Peat extraction and processing company “Laflora” has received the Zemgale Planning Region award for “Entrepreneur of the Year in Zemgale 2021” in the medium and large company category for the Jelgava municipality. “Laflora” was nominated for this award by the Jelgava municipal council, which highlighted the company's growth and its ability to create added value for the development of the Jelgava region.

The Chairman of the Jelgava municipal council, Madars Lasmanis, presented the head of “Laflora”, Uldis Ameriks, with a Certificate of Recognition from the Zemgale Planning Region, the award statuette, and a cash prize.

In the competition, the Jelgava municipal council and the Zemgale Planning Region commended “Laflora” for the establishment of a wind power park in the Kaigu bog. The park will provide green energy not only for “Laflora’s” own consumption in peat product manufacturing and technological processes, but will also create a Green Industrial Zone, which will serve as a stimulus for the climate-neutral development of the entire Zemgale region.

The competition also recognised “Laflora’s” art-related initiatives – the unique peat amphitheatre created in the Drabinu bog, which allows for the implementation of artistically unconventional projects, providing an opportunity to bring together artists, musicians, and audiences in a scenic, acoustic setting.

“I am inspired by this honourable award and grateful for the recognition of our work! The company “Laflora” has been operating in the Jelgava municipality for 27 years, providing well-paid jobs for 290 people. We have become one of the largest and most innovative peat extraction and processing companies in Latvia. To achieve climate neutrality for the company in accordance with the European Green Deal guidelines, we have set truly ambitious but at the same time realistically achievable goals – to build a wind park and a Green Industrial Zone in the Kaigu bog. By doing so, we will offset all emissions created in peat extraction and processing, give the bog a new life after peat extraction ends, and provide new, sustainable jobs. I am pleased that this will also be a benefit to other companies in the Zemgale region, which, by joining us in the "Laflora" industrial zone, will be able to use green energy for their production!”, says Uldis Ameriks, Chairman of the Board of “Laflora”.

The “Entrepreneur of the Year in Zemgale” competition, organised by the Zemgale Planning Region, took place for the sixth year, awarding companies from each of the region's municipalities in three categories – Entrepreneur of the Year, Medium/Large Enterprise of the Year, and Small/Micro Enterprise of the Year.