From 3 to 6 November, representatives of Latvian ports and companies will travel to Dunkirk, France, on a trade mission organised by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) to develop cooperation with French and Belgian partners in port infrastructure, logistics, industry and renewable energy. The Latvian delegation will be led by Latvia’s Ambassador to France, Alise Balode. During the visit, the delegation will participate in the 21st AIVP World Conference “Cities & Ports” and meet with regional businesses, investors and local government representatives.
The trade mission aims to strengthen the position of Latvian ports and companies in international supply chains, facilitate entry into new export markets and identify investment opportunities in port infrastructure, industrial areas and energy projects. Particular attention will be paid to connectivity between the Baltic Sea and North Sea regions, supply chains for offshore wind energy projects and sustainable logistics solutions.
“The development of Latvia’s ports is not only a matter for the transport sector but also a question of the competitiveness of the entire Latvian economy. Our goal is to make full use of port infrastructure and land to attract new manufacturing facilities and investment, and to develop export-oriented businesses. I have consistently advocated for redirecting port operations towards new markets and higher value-added industries. Latvian ports have the potential to establish themselves as major industrial, logistics and energy hubs in the Baltic Sea region. The trade mission to Dunkirk offers another opportunity to turn this potential into new partnerships, investment and well-paid jobs in Latvia,” emphasises Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis.
Recent international cooperation initiatives involving Latvian companies also demonstrate these opportunities for port development. On 20 October this year, the Freeport of Riga Authority, South Korean company ECOMETHANOL and Latvian company AE Risinājumi signed a memorandum of cooperation on the development of green methanol production at the Port of Riga. The proposed project involves assessing the feasibility of establishing a production facility and alternative marine fuel supply infrastructure, thereby expanding the port’s activities into new industrial and energy services.
“Geopolitical changes have significantly reshaped international trade flows and supply chains. It is encouraging to see that Latvian companies and ports are not passive observers. They are adapting to the new reality, seeking partners and developing new business opportunities. The future of Latvia’s ports is not limited to cargo handling. They are also becoming centres for manufacturing, energy and the development of new technologies, providing fresh momentum for both port operations and the Latvian economy. LIAA’s role is to help translate this entrepreneurial drive into investment, export orders and new partnerships. We are going to Dunkirk not merely to learn from the experience of others, but to build cooperation that delivers tangible economic benefits for Latvia,” emphasises LIAA Director Ieva Jāgere.
The Latvian delegation will include representatives of the Freeport of Riga Authority, the Freeport of Ventspils Authority, the Liepāja Special Economic Zone Authority, LVR Flote and port handling equipment manufacturer Bleste, as well as representatives of the Latvian Embassy in France, Head of LIAA’s Representative Office in France Elīza Drāzniece, and other LIAA representatives.
Dunkirk and the Hauts-de-France region in northern France are important centres of Europe’s industrial and energy transformation, with ongoing development of port infrastructure, renewable energy projects and new industrial facilities. Cooperation with partners in this region offers Latvian ports and companies opportunities to participate in industrial projects, provide their services and technologies, and establish new logistics and transport connections.
Latvia to Present Port Development Opportunities at International Conference
The 21st AIVP World Conference “Cities & Ports” will take place in Dunkirk from 3 to 6 November, focusing on cooperation between cities and ports to ensure sustainable economic development. The conference organisers expect more than 400 participants from over 50 countries.
Artūrs Zandersons, representing the Freeport of Riga Authority, will participate in a high-level panel discussion on 4 November. During the session, entitled “Investing Together: Ports and Cities Delivering the Environmental, Energy and Societal Transition”, international experts and port representatives will discuss the importance of joint investment in developing port infrastructure, advancing the energy transition and strengthening the competitiveness of cities.
On the evening of 4 November, LIAA and its French partner organisation ÉcosystèmeD, in cooperation with AIVP and the regional development agency of West Flanders in Belgium, POM West-Vlaanderen, will organise a networking event for business and institutional representatives from Latvia, France and Belgium. The event will aim to establish new business contacts and develop cooperation projects in ports, industry, logistics, renewable energy and water management.
The trade mission programme on 5 and 6 November will also include meetings with representatives of the City of Dunkirk, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, ÉcosystèmeD and the water management organisation L’Eau du Dunkerquois, as well as visits to local companies and the Port of Dunkirk.
These meetings will enable the Latvian delegation to learn about regional port and industrial infrastructure development projects, identify potential cooperation partners and assess opportunities for Latvian companies to participate in international projects.
The trade mission is organised by LIAA’s Representative Office in France in cooperation with the International Association of Cities and Ports (AIVP) and the Dunkirk regional economic development organisation ÉcosystèmeD. It is implemented under the Programme for the Development of Innovative Entrepreneurship among Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the Latvian state budget.
