Today, on the 23rd December, Laimdota Straujuma, the Prime Minister of Latvia, in the Cabinet of Ministers congratulated the best Latvian young professionals who have received the highest scores at the international professional skills competition WorldSkills 2015.
"An outstanding professional is the biggest wealth of Latvia. I am truly happy that there are talented and hard working young professionals in Latvia whose outstanding success has received appreciation at the global professional Olympic Games. Thank you also to your teachers who have helped you on this path. I am proud of your determination and results. I wish you not to stop at your current achievements, to accept challenges and to head for higher global peaks," Laimdota Straujuma said in her address to the winners.
The Prime Minister presented Diplomas of the Cabinet of Ministers to the best young professionals from Latvia. Diplomas were received by the cabinet maker Reinis Gusts, the electrician Maksims Ivancovs, the visual merchandising/window dressing professional Anna Līva Traumane and the cook Haralds Saušs. These young professionals received the professional excellence medals at the skills competition WorldSkills 2015. Diplomas of the Cabinet of Ministers were also received by the industry experts who trained the participants of the Latvian national team for the global competition. The winners and the experts also received money prizes in the total amount of 5600 euros granted by the government.
At the prestigious competition WorldSkills 2015 Latvia was represented by 7 participants who competed in the professions of cabinet making, visual merchandising/window dressing, graphic design, web design, electrical installation, and cooking and restaurant service. Latvia was the 17th best among 59 participating countries.
WorldSkills 2015 competition took place from the 11th to the 16th August in Sanpaulu, Brazil, and was the currently biggest competition in the 65 years of history of this competition. This was the second time when Latvia participated there. This year 1200 participantss from 59 countries were competing on 50 various professions during four days. Currently there are 75 member states in WorldSkills International from all over the world.
The aim of the competition is to promote achievement of the member states in the vocational education of young professionals, to improve the prestige of professions, the vocational education and countries and to present and honour the skills of young professionals.