Challenges, steady operations and development with a view to the future

Challenges, steady operations and development with a view to the future – this is how the Liepaja SEZ CEO Uldis Hmieļevskis describes activities of the Liepaja SEZ Authority in 2024.

The Liepaja SEZ Authority has summarized the results of its activities in 2024. Entrepreneurs have implemented four new and significant investment projects, the total amount of which exceeds 128 million euros, an important statement has been signed on the establishment of the Liepaja Sustainable Industry Center, which is directly related to at least seven development projects related to renewable resources, their processing and manufacturing of new products using the latest scientific research and technologies. 

The cargo turnover of the Port of Liepaja in 2024 slightly exceeds 7 million tons.

Chairman of the Liepaja SEZ Board Uldis Sesks: “Year 2024 showed that we have learned to overcome various obstacles and, together with entrepreneurs, develop new ideas, to be implemented. We plan for tomorrow and work today - for almost 30 years our priority has been creation of jobs, well-paid jobs, as it increases the municipal budget, prosperity of the local community and opens up opportunities to live better, to invest in healthcare, education, culture, sports, the communal sphere and to support individuals who need social care.”

Evidence of the quality of the Liepaja SEZ business environment has been proved by the implemented investment projects in 2024: the Syfud company fish processing facilities (~ 80 million EUR investment, Lithuania), the Liepaja drinking water terminal (~ 30 million EUR investment, Cyprus), Golden Fields Factory LV protein production plant (~ 16 million EUR, United Arab Emirates), Norplast Piemare company large-sized fiberglass structures production plant in the port (~ 2.5 million EUR, Norway) – the latter was put in operation at the very end of the last year and appears to be the first manufacturing company ever situated right in the territory of the Port of Liepaja and will build large-sized fiberglass structures.

Moreover, in 2024, construction of the Liepaja Industrial Park in the territory of the former metallurgical plant has commenced. 

Last but not least, by common efforts of our strategic investors, the Latvian Investment and Development Agency, the Liepaja City Council, the Liepaja SEZ Board and the Riga Technical University, a significant statement was signed on the establishment of the Liepaja Sustainable Industry Center.

Liepaja SEZ CEO Uldis Hmieļevskis: “Year 2024 was a certain turning point when we purposefully moved from ideas to actions, planning business from future positions – an offshore wind energy support base, a hydrogen production plant, a sustainable aviation fuel production plant, a hydrogen-powered aircraft assembly, while simultaneously supporting the operations and development of existing manufacturing and port companies.”

The transport and logistics sector has been experiencing significant changes for a long time, which directly affects the port cargo turnover. The operating conditions are unclear; however, the stevedoring companies of the Port of Liepaja have adapted to the new circumstances and in 2024 transshipped slightly more than 7 million tons of cargo, which is equivalent to the turnover of the year 2023. 

Āris Ozoliņš, Head of the Liepaja Port Tenants Association and member of the Council of the Latvian Stevedoring Company Association, pointed out that there were lots of challenges for stevedoring companies in 2024 – being also the Board Member of the ferry terminal LSEZ SIA Terrabalt, he admits that the biggest challenge for the company this year is commencement of the reconstruction of the ferry berth No. 46 which was built 60 years ago and is now physically and morally outdated. Reconstruction of the pier could provide an increase of up to a million tons per year.