Ventspils – The Second Best Small City in Europe for Investment Attraction Strategy

​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.

​The Chairman of the Ventspils State City Municipality Council, Jānis Vītoliņš, emphasizes the importance of this achievement: "Our consistent strategy in building a sustainable economy and fostering innovation is yielding results. Ventspils is an investment-friendly city that offers a sustainable and modern business environment with developed infrastructure, a highly skilled workforce, and support mechanisms."
Ventspils Stands Out with Its Investment Attraction Strategy
The city's FDI attraction strategy is based on several key pillars:

• Attracting a highly skilled workforce – Targeted initiatives are implemented to attract and retrain specialists in line with business needs. The city also provides support for startups and the innovation ecosystem.
• Industrial and port development – The Freeport of Ventspils is the region’s most significant logistics hub, ensuring efficient goods delivery to both EU and global markets.
• Tax and investment support – The Freeport of Ventspils offers tax incentives, support mechanisms, and customized industrial areas for businesses.
• Green industrialization – Ventspils provides extensive areas for green industrial projects, enabling the development of sustainable manufacturing and renewable energy initiatives, such as solar parks and hydrogen energy infrastructure.

Ventspils Continues to Strengthen Its International Recognition
The European Cities and Regions of the Future 2025 study analyzed applications from 89 European cities, with Ventspils securing second place in the FDI attraction strategy category for cities with up to 100,000 inhabitants.
The municipality will continue to support green energy projects, develop digital infrastructure, and enhance investment attraction mechanisms to establish Ventspils as a leading center for investment and industrial development in the region.
Ventspils invites investors, entrepreneurs, and innovators to join the city's growth and take advantage of its opportunities!