The Latvian alliance of liberal political parties, Development/For, has changed its name to PLI, LETA reports. Miks Celmins, executive chairman of Movement For, said that PLI’s initials stood for the three parties that formed the alliance: Movement For (Kustiba Par), For Latvia’s Development (Latvijas Attistibai), and Growth (Izaugsme). Celmins said that PLI would not coordinate…
The cargo turnover of Latvia’s sea ports totalled 3.4mn tonnes in the first half of 2023, which was 14.2% less than in the same period of 2022, according to data from the Ministry of Transport, Baltic News Network reports. The Freeport of Riga handled 9.6mn tonnes of freight, followed by the Freeport of Ventspils with…
Latvia’s Minister of Interior, Maris Kucinskis, has added three owners of the Ventspils-based confectionery producer, Pobeda Confectionery, to the list of foreigners banned from entering the country due to national security concerns, Baltic News Network reports. In March 2023, Latvia’s State Security Service (VDD) found that Russian confectionery producer Pobeda, which has the same owners…
The Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) will provide EUR 73.38mn of support from EU structural funds for small and medium-sized enterprises, LSM reports. LIAA expects the programme to support a total of 1,500 innovative businesses. The Ministry of Economy said that the support programme would help businesses developing high-value-added products in the medium-high…
Latvia donates around 70% of cars seized from drunk drivers to Ukraine, the State Revenue Service (VID) announced, LSM reports. The government has sent a total of 151 confiscated vehicles to Ukraine since March 2023. The local charity organisation, Agendum, provides for the delivery of most of the cars to Ukrainian government institutions.
Latvia’s Riga International Airport (RIX) has opened its first helicopter landing area, LSM reports. RIX invested EUR 3.2mn in the heliport, with most of the financing coming from EU funds. The new heliport will allow helicopter traffic in parallel with other air traffic. Also, the heliport will help improve state and civil protection and disaster…
Latvia’s electricity transmission system operator, Augstsprieguma Tikls (AST), plans to invest EUR 509.8mn in the transmission network in 2024-2033, LSM reports. EU support will cover EUR 135.8mn of the total sum. AST will invest in the infrastructure and management technologies of the electricity transmission network to prepare for the synchronisation of the Latvian power grid…
Latvia’s estimated population totalled 1.883 million people in the beginning of June 2023, according to preliminary data from the Central Statistical Bureau, LSM reports. The number of live births totalled 5,770 in the first five months of 2023, which was 1,022 (15%) less than in the same period of 2022. Altogether 2,966 boys (down 504)…
Latvia’s Food and Veterinary Service (PVD) has confirmed African swine fever (ASF) at a farm with 48 domestic pigs in Kraslava municipality, LETA reports. The farm has been quarantined, and all 48 pigs will be destroyed. This is the fourth confirmed ASF outbreak at a farm in Latvia in 2023. The first was recorded in…