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Economic Situation in the Baltics
Episode II: Latvia's future as investment and growth region

Virtual Debate - from 11h30 to 12h45 CET

Welcome & Moderation

Dr. Florian HARTLEB
Political Scientist, Consultant and Expert; Co-founder of the European Foundation of Mittelstand

Opening

Valdis ZATLERS
Former President of Latvia

Keynote

Vilis ZINKEVICS
Deputy Head of Investment, Promotion Division, Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA)

Statements & Debate

Māris VAINOVSKIS
Senior Partner, Head of Banking and Finance and Corporate and Commercial practice group; Eversheds Sutherland Bitans;  Board Member, Foreign Investors’ Council in Latvia (FICIL)

Olegs KRASNOPJOROVS
Chief Economist of the Monetary Policy Department, Bank of Latvia

Guntars KROLS
Investment Group Lead of American Chamber of Commerce in Latvia; Partner at Ernst & Young Baltic

Latvia’s future as investment and growth region Latvia, since long time, has been considered as one of the EU’s most advatageous hubs for foreign investment. The main reason for this situation, among others, is that it directly supports investors and is home to a competitive tax system with special incentives for foreign and domestic capital influx. Together with liberal economic policies and a developed infrastructure, Latvia plays a major role in making the Baltic region an important investment center.

Nevertheless, investors still point towards problems with the quality of laws that govern entrepreneurship as well as stability of the financial sector and communication with policy-makers. Geographical proximity to Russian Federation, after its aggressive invasion of Ukraine, is also perceived as higher risk and requires decisive political engagement.

What are the prospects for Latvia’s greater economic competitveness and of the Baltic region as a whole? What is needed for Latvia to continue inspire investors? These questions and more will be discussed in the upcoming episode of the three-part Baltic debates collection of SME Europe.

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