The technology company Google has expressed its willingness to invest more in strengthening Latvia’s digital capacity. Therefore, the Ministry of Economics, in cooperation with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (IDAL) and industry associations, continues to develop cooperation with Google in a number of areas relevant to the Latvian economy, as well as the strengthening of digital skills and cybersecurity.
As reported, as part of the Three Seas Forum in Riga, Karan Bhatia, Google Vice President, Government Affairs & Public Policy, announced that Google wanted to double its investments in the Central and Eastern European region, because civilians, businessmen and investors were worried about stability, resource availability and growth opportunities in Europe as a result of the war in Ukraine caused by Russia.
2,500 participants have already been trained in the “Grow with Google” programme, which the Ministry of Economy, together with the IDAL have been implementing since April, in cooperation with the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Employers’ Confederation of Latvia and industry associations.
Specialised and open online courses will be offered to entrepreneurs and their employees by the European Digital Innovation Centre (hereinafter referred to as EDIC). The EDIC is an initiative of the European Commission under the Digital Europe programme, which aims to help both public and private sector organisations deploy the latest digital technologies, processes, products and services. It is expected that such EDICs will work throughout the European Union and together will form a network of centres. They will be a one-stop shop that will profoundly evaluate undertakings, providing technical expertise, training, skills improvement to foster digital transformation.
The total training funding is 30 million euro, the support will be implemented through the EDIC and industry associations. The support programme is expected to be available by Q4 2022. Micro, small, medium-sized and large undertakings will be eligible for support within the programme.