In October, November and December this year, the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) will organise a series of Industry Days across Latvia’s regions, focusing on the food, energy, and electronics and electrical engineering sectors. The forums will take place in Madona, Liepāja and Ulbroka, respectively. Registration is now open for the first event in the series — the food industry forum, which will be held on 30 October at the Madona Municipality Culture Centre.
The food industry forum will focus on changing consumer habits and market conditions, competition for shelf space in retail stores, new food packaging requirements, product development, production efficiency and waste reduction. Entrepreneurs will share their experiences of business challenges, mistakes, investments and business development.
The forum will also explore opportunities in the bioeconomy and circular economy, including transforming production by-products into higher-value products. Another topic will be the market for military and emergency food supplies, as well as opportunities for Latvian producers to participate in national and NATO supply chains.
“The greatest strength of Latvia’s food exports lies in its people — talented entrepreneurs and outstanding specialists who are capable of developing products and adapting them to the needs of different markets,” says Vita Balode-Andrūsa, Director of the Export and Innovation Services Department at the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA).
“Latvian military field rations are one example of the importance of such expertise and cooperation. Recipes for the new main courses included in these rations were developed in collaboration with food researchers from the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU). In some international reviews, Latvian military rations have received positive feedback for their taste. This experience also highlights opportunities in the military and emergency food market, where Latvian producers can become part of national and NATO supply chains. At the Industry Day in Madona, we will discuss how companies can understand the requirements of specific markets and find partners to turn this potential into export opportunities.”
“The food market is changing faster than ever,” emphasises Daina Eglīte-Antona, a food and beverage technologist.
“Consumer habits, purchasing power and demographics are changing. The question is not only what people will buy in 2030, but also what food producers need to do today to remain competitive. During the event, we will discuss these issues with industry representatives and experts, covering a wide range of topics — from market trends and the bioeconomy to food solutions for defence and emergency situations.”
The Industry Days initiative aims to promote practical knowledge-sharing and cooperation among businesses, national and local government institutions, business support organisations, educational and research institutions, and industry experts.
All forums will address key issues affecting the development of their respective sectors. The programmes will include expert presentations, panel discussions, practical workshops and networking opportunities. Particular attention will be given to enabling participants in the Business Incubation Programme and other entrepreneurs to engage in dialogue with public sector representatives, experts and potential cooperation partners.
On 30 October, the doors of the Madona Municipality Culture Centre will open at 9:00 a.m., with the forum programme beginning at 9:30 a.m. Participants can register for the forum and view the full programme on the LIAA website.
The Industry Days series is organised by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) as part of the Innovative Business Development Programme for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the Latvian state budget.
