Minister for Agriculture Armands Krauze does not agree with the Ministry of Finance's proposal to sell part of the shares in AS “Latvijas valsts meži” (LVM) in a public offering by 2029, which, in the minister's view, would effectively mean the privatisation of this strategically important company that is vital to Latvia's economy.

Armands Krauze: “The joint-stock company “Latvijas valsts meži” manages around 1.62 million hectares of Latvian land, is a strategically important company for the state, belongs to the people of Latvia and pays large sums into the state budget every year, and therefore I am categorically opposed to privatising this company. It is simply not possible – the privatisation of the state forest. I am convinced that the Saeima will not support the Ministry of Finance's initiative to privatise the state forest either – I cannot imagine the circumstances under which members of parliament would want to sell such a strategically significant and profitable company.”

The Minister for Agriculture also objects to the sale of other strategically important state-owned companies, such as AS “Latvenergo”.

“If the Ministry of Finance or anyone else wants to list the shares of some state-owned company on the stock exchange, such opportunities do exist – there are a couple of telecommunications companies, utility companies and the like – by all means, list them on the exchange, but not “Latvijas valsts meži”, said Armands Krauze.