On 25 April the Ministry of Economics opened its first permanent regional office. Its purpose will be to foster closer cooperation with businesses in the Zemgale region, strengthen regional development and encourage investment.
The Ministry of Economics is the first ministry to have set up a regional office.
“The economic growth of the regions is the foundation of the country's overall prosperity. The Zemgale region has considerable potential — in terms of workforce, innovation and manufacturing development alike. By establishing an office such as this, we are strengthening the presence of the Ministry of Economics in the regions not only symbolically but also in practical terms. Our strategy is to be where the entrepreneurs are, where ideas take shape and where the future of Latvia's economy is being built,” said Minister for Economics Viktors Valainis at the opening.
The work of the office is built on a purposeful, long-term approach to strengthening the regional economy. It will make state support instruments more readily available to businesses in the region, encouraging closer dialogue between public administration and the business community. Through the office, entrepreneurs will be able to resolve pressing matters more promptly and receive coordinated support from the ministry, thereby improving the pace of decision-making. At the same time, Zemgale's economic potential will be strengthened by purposefully developing forms of cooperation that make it possible both to attract new investment and to create growth opportunities for local businesses.
Those taking part in the opening event were Minister for Economics Viktors Valainis, Chairman of Jelgava City Council Andris Rāviņš and the Director of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), Ieva Jāgere.
Addressing those present, the Minister for Economics stressed that the newly established office would serve as an active hub for cooperation in the region: “Let us use these premises to meet entrepreneurs, investors, heads of state-owned companies and other cooperation partners. This will be a place for significant discussions about economic development issues and opportunities for cooperation.”
“Jelgava has always been an important centre of regional development, with a strong industrial base and an innovative business environment. Setting up the Ministry of Economics office on the premises of the LIAA Jelgava office is a substantial step towards closer cooperation between the ministry, businesses and the local authority. One of Europe's most modern pea protein plants is currently being built in Jelgava, and a new Zemgale industrial park is being developed on the site of the former airfield, opening up opportunities for innovative business development outside the capital,” said LIAA Director Ieva Jāgere.
Opening the Ministry of Economics office, Chairman of Jelgava City Council Andris Rāviņš emphasised that strong, well-developed business activity is the foundation of any city: “In Jelgava, business development is unequivocally a priority. This year we have attracted the largest investment for business infrastructure development from European Union funds — almost 20 million euros. The Zemgale industrial park is being built. The local authority has already signed its first land lease agreements with investors ready to develop businesses there. We can already say that entrepreneurs' investment in setting up new production facilities will exceed 100 million euros. I am convinced that the establishment of a Ministry of Economics office in Jelgava will be one more powerful instrument, one that will result in even more productive economic development for Jelgava and the whole Zemgale region.”
On the very day the office opened, 25 April, the newly established premises hosted the first working meeting with the heads of the Ministry of Economics' state-owned companies. During the day the Minister for Economics also took part in Forest Days events on Pasta sala and visited one of Zemgale's leading innovative food producers, SIA “ASNS ingredients”. At the end of the day he met businesses from the region to discuss the directions of Zemgale's economic development and opportunities for further cooperation.
The regional office will be located on the premises of the LIAA office, where LIAA is implementing EU funds project No. 1.2.3.1/1/23/I/001 “Development of innovative business activity in SMEs”.