"Liepāja is one step ahead" - the Minister of Economics of Latvia Viktors Valainis admitted during his visit

On May 17, the Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis visited Liepaja on a one-day working visit. Development of the energy sector, industrial manufacturing, well-paid, qualified jobs, investments in cargo transportation and export development, housing and a number of other important economic development issues were discussed with the management of the Liepaja municipality and the Liepaja Special Economic Zone Authority.

“Liepaja is already a step ahead, moving purposefully to achieve the goals set by the government in the field of economic development by doubling its economic growth within 10 years, creating a new approach to the energy sector, by participating in the development of offshore wind farms and hydrogen production, by promoting productivity and high added value manufacturing”, said the Minister.

During the working visit to Liepaja, the Minister of Economics got acquainted with industrial companies, business parks, the drinking water export terminal and development projects in the field of energy. The Minister also pointed out that the projects of the energy sector will ensure faster economic development of the country and that Liepaja has a clear vision of how to develop both the offshore wind energy support base and how to move step by step
to produce hydrogen and hydrogen-powered airplanes.

Mr. Valainis also praised the management of the Liepaja Special Economic Zone, which has contributed to attracting investments, construction of new factories and creation of new, qualified jobs. "Today, when we again discuss the port and transit business governance models and reform, we see that the Liepaja model is functional. Entrepreneurs, together with the municipality and the state plan together how to better develop the special
economic zone and how to attract investments. The other Latvian ports could also aspire to such a management model. I am happy about what I saw in Liepaja today, about the ambitions of businessmen to double production volumes, about the launched development projects worth tens of millions of euros. We will do our utmost to provide every support entrepreneurs."