Riga was the Hong Kong of Europe – an international trade center \u2013 through which the exports from the great Russian hinterland were transported to the markets of the great merchant cities of L\u00fcbeck, Copenhagen, Hamburg and Amsterdam; from which the industrial goods of Europe were brought back east. And where business blossoms, culture springs alive. It was in this city that Richard Wagner lived to become a world known composer, and Eisenstein, much later, laid the foundation for Soviet film making. Most cities on the Baltic coastline were – to tell the truth – mere provincial backwaters in comparison with the multinational culture that blossomed in Riga during her golden age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
The remarkable thing about Dr. Reynisson, the Icelandic honorary counsul general in the Latvian capital, was that he did his share in restoring Riga to her old fame. Behind it all there is a story to tell. He left Iceland as a young man for studying mathematics and business in the USA. By coincidence he had a Finnish tutor while he was graduating with a Master\u00b4s degree from a university in Californa. They became friends, The Finnish master and the Icelandic deciple. Later G\u00edsli decided to follow his master to Tampere in Finland, where he did postgraduate work in maths and ended up with a PH.D. .in econometrics. By then the young Icelander\u00b4s fate was decided.
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After a short while in St. Petersburgh working with a Finnish financial corporation G\u00edsli decided that it would be wiser to do rather than to teach. He relocated from St. Petersburgh to Riga. The right man at a right time. Riga was in ruins. Everything was up for sale. But a major effort at restoration was required. Foreign investors, who were interested in settling there, needed access to modern infra-structure and hi-tech communications with the outside world. G\u00edsli\u00b4s genius was that he was always one step ahead of the competition. Those who wanted to set up camp in Riga, be it Microsoft, Statoil or Pepsi Cola, not to mention lesser operators, ended up as G\u00edsli \u00b4s clients.He built up modern harbour facilites. He built industrial parks with avant-garde technology. Gradually one thing led to another. In the end G\u00edsli had become one of the major entrepreneurs of the new Latvia.<\/p>\n
What was it that made G\u00edsli the rich mans of Riga? It was the man himself. He was always alert and passionate in his endevours. He analysed the situation by cold rationality and precision. Some said that he was over-active. Inactive he was certainly not. But despite the daring he was careful at every step. The calculation of the mathematician was prepared to the minutest details. He analysed the risk, tried to foresee what was coming, but always had a plan B or C to prepare for the unexpected. That\u00b4s why he was so successful. I wish the leaders of the Icelandic republic had been similarily alert, but precautioned by foresight.<\/p>\n
An entrepreneur with an academic background. There aren\u00b4t too many of those around. Perhaps that\u00b4s what made all the difference. But he died far too young. He had so many things yet to do. But he had reliable collaborators in Latvia who from now will have to keep the flag flying. The Laima clock must maintain its sound. Brynd\u00eds and I convey to Anna Margr\u00e9t and all the family our heartfelt message of sympathy in gratitude for our time together on the banks of Daugava.<\/p>\n