29 December is the last working day of the Central Statistical Bureau President Aija Žīgure. She has been CSB President for 25 years (since 1998) while altogether has been a part of the CSB team since 1975.
‘Back in 1975, when I started working as a statistician, I did not know what the future holds for me – will it bring job satisfaction and career growth or will it bring something else. Today, looking back on the time spent working here, I am glad to say that I had the luck to choose my right professional path, since I have been given the opportunity to grow professionally from a specialist to the President position.’ after 48 years of service says CSB President of the last 25 years Aija Žīgure.
Before taking on the duties of the CSB President, Mrs Žīgure worked for its structural units producing price and trade statistics, regional statistics, was engaged in data dissemination, and held the CSB Vice-President position, thus continuously investing her professional competences in the development of national statistical system.
Since Latvia regained its independence, professional priority of Mrs Žīgure has been the alignment of the national official statistics with the European Union requirements as well as international standards of the United Nations. Mrs Žīgure has contributed to high-quality and comparable statistics by representing the CSB in national and international statistical bodies.
Mrs Žīgure contributions in official statistics have been recognized at both national and international level. She received a Cabinet Award for a long-term and highly professional work and innovative approach to the development of national statistical system as well as a Cross of Recognition for merits in the development of national statistical administration, extensive personal contribution to the establishment of statistical standards and methods facilitating inclusion of the national statistical system in the EU statistical system.
For her great contribution to higher quality of studies and development of research field at the University of Latvia Mrs Žīgure is its Honorary Member since 2020. On the 100th anniversary of the CSB, she was awarded with a Certificate of Gratitude from the Latvian Academy of Sciences. When concluding her professional life at the CSB on 19 December, Mrs Žīgure received a Certificate of Recognition from the Minister of the Economy Viktors Valainis.
More about professional life of Mrs Žīgure in her CV.
19 December 2023. Mrs Žīgure receiving Ministry of Economics Certificate of Recognition
From the left: Ministry of Economy State Secretary Edmunds Valantis, CSB President Aija Žīgure, Minister of Economy Viktors Valainis