As part of the State Visit of the President of Latvia to Estonia, the Latvia–Estonia Business Forum will take place in Tallinn on 2 July, bringing together representatives of public institutions, businesses and industry experts from both countries to strengthen economic cooperation and foster new business partnerships.
The Latvian delegation will include the President of Latvia, senior representatives of the Ministry of Economics and the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), as well as more than 45 Latvian companies representing the defence industry, information and communication technologies (ICT), cybersecurity, dual-use technologies and other high value-added sectors.
The forum will serve as a platform for establishing new business contacts, expanding export opportunities and developing cross-border cooperation projects. The programme includes high-level discussions, thematic panel sessions, networking opportunities and individual B2B meetings.
Latvia and Estonia share a long-standing economic partnership. At the same time, today’s geopolitical challenges and rapid technological developments underscore the growing need to deepen cooperation in strategically important sectors, including defence innovation, cybersecurity and digital technologies.
“Europe’s current security environment requires greater investment in our own defence capabilities. Only a few years ago, it would have been difficult to imagine ammunition manufacturing, military drone production and domestic armoured vehicle capabilities developing in the Baltic States. Our region has demonstrated its ability to adapt quickly to emerging challenges. Latvian and Estonian companies are successfully developing innovative products in the fields of defence and dual-use technologies. By strengthening cooperation between research institutions and manufacturers and attracting investment, we are creating competitive solutions that contribute both to regional security and economic growth,” said Edgars Rinkēvičs, President of Latvia.
The State Visit provides an important platform not only for strengthening political dialogue between Latvia and Estonia, but also for creating new opportunities for economic cooperation. The strong participation of the business community demonstrates that the partnership between the two countries is increasingly driven by a shared ambition to build a competitive, innovative and secure Baltic economic area.
Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis emphasises that Latvia and Estonia already enjoy close economic ties, while significant untapped potential remains:
“The objective of this business forum is to create new business connections, promote investment and open broader export opportunities for Latvian companies. Cooperation in high value-added industries – including ICT, the defence industry, cybersecurity and innovation – is particularly important, as companies from the Baltic States can jointly become strong players in European and global markets.”
Turning political commitment and economic ambitions into tangible cooperation projects requires strong business-to-business connections, investment and new export partnerships. The Latvia–Estonia Business Forum is designed precisely for this purpose, bringing together companies and institutions from both countries to develop new opportunities for cooperation.
Ieva Jāgere, Director of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA):
“Every international business forum is an opportunity for Latvian companies to transform new contacts into long-term partnerships and for investors to discover Latvia as a reliable destination for innovation and business development. LIAA’s role is to facilitate these partnerships by connecting businesses, opening doors to new export markets and attracting investments that generate high added value for the Latvian economy.”
The programme will also include company visits and the Livonia Award ceremony, recognising businesses that have made a significant contribution to strengthening economic cooperation between Latvia and Estonia.
Participation in the trade mission abroad is organized by the LIAA as part of the European Union-co-financed Innovative Entrepreneurship Development Program for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), with support from the European Regional Development Fund and state funding. Companies can participate either by paying a fee or by receiving support for eligible costs.
