Invited for Patronage Committee of the Conference
Vents Balodis, Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development of the Republic of Latvia;
Vladimirs Makarovs, Minister of Economy of the Republic of Latvia;
Māris Vītols, Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia;
Andris Bērziņš, Mayor of Riga, Latvia;
Jan Sand Sųrensen, United Nations Resident Coordinator, UNDP Resident Representative, UNFPA Representative;
Merethe Kvenrod, Director of Nordic Information Office in Riga, Representation of the Nordic Council of Ministers.

Programme Committee of the Conference:
Juris Krūmiņš, Dr.habil.oec., Professor, Corresponding Member of the Academy of Sciences of Latvia, Vice
Rector, University of Latvia - Chairman of the Programme Committee;
Andreas Cornett, Dr. Professor, University of Southern Denmark, Sųnderborg, Chair of the Nordic Section
of the RSA, Chairman of the Programme Committee, Denmark;
Sven Illeris, Dr. Professor, University of Roskilde, Denmark;
Mats Johanson, Dr., Swedish Institute for Regional Research, Sweden;
Māris Kļaviņš, Dr.habil.chem., Professor, Member of the Academy of Sciences of Latvia, Dean, Faculty
of Geography and Earth Science, University of Latvia;
Zaiga Krišjāne, Dr.geogr., Associate Professor, Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of Latvia,
Co-ordinator of the Conference;
Laila Kūle, Head of Spatial Planning Division, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, Latvia;
Jan Moennesland, Dr. Professor, Norwegian Institute for Urban and Regional Research (NIBR), Oslo, Norway;
Tatjana Muravska, Dr.oec., Associate Professor, Faculty of Economics and Management, University of Latvia;
Olaf Lars Persson, Dr. Professor, Nordic Centre for Spatial Development (NORDREGIO), Stockholm, Sweden;
Karin Peschel, Dr.habil., Professor, Institute for Regional Research, Christian Albrecht Universität, Kiel, Germany;
Juris Prikulis, Dr.phil., Research Director, Baltic - Nordic Research Centre, Latvia; Garri Raagmaa, Institute of Geography,
University of Tartu, Estonia;
Pirkko-Liisa Rauhala, Dr.habil.soc., Docent, University of Helsinki, Senior Researcher, National Research and
Development Center of Welfare and Health, Finland;
Baiba Rivža, Dr.habil.oec., Member of the Academy of Sciences of Latvia, Chairperson, Council of Higher Education
of Latvia, Professor, Agriculture University of Latvia;
Arild Saether, Dr., Professor, Director, EuroFaculty, Latvia;
Biruta Sloka, Dr.oec., Associate Professor, Faculty of Economics and Management, University of Latvia,
Co-ordinator of the Conference;
Eugenius Staniunas, Dr., Dean, Faculty of Architecture, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania;
Erik Terk, Dr., Director, Estonian Institute for Futures Studies, Estonia;
Inese Vaidere, Dr.oec., Adviser to the State President of the Republic of Latvia, Associate Professor, University of Latvia;
Jurģis Vanagas, Dr.habil., Professor, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania;
Edgars Vasermanis, Dr.habil.oec., Professor, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Management, University of Latvia.

Organising Committee of the Conference:
Juris Krūmiņš, Dr.habil.oec., Professor, Corresponding Member of the Academy of Sciences of Latvia,
Vice-Rector, University of Latvia - Chairman of the Organising Committee;
Andris Bauls, Dr.geogr., Associate Professor, Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of Latvia;
Elēna Dubra, Dr.oec., Associate Professor, Vice-Dean, Faculty of Economics and Management, University of Latvia;
Māris Kļaviņš, Dr.habil.chem., Member of the Academy of Science, Professor, Dean of the Faculty of Geography and
Earth Sciences, University of Latvia;
Alvis-Harijs Kramiņš, Head of Regional Structural Policy Division, Ministry of Economy, Latvia;
Zaiga Krišjāne, Dr.geogr, Associate Professor, Faculty of Geography and Earth Science, University of Latvia,
Co-ordinator of the Conference;
Laila Kūle, Head of Spatial Planning Division, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, Latvia;
Tatjana Muravska, Dr.oec, Associate Professor, Faculty of Economics and Management, University of Latvia;
Juris Prikulis, Dr.phil., Research Director, Baltic - Nordic Research Centre, Latvia;
Baiba Rivža, Dr.habil.oec; Member of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Latvia, Chairperson, Council of
Higher Education of Latvia, Professor, Agriculture University of Latvia;
Maija Rozīte, Dr.geogr., Head of Tourism Department, School of Business Administration Turība, Latvia;
Arild Saether, Dr., Professor, Director, EuroFaculty, Latvia;
Biruta Sloka, Dr.oec. Associate Professor, Faculty of Economics and Management, University of Latvia, Co-ordinator
of the Conference;
Edgars Vasermanis, Dr.habil.oec., Professor, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Management, University of Latvia.

The sixth conference is organized by the University of Latvia (Riga) in co-operation with the Nordic Section of the
Regional Science Association (RSA), the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development of the
Republic of Latvia, the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Latvia, Swedish Institute for Regional Research,
NORDREGIO (Stockholm), Agriculture University of Latvia (Jelgava), Baltic-Nordic Research Centre (Riga) and
Centre for Latvian Economic Studies (Riga).

The Programme Committee and the Organizing Committee of the Conference looks forward to an exiting and
fruitful meeting in Riga.