Source: www.liaa.gov.lv

On June 12, with the international conference “Speed of Latvia: Blockchain Gateway to the EU Market” held in Barcelona, the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) officially opened its representation office in Spain.
This marks the 23rd LIAA representation office worldwide, highlighting another important step in strengthening Latvia’s foreign economic relations.
The LIAA office in Barcelona was opened in response to the growing interest of Latvian entrepreneurs in the Spanish-speaking markets. The establishment of the office was also supported by leading Latvian business organizations.
LIAA’s representation in Spain becomes a vital part of its global network, which spans Europe, the USA, Asia, the Middle East, and Australia.
In 2024, the total trade turnover between Latvia and Spain reached €821.8 million, making Spain Latvia’s 17th most significant trading partner.
By the end of 2024, Spanish investments in Latvia amounted to €14 million, and more than 100 companies with Spanish capital are currently operating in Latvia, particularly in the telecommunications, ICT, and real estate sectors.

​Bucher Municipal Latvia has completed a significant expansion project aimed at improving internal logistics and creating the necessary capacity for introducing new products and enhancing production efficiency.
The new extension has increased the factory space by more than 5,000 m², combining production facilities and enclosed outdoor warehouses:
- The total factory area now exceeds 21,000 m².
-  Existing office spaces have been renovated and new ones created.
- Nearly 8,000 m² of asphalted area has been constructed, including an access road and parking spaces.
The main benefits include additional space for assembly and future projects, more efficient logistics, increased warehouse capacity, and improved spare parts management.

​Author: Ventspils Municipality's Economics and Procurement Department
 
On Thursday, April 24, in the Chapter Hall of the Livonian Order Castle, a ceremonial event was held to honor the largest taxpayers of the city of Ventspils, who made a significant contribution to the city’s budget and development in 2024.
 
The event was attended by the Chairman of the Ventspils City Council, Jānis Vītoliņš, who, in his speech, thanked all entrepreneurs for their responsible business practices and their valuable contribution to the city's welfare.
 
In total, 21 companies were awarded in various categories. Each winner received a Certificate of Recognition from the municipality, while first-place recipients were presented with specially made awards for the occasion.
 
Altogether, in 2024, these companies paid more than EUR 42.41 million to the Ventspils municipal budget in the form of personal income tax and real estate tax.

Author: Freeport of Ventspils Authority

To make shipping more environmentally friendly, the European Union is developing projects that promote the use of alternative fuels. One such initiative is the H2Derivatives@BSP project, a collaboration between seven European countries, which is set to play a significant role in this transition. Its goal is to develop hydrogen-based alternative fuel infrastructure in Baltic Sea ports. The Freeport of Ventspils Authority is one of the leading partners in the project and will be responsible for developing the technical and business model for the production and use of renewable energy and alternative fuels in ports.

​Author: Ventspils Municipality's Economics and Procurement Department

The British newspaper Financial Times publication FDI Intelligence has released the latest European Cities and Regions of the Future 2025 report, in which Ventspils has once again secured second place in the foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction strategy ranking for European cities with a population of up to 100,000. This recognition confirms that the city is successfully implementing a targeted development strategy and continues to strengthen its position as a significant investment hub in the region.

Author: University of Ventspils
 
The Ventspils City Municipality and the University of Ventspils (VeA) will sign a long-term cooperation agreement on January 24, which will promote the development of higher education, science, and research in Ventspils and the region.
​The purpose of the cooperation agreement is to strengthen VeA as an internationally recognized center for higher education and science in the Baltic Sea region, promoting the quality of study programs, the development of innovation, and the recruitment of academic staff. Within the framework of the agreement, VeA will continue to develop research infrastructure and the qualification of academic staff, including strengthening collaboration with entrepreneurs and international partners. The agreement also provides for municipal support for scholarship programs, such as in the ICT field and the provision of student internships at municipal institutions.

Author: Ventspils Municipality's Marketing and Tourism Department

From February 7 to 9, the 28th International Tourism Exhibition and Fair "Balttour 2025" will be held at the Ķīpsala Exhibition Centre, where representatives from Ventspils and the Ventspils region, participating in the joint stand of the Kurzeme Tourism Association, will present the latest tourism offers, events, and activities. Visitors to the stand will be able to discover the city's diverse opportunities, learn about new developments, and take part in exciting activities.

Author: Ventspils Municipality Environmental Monitoring Department
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The Ventspils City Municipality has submitted an application to the "Environmental Education Fund" for the Blue Flag award for Ventspils city beach for the 2025 bathing season.
The "Environmental Education Fund," which is the national coordinator of the Blue Flag movement in Latvia, and its organized jury will review the applications by February 3. The International Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), when awarding the Blue Flag, evaluates the municipality's work based on 33 criteria divided into several categories – environmental education and information, water quality, management, safety, and best practices, with a specific number of points assigned for each. The international jury will make its decision on awarding the Blue Flag by May 5.

Click Author: Ventspils Municipality

​Specialists from the municipal company "Ventspils siltums" met in person with representatives of "WILL SENSORS" to discuss possible solutions for the digitalization of the district heating system.
The manufacturing and other industries are characterized by increasingly specific requirements for the application of information and communication technologies. Currently, the latest technological solutions offer various solutions in the fields of digitalization and IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things), which can improve the heat energy production process, ensuring the security, continuity, and monitoring of the heating supply.

Author: Freeport of Ventspils Authority

​The metalworking company SIA "Malmar Sheet Metal," operating in the Ventspils Freeport industrial zone, joined the group of companies that receive a significant portion of the electricity needed for production from renewable resources by completing the construction of a solar panel park.
As a result of the project “Construction of a Solar Power Plant at Ganību Street 107, Ventspils,” carried out by SIA “Malmar Sheet Metal,” a solar power plant has been installed, consisting of 864 panels, already providing an electrical capacity of 499 kilowatts.