At the gala ceremony of the "Export and Innovation Award 2025" competition, held in the New Hall of the Daile Theatre, the title of Export Champion was presented to the construction company AS "UPB", while the Innovation Champion award went to AS "Latvijas Finieris".

Opening the event, President Edgars Rinkēvičs highlighted the talent of Latvian entrepreneurs and their ability to achieve excellent export results across a wide range of sectors: "I thank entrepreneurs for their persistence, creativity and ideas. Even in difficult moments you do not hang your heads, and in the end you succeed," the President said.

The "Export and Innovation Award" competition is the country's highest business honour, organised by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) in cooperation with the Ministry of Economics, the Central Statistical Bureau (CSP), the Latvian exporters' association "The Red Jackets" and the financial institution ALTUM.

Minister for Economics Viktors Valainis: "The Export and Innovation Award is an opportunity to recognise entrepreneurs who, through bold ideas, innovation and export-ready solutions, create high added value and strengthen our economy. This year's nominees demonstrate that we are capable of introducing innovations, creating new products and competing on the global market. We will continue to provide all the support needed to encourage entrepreneurs to take bold decisions and surprise the world."

Alongside the Export Champion and Innovation Champion categories, the competition also presented awards to Export Growth Leaders, Export Newcomers and new tourism products with high export potential.

The financial institution ALTUM's special award "Most Secure Exporter" went to the printing group "Mūkusala", while the Central Statistical Bureau's award for significant investment in research and development was won by SIA "RPG".

"Today the Export and Innovation Award is not only a tradition with 20 years of history, but also a benchmark of value in Latvian business. The combined export turnover of this year's nominees exceeds one billion euros, while the research and development investments of the companies nominated in the Innovation Champion category amount to 38 million euros. I am particularly proud of the export newcomers – companies that within a few years have proved themselves on world markets through a global outlook and persistence. LIAA's task is to be at your side with support programmes, market research and investment attraction, in order to support and encourage you," emphasised LIAA Director Ieva Jāgere.

The competition winners were selected by a jury made up of representatives from the Ministry of Economics, LIAA, the financial institution ALTUM, the Central Statistical Bureau, the Latvian exporters' association "The Red Jackets", the Patent Office, the Bank of Latvia, the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Economics, "Luminor", "SEB banka", the Latvian Association of Young Scientists, the Employers' Confederation of Latvia, the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Latvian Council of Science, "Delfi.lv" and the magazine "Ir Nauda", while the tourism categories were assessed by representatives from LIAA, the Latvian Convention Bureau, the Latvian Association of Travel Agents and Operators and the travel agency "Estravel Latvia".

The jury assessed the companies' export performance and the activities they had carried out to win new markets, their investment in research and development, the added value they created, and the quality of the companies' presentations. Candidates were selected on the basis of Central Statistical Bureau data, while in the Export Newcomer and tourism categories companies were invited to apply themselves.

Winners of the "Export and Innovation Award 2025" competition

· Export Champion - AS "UPB"· Innovation Champion – AS "Latvijas Finieris"

· Export Growth Leader in the group of companies with up to 249 employees – AS "Hansamatrix"

· Export Growth Leader in the group of companies with more than 250 employees – SIA "Light Guide Optics International"

· Export Newcomer – SIA "RAW"

· Most export-ready new tourism product among small and medium-sized companies – SIA "Laba Daba" SAFARI tours with tastings of local produce and team-building tasks

· Most export-ready new tourism product among associations, foundations, planning regions or municipal institutions – the New Museum multifunctional building with its exhibition, Ventspils city municipal institution "Ventspils muzejs".

· Special award "Most Secure Exporter" from the financial institution "Altum" – the printing group "Mūkusala".

· Central Statistical Bureau special award - SIA "RPG".