Latvia’s Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) has conducted a search at the Sigulda municipal council as part of ongoing criminal proceedings, LETA reports. Municipal spokespersons refused to disclose more details, however. According to sources, one municipal councillor and a local businessman were implicated in the criminal investigation. LTV reported that the investigation was looking…
Latvia’s Economy Minister, Ilze Indriksone, visited South Korea together with a delegation of Latvian entrepreneurs, LSM reported. She suggested that Latvia could become a gateway to the European market for South Korea. Also, the two countries could cooperate on technology transfer in strategic industries, biotechnology, and biomedicine, Indriksone said. She noted that South Korea was…
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 Riga City Council has obliged owners of outdoor sales and catering establishments to ensure that their sound equipment and musical instruments do not disturb local residents, LSM reports. Under the new rules, municipal police can impose limits on loud music in outdoor cafés, bars, and similar establishments. Violations can lead to fines of up…
Latvia’s Latvians and Russian-speakers continue to hold completely opposite views on the war in Ukraine, according to an SKDS poll for Ir magazine, LSM reports. The survey showed that 78% of Latvian-speakers supported Ukraine in April 2023, while only 27% of Russian-speakers did so. In mixed households, just 32% supported Ukraine, which was down from…
