting and remarkable journey, creating innovative ways of cooperation and valuable opportunities for students to explore the industry.

More information in article published by nra.lv - https://bit.ly/3Hlq57H

Special recognition to our industry's guest lecturers Rodion Shiryayev, Alesja Kircenko, Tatjana Kolesnikova, Timurs Junusovs, Ieva Aizvakara, Nelda Dinga, Ginta Ikauniece, Gunta Gorozniece.

Our sincere thanks to Ērika Čepule (Transport and Telecommunication Institute (TSI)) for her dedication and support throughout the cooperation.

12.01 ROche services & solutions Riga joins absl latvia

ABSL Latvia is excited to announce that Roche Services & Solutions Riga has joined our community. Let's warmly welcome them on board! 

"Joining ABSL Latvia marks a significant milestone for our newly established service center in Riga. We are enthusiastic about contributing to the vibrant ABSL community and showcasing our commitment to excellence in financial, digital, business process, and regulatory solutions within the biotech industry. Our goal is not only to provide outstanding services but also to harness the exceptional talents in Latvia, foster innovation, and create new job opportunities. Together with ABSL, we aim to build a strong foundation for sustained growth, making a positive impact on both the industry and the local economy," - Evija Celma, Head of Roche Services & Solutions Riga. 

Roche Services & Solutions (RSS) is part of Roche international business services organization, based in Budapest (Hungary), San Jose (Costa Rica), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), and as of 2023, also in Riga, offering customer-focused solutions to partners in over 150 countries. It is planned that the Riga office will have around 200 employees over the next four to five years. Joining the Roche family is a fantastic opportunity to work in a dynamic team and contribute to Roche's growth in the biotech industry. Since June 2023 they are already a team of 30 people and they have more than 20 open positions at the moment. https://lnkd.in/di6AVVVt

05.01. experts movement

ABSL Latvia is relaunching the Experts Movement to recognize dedicated industry experts. To become ABSL Expert, individuals must engage in the following 3 activity areas:

• Sharing industry knowledge: Contribute an engaging experience story for at least one ABSL Latvia event or webinar.
• Giving one guest lecture annually: Either through ABSL's Guest Lecture portfolio or individually approaching universities.
• Contributing to media or conferences: Get the publication of your expertise or opinion article (could be prepared in cooperation with ABSL) or participate as a speaker at any conference, like the upcoming ABSL Summit Riga (September).

Progress will be tracked through individual calls with the association. Achieving all tasks earns ABSL Expert status, which will be announced on social media and the individual will be added to our website’s separately devoted section.

08.12.2023 interview with absl latvia about the role of employee training

From year to year, Global Business Services centers carefully update and improve their employee training plans, enhancing the skills of their workforce. Having knowledgeable and educated employees is a crucial factor for our industry's successful growth. Considering Latvia's population, it's important to understand that we need to use people's intellectual potential effectively. This means that a growing number of working-age Latvians need to be ready and even eager to keep learning new things and skills throughout their lives. The old days when getting a professional degree or a job meant you were set for years are gone. Nowadays, automation and robotics are changing and improving various industries. Moreover, the Global Business Services sector is actually in a leading position, setting a great example of how using technology can replace repetitive and monotonous tasks, allowing people to use their intellectual capacities for more value-added tasks. Let's continue to prioritize educating our employees and keep it one of the core priorities within our industry also in 2024. Here you will find an interview with ABSL Latvia Executive Director, Monta Ieleja -  Jaunumi no ABSL nodarbināto apmācību projekta, decembris 2023 - YouTube I Find the publication here.

21.11. absl latvia invites to submit nominations for 12th annual cee bs awards 2024

Shoutout to all Latvian Global Business Services, BPo, ITo organizations! The 12th annual CEE Business Services Summit & Awards is set to take place in March 2024. It's time to roll up your sleeves and nominate your organizations in the open categories. This year, Latvia can take pride in having a separate category, "Most Vibrant Employer – Latvia," along with a list of other appealing categories such as Best CSR Initiative, Most Promising New Entrant, Best Uni-Business Corporation, and more are awaiting your nominees. It's time to shine and let the European Business Services community know about your achievements. The submission deadline is November 24, 2024. However, we've heard that the submission period might be extended until the end of November.

Don't leave it to the last minute. Reflect on what has been achieved, be proud of yourselves, and submit the nomination, giving your company a chance to win and receive international recognition. This is the only awards ceremony in Europe - don't miss it. Find the open categories and nomination submission link here: https://bit.ly/3sBhH0m

11.10.2023 ABSL Latvia is proud of guest lectures given in 2022/2023

Last week, ABSL Latvia representative Monta Ieleja visited MSC Shared Service Center Riga to express appreciation to all the active employees who generously contributed their time in the academic year of 2022/2023 as guest lecturers under the ABSL Latvia initiative, which aims to enhance awareness about our industry among students.

We are especially proud of the immense involvement from MSC Shared Service Center, as they have been the most dedicated organization among all our members in this particular iniciative. An impressive group of 12 guest lecturers together has delivered 33 lectures, totaling nearly 50 hours of active engagement with students throughout previous academic year. It's worth noting that the actual number is even higher, as some lectures were conducted independently of ABSL's involvement and are not included in this count.

26.09.2023. ABSL STANDS FOR THE REVISION OF NON-TAXABLE AMOUNT FOR HEALTH INSURANCE

Global Business Service/IT Centers in Latvia have consistently set an example for rest of the market when it comes to providing a wide range of benefits to their employees. Health insurance has evolved from being a ‘good to have’ to an absolute ‘must-have.’ However, the impact of inflation has significantly driven up the costs of medical and health services, subsequently affecting the prices of health insurance policies.Given the substantial increase in health insurance costs, even business services industry is compelled to reconsider this specific benefit. At present, due to the substantial financial burden it places on organizations, health insurance is viewed more as a luxury than the norm it once was. For a comprehensive view, please read the full opinion article by ABSL Latvia’s Executive Director Monta Ieleja. We urge everyone to go beyond reading and join us in signing the initiative on manabalss.lv to raise the non-taxable amount for health insurance policies to €1000. Link here: http://bit.ly/46pvOE9 It’s important to understand that inaction in this regard could further strain our government healthcare system and prolong waiting lines for government-funded health services.

22.09.2023 absl participates in lu career day

ABSL Latvia is excited to announce the participation in the Latvijas Universitate Career Days, taking place on September 28.

Be sure to visit the ABSL Latvia booth to get the latest information about job opportunities available at GBS/IT centers in Latvia. We are an industry that offers competitive salaries, modern offices, an international work environment, and incredible career growth opportunities – all waiting for you!

During the event, we will have engaging activities for students. Don't miss out on the chance to receive ABSL presents featuring items from all our members. Isn't that exciting?

11.09.2023 ABSL Summit in poland

ABSL Latvia  representatives had an amazing time at the ABSL Summit in Krakow! The past few days were filled with enlightening discussions, stories, and case studies on generative AI, diversity, inclusion, and equity policies, the significance of talent management, training, and reskilling strategies, as well as the impact of geopolitics on our lives and potential outcomes in the near future. We also delved into resilience and the importance of data and metrics to measure progress.

The summit was not only informative but also provided a fantastic networking opportunity. The atmosphere was electric, and dynamic discussions on GBS growth in Europe and future trends kept us on the edge of our seats.To sum it up, borrowing Piotr Kraśko’s words to conclude the event: “ABSL Summit - quite okay!” and we couldn’t agree more. Looking forward to the next one! 

31.08.2023 absl latvia encourages to use open courses provided by sse riga

ABSL Latvia encourages businesses within the industry to use employee training opportunities with the help of ERAF program which subsidizes up to 70% of associated expenses. It's important to note that this support program remains accessible only until the end of this calendar year. Given that we are currently in the final months to leverage this support, ABSL Latvia has introduced a new approach for companies to strategize their workforce development initiatives. We encourage companies to explore the option of open courses facilitated by educational institutions. As such, there is no need to plan training for substantial employee groups. Instead, by adopting this particular approach, you can nominate one or only a few representatives from the organization to participate in these open courses. This format ensures that the audience for these courses is composed of individuals from various organizations and industries. In the video you will find an interview with Rihards Garančs from Rīgas Ekonomikas augstskola - Stockholm School of Economics in Riga giving more details about their dynamic education programme “Effective Manager Programme”.

17.08.2023. ABSL Latvia invites industry experts to become guest lecturers

Last chance alert!

ABSL Latvia has prolonged the submission window for Latvian GBS/ITO industry experts willing to become lecturers (from ABSL member companies) and who are keen to enrich the academic year 2023/2024. Act now – grasp this chance to become a guest lecturer. Submit your lecture by August 20th!

For the submission link, please get in touch with the association at [email protected].

04.08.2023 CMA CGM appoints new head of the business services centre

ABSL Latvia is thrilled to announce that our member organization, CMA CGM (formerly known as Containerships), has appointed a new Head for the Business Service Centre in Latvia. Please join us in warmly welcoming Vita Ersta to this significant role!

Vita brings with her diverse experience in the realm of customer service, having dedicated more than 10 years to honing her skills in this field. Notably, she has spent over 5 years leading an operations team in one of the international freight transportation organizations, showcasing her exceptional leadership abilities. Furthermore, for the past 5 years, Vita has been involved in HR management, adding another dimension of expertise to her impressive skillset. With Vita at the helm, we are confident that the CMA CGM Business Service Centre in Latvia will continue to thrive. Her passion, dedication, and diverse experience make her a perfect fit for this role.

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Vita Ersta!

02.08.2023. norit joins absl latvia

We are thrilled to announce the newest addition to our community - Norit Latvia! This privately owned US company has earned a strong reputation in the activated carbon market, and we couldn't be more delighted to have them on board.

Based in Riga, Norit Latvia boasts a team of approximately 40 talented individuals who efficiently handle diverse global tasks for Norit companies across North America, Europe, and Asia. Their expertise spans crucial areas such as Data Management, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, General Ledger, Cost Accounting, and Purchasing. Oskars Cakuls, a high-level professional with over 10 years of invaluable experience in the GBS industry, is leading the organization.

ABSL Latvia an invaluable platform that facilitates niche-specific knowledge exchange and talent attraction. We are confident that Norit Latvia's participation will not only enrich our community but also accelerate their progress towards greater success. We extend our gratitude to Norit Latvia for entrusting us with their partnership. Your commitment reinforces our shared mission to drive positive change and growth in the industry.

world latvian economics and innovations forum

As July comes to a close, we take a moment to reflect on one of the most highly anticipated events, the World Latvian Economics and Innovations Forum, which took place on July 5th. This gathering brought together esteemed government decision-makers, entrepreneurs, leaders, and individuals who share a common interest in the economic development of Latvia.

ABSL Latvia's Chairperson of the Board and Deputy head at SEB Global Services in Riga, Alesja Kircenko, had the honor of participating in a thought-provoking discussion titled: "Latvia’s Got Talent: Retention and Upskilling of the Labor Force as a Competitive Global Advantage." Alesja Kircenko shared the panel with Evita Simsone and Janis Kukainis, and the engaging conversation was moderated by Laura Ramanis. The discussion raised insightful experience sharing and the exchange of ideas surrounding the crucial topic of talent retention and upskilling, which play a pivotal role in shaping Latvia's competitive global advantage in today's dynamic economic landscape.

monta ieleja (ex.geidane) returns to fill absl Latvia executive director's position

This week marks the final week for our exceptional Executive Director, Jānis Atslens, as our former one - Monta Geidane is set to return from her long-term leave. We extend heartfelt gratitude to Janis for his dedication and contributions during his time with us. Best of luck in his future endeavors!

During this time Janis has achieved remarkable milestones that elevated ABSL Latvia to new heights:
✔ Active participation in University Career days through ABSL, connecting with young talents.
✔Organizing a highly appreciated Volleyball tournament, uniting our industry in friendly competition.
✔Releasing two consecutive yearly industry reports, providing valuable insights to stakeholders.
✔Successfully resuming face-to-face events, fostering community and collaboration.
We're proud of what we've accomplished together and excited to continue our journey with Monta back in the fold.

News on absl latvia employee training project

👉 ABSL Latvia implements an employee training project with ERDF financial support for companies to promote the introduction of technological innovations and increase the productivity of the workforce.

💡 We would like to introduce ABSL Latvia member and project participant Intrum Global Technologies. "We will certainly continue to work on how to develop the digital skills of all our employees, not only those who work in the field of technology, but we also want Intrum Global Technologies to become a world leader, guided by customer experience and perspective!" says Dace Kreicmane, Human Resources Manager at Intrum Global Technologies.

Watch the full interview here- https://lnkd.in/duqmT9aZ

Read the full employee training project publication here.

More information about the project implemented by ABSL Latvia can be found here - https://lnkd.in/dyrcX2pW

News on absl latvia employee training project

ABSL Latvia implements an employee training project with ERDF financial support for companies to promote the introduction of technological innovations and increase the productivity of the workforce.

nordic language skills - investment in professional qualification

Check out the latest opinion article by ABSL Latvia on Nordic language skills as an investment in professional qualification.

“English language skills are no longer considered an advantage for job seekers, but an absolute necessity. On the other hand, the ability to speak one of the Nordic languages (Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish and Danish) is becoming more and more important and demanded by employers for those professionals who want to work and succeed in the GBS sector,” says Jānis Atslens, Executive director of ABSL Latvia.

business services firm of the year in latvia - seb global services riga

On March 8-9, the annual CEE Business Services Summit & Awards 2023  event took place in Warsaw. This conference and award ceremony is one of the most important industry public and networking events in Central and Eastern Europe

Congratulations to ABSL Latvia member SEB Global Services Riga, which won the award - Best Business Service Industry Company in Latvia!!!

08.04.2022. absl latvia annual general meeting

On April 8, the Annual General Meeting of ABSL Latvia was held in person. The members of the Association discussed issues important to the industry, which concern the promotion of the competitiveness of Latvia's image, the availability of labor, and the enhancement of the talents of current and future employees. Two new board members of ABSL Latvia were elected: Vladislavs Sorokins (Allnex GBS Director) and Rodion Shiryayev (Managing Director of MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company Shared Services Center Riga).

30.08.2021 Ieva aizvakara (atea global services) elected as board member of absl latvia

Congratulations to Ieva Aizvakara (Business Area Manager: Procurement & Customer operations at Atea Global Services Ltd.) on being elected as board member of ABSL Latvia. Starting from September 2021, Ieva will join the rest of ABSL Latvia board members - Alesja Kircenko, Kim Leandersson, Ieva Zirne, Lelde Lipska, Intars Sloka, Sintija Morica. All together they make a team with a strong desire to support the industry and its needs! 

We wish Ieva to have a great dose of energy, success and courage on this wonderful journey! 

26.07.2021 Aļesja kirčenko (deputy head, seb global services riga) elected as absl latvia chairperson of the board

"To become the next ABSL Latvia Chairperson of the Board is a huge honor and responsibility at the same time. I am personally proud of all the things that we have achieved with the help of the industry association and I truly believe that new heights are waiting for us. Thanks to all ABSL Latvia Members and Strategic partners we are a strong and ambitious association striving for the best," says Alesja Kircenko. 
Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/3rym87b

03.07.2021 SEB GLOBAL SERVICES WILL MOVE TO NEW OFFICE

SEB Global Services will move to a new office at the beginning of 2023. The company has signed a contract with real estate developer Galio Group officially confirming its future plans to move to office center GUSTAVS located at Gustava Zemgala gatve 73. The construction process of the building has already started. SEB Global Services will lease around 11 000 square meters ensuring physical workplaces to more than 1000 employees. The new 6-floor office building is designed and will be contracted to reach all the requirements of BREEM Excellent certificate. ABSL Latvia congratulates its member SEB Global Services in Riga with its future plans!  You can find more information here: https://bit.ly/2TuU2Nr

31.05.2021 ABSL LATVIA RELEASES BUSINESS SERVICES REPORT 2021

It is with great excitement to announce that ABSL Latvia in collaboration with its trustful partner Investment and Development Agency of Latvia has just released already the second Annual Report of Business Services Sector in Latvia. Many thanks to all Business Services organizations for devoting your time to participate in the survey, and thus becoming an important part of a comprehensive and at the same time highly valuable report, which covers all possible questions around the growth of industry - level of RPA implementation, pandemic impact on business operations, salary levels, changes in the site selection process, and many more. 

Thanks to all our partners for providing valuable content for the report - Fontes, Deloitte Latvia, ERDA, Colliers Latvia, Tilde ~, Investment and Development Agency of Latvia.

Without all of your support, it wouldn't be possible and this is why we believe that the newly released report is a celebration for all of us. 
Feel free to visit ABSL Latvia homepage and download the newly released report: https://lnkd.in/e5FVrSY

24.05.2021 ABSL SIGNS CONTRACT WITH KIC

ABSL Latvia has signed an agreement with Komercizglītības Centrs SIA within the European Regional Development Fund program “Support for employee training needs”. Starting from now all global business services centers based in Latvia have an opportunity to get efficiency management courses, highly popular "Managing Service Productivity" course by Komercizglītības Centers SIA with 30-70% of costs covered by European Union funding.

Please contact Anna Gruzinska (+371 26336345, [email protected]) Marketing manager at Komercizglītības Centrs SIA in order to discuss which professional courses would be highly needed for your employees.
#trainingneeds #globalservices #funding

11.05.2021 absl RECOMMENDS TO PRIME MINISTER TO REVIEW HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY IN LATVIA

ABSL Latvia together with Foreign Investors' Council in Latvia has prepared an official recommendation letter addressed to the prime minister of Latvia K.Kariņš with a call to review and significantly improve the existing policy for human capital development in Latvia. The letter states that the existing activities and government initiatives carried out to raise the qualification of people seem not to be working. AmCham Latvia, Norwegian Chamber of Commerce in Latvia, Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Latvia (SCCL), Association of Exporters "The Red Jackets", Latvian Startup Association, and more than 20 well-known local and foreign capital organizations have supported the call for action.
Go to the full article here: https://bit.ly/2R1kYmT

18.03.2021 ANNOUNCED "TOP EMPLOYER 2020"

09.03.2021 ABSL OPINION ARTICLE PUBLISHED ON DELFI.LV

The time when we could train employees with the help of local education centres has passed already for several years, we need to focus more on education platforms coming from foreign providers (Coursera, Linkedin Learning, Udemy, etc.) so that we could learn those skills that are needed to work globally and speak in one common language with process owners around the globe. Please read the full article here: https://bit.ly/3eqKgUz

24.02.2021 NEW MEMBER JOINS ABSL LATVIA