Marketing and Tourism Department

At the tourism industry networking event “Day Cruise,” participants will have the opportunity to explore the latest industry developments, hear from experts, and engage in discussions on the development of Ventspils as a tourism destination and its future opportunities.
The “Day Cruise” conference will take place on April 29 from 10:00 to 17:00. This year, the conference will be held in an unusual format, bringing participants together on board a Stena Line ferry.

​The conference theme, “On the Way to Experience: How Ventspils Is Becoming a Destination,” promises inspiration, practical knowledge, and new perspectives on the city’s tourism development.
Inspiration and knowledge programme:
Tourism updates: Chairman of the Ventspils State City Municipality Council, Jānis Vītoliņš, will open the conference and provide insights into current developments in the city’s tourism sector;
International connectivity: Representatives of the ferry company Stena Line will discuss the role of Ventspils in international routes and opportunities for cooperation;
Data and trends: LIAA expert Kristīne Mickāne will analyse the tourism market in 2025–2026, offering valuable insights for entrepreneurs in the Kurzeme region;
Creating experiences: Harijs Egliens, owner of Honest Tours, tourism educator and experience designer, will explain how to create memorable experiences for visitors;
Potential of natural resources: TV and radio host and nature expert Māris Olte will share ideas on how to turn natural and local resources into attractive tourism offerings;
Smart marketing: Kaspars Kaleba from the agency ROIS will provide practical advice on achieving better results in social media advertising through smarter approaches rather than larger budgets;
In the afternoon, a discussion titled “The Ventspils Story” will take place, featuring Rauls Vēliņš (Villa Langberg), Zane Kāpa (Skroderkrogs / VINDAVA Cafe), tour guide Iveta Rīvāne, and Mārtiņš Drungilas (Closer Coffee).
Participation in the conference is possible only with prior registration.

Author: Marketing and Tourism Department
On April 20, at Ventspils Technical School, a cooperation memorandum was signed between the Ventspils state city municipality and the Latvian Electrical Engineering and Electronics Industry Association (LETERA).
During the event, a tour of Ventspils Technical School took place, along with a meeting with LETERA representatives to discuss future cooperation opportunities in business development and education. The memorandum of cooperation was signed by the Chairman of the Ventspils State City Council, Jānis Vītoliņš, and the Chairman of the LETERA Board, Normunds Bergs.

On 9 April, the Ventspils State City Municipality Council approved the submission of two project applications to the call for proposals announced by the Central Finance and Contracting Agency, seeking co-financing from the European Union Cohesion Policy Programme for the construction of new industrial buildings.

Author: Bio-Venta Ltd.

​On March 7, the second production line of Bio-Venta Ltd.’s oil pressing facility was ceremonially inaugurated, marking a new stage of growth in the company’s development.
Between 2024 and 2026, the company implemented a project to double the capacity of its oil pressing plant. Processing capacity has increased from 100,000 to 200,000 tonnes of rapeseed per year, significantly boosting production volumes.
Total investments amount to approximately EUR 7.5 million, including EUR 672,788.74 in co-financing from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

Author: Economics and Procurement Department
On Thursday, March 26, the Ventspils City Council adopted a decision to conclude a delegation agreement with the foundation “Ventspils High Technology Park” in order to continue developing business support and attracting new residents to the city, ensuring the provision of services by the Ventspils Business Support Centre.

Author: Marketing and Tourism Department
​
From May 20 to 22, the Kurzeme Business Forum will take place in Ventspils, dedicated this year to the challenges of the IT sector in the age of artificial intelligence. On the first day of the forum, entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to learn about the most pressing issues and solutions in the fields of artificial intelligence and human resources in the IT sector by participating in discussions with industry experts. This day will serve as a foundation for the forum’s subsequent activities, during which students will analyze the identified challenges and develop ideas and practical solutions.

Author: Ventspils Technical School

On March 25–26, 2026, Ventspils Technical School hosted a partner meeting of the European Commission co-funded four-year project “AutoCove 2.0,” bringing together 16 participants from seven European countries – Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Germany, France, and the Netherlands.
The “AutoCove 2.0” project focuses on modernizing vocational education by adapting it to the rapidly evolving demands of the automotive sector, particularly in the fields of electric, hybrid, and hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Author Freeport of Ventspils Authority
From March 17 to 19, a Consortium meeting of the European Union co-funded project H2Deri@BSP took place in Luleå, Sweden. The Freeport of Ventspils Authority was represented by Kaspars Liepiņš, developer of the renewable energy cluster.
​During the meeting, project partners familiarised themselves with the Port of Luleå, one of the largest cargo ports in Sweden and an important industrial centre in the northern part of the Gulf of Bothnia. They discussed project activities and latest updates and presented interim results of their work tasks. The Freeport of Ventspils Authority presented a techno-economic and commercial model designed to assess the development potential of solar, wind, and hybrid power plants, as well as green hydrogen and its derivative production facilities.

Author: Economics and Procurement Department
Ventspils State City Municipality City Council has approved binding regulations on support for covering the rent of business premises. The regulations provide for the continuation of existing support for covering office rent in the high-technology sector, as well as a new support scheme for covering premises rent for organisers of entertainment and artistic events in the historic centre of Ventspils.

Author: Economics and Procurement Department
 
Ventspils State City Municipality has announced a competition for the renovation or reconstruction of buildings with the aim of creating rental apartments in Ventspils.
Project submission deadline: from 16 February 2026 to 15 August 2026 (inclusive).
Subject of the competition: Co-financing for the renovation or reconstruction of buildings in order to create rental apartments within the administrative territory of Ventspils.
Co-financing: Up to EUR 300,000 will be granted to the winner of the competition for the implementation of the supported project.