Translated using ChatGPT service.
In the coming years, at least seven new companies — including cargo terminals, logistics centers, energy firms, and smart manufacturing plants — will begin operations in Kundziņsala. These developments are expected to create around 800 new jobs and attract over EUR 500 million in total investment, laying the foundation for a modern business environment where sustainable energy, advanced industry, and intelligent logistics can grow side by side.
In Riga Port’s most dynamically developing area, Kundziņsala, construction will begin on the first plant in the Baltic States for renewable fuel products — hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The company Amber Flow Fuels will invest EUR 120 million and create 120 highly skilled jobs. By 2027, it will launch production of innovative, high value-added products that will support Latvia's climate neutrality and Green Deal goals.
The transformation of Kundziņsala into the new hub of Riga Port includes several large-scale industrial projects focused on green energy production. The manufacture of renewable energy-related products with high added value and strong global demand is one of the cornerstones of the port’s future development. At the same time, Latvia’s export capacity and energy independence are being significantly strengthened. Amber Flow Fuels’ facility in Riga Port will supply 100% of the SAF required for the Baltic market, with 70% of the produced SAF to be exported, boosting Latvia's exports by at least EUR 150 million.
Aligned with the global energy transition, Riga Port is also developing a major wind technology manufacturing complex in Kundziņsala. With co-financing from the European Regional Development Fund and the Latvian state, an industrial zone will be established in the northern part of Kundziņsala by 2029, supporting the production of components for both offshore and onshore wind technologies.
Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis stated:
"Kundziņsala is not just a spot on the map – it represents Latvia’s ambition to become a smart industry crossroads in Europe. We are not only transforming the port, we are transforming the mindset on how to develop Latvia. This project proves that the state, local government, and businesses can together create a modern, sustainable, and internationally competitive environment. The Ministry of Economics aims not only to attract investments but to convert them into real jobs, exports, and added value for the Latvian economy."
By leasing the newly developed industrial zone in Kundziņsala to manufacturers of wind energy technology components, it is planned to ensure EUR 160 million in exports, 650 new jobs, and at least EUR 7.8 million in annual tax revenue.
Riga Port has been a close strategic partner of NATO for several years and is developing Kundziņsala as a key location for Latvia’s national security and military mobility. With co-financing from the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), several military mobility projects have been implemented in Kundziņsala.
Improvements to road, rail, and berth infrastructure have increased military cargo handling capacity and enhanced the port's connectivity with the Ādaži military base. The Freeport of Riga Authority’s subsidiary LVR Flote, with CINEA support, has also acquired a new hybrid-powered multifunctional icebreaker, which, in addition to maintaining port operations, supports the Latvian Border Guard and Coast Guard services.
In cooperation with Riga City Council and with EU Cohesion Fund co-financing, a new overpass from Sarkandaugava to Kundziņsala is currently under construction, expected to open in 2026. The overpass will provide direct access between Kundziņsala and Riga’s arterial road network, improving cargo and military transport mobility to and from port terminals. Together with the Eastern Magistrale, the new overpass will also significantly reduce heavy truck traffic through the city center, relieving pressure on urban infrastructure and reducing the port’s environmental impact.
To ensure efficient access for vehicles and pedestrians and to support the development of a digitalized and automated logistics infrastructure aligned with client needs, one of Europe’s most advanced port access control checkpoints is being built in Kundziņsala. The facility will feature six-lane vehicle processing, digital cargo data exchange, machine vision solutions for vehicle and personnel identification, and integration with national control systems in a unified secure port access framework.
Kundziņsala is the container logistics center of Riga Port.
It handles 72% of all sea containers in Latvia, and six out of nine active port companies in Kundziņsala are engaged in container cargo processing. Already today, the area is home to the most technologically advanced container and bulk cargo terminals in Riga Port, along with modern warehouses and logistics companies. Several of these businesses are currently expanding their operations by building new storage areas and warehouses to diversify terminal activities and meet rising demand for bulk cargo and container handling.
“The way we think about ports needs to change. Ports have always been strategic assets for any country, and we must learn to use them wisely to benefit both national and urban development. Kundziņsala is a perfect example, proving that Riga Port is a vital economic security instrument, providing a reliable import-export corridor and a suitable location for critical production needed for the EU’s economic sustainability. Riga Port also understands its role in national military security, continuously improving military mobility infrastructure and building alternative supply corridors. At the same time, the port promotes Latvia’s energy sustainability by attracting investment in wind technology components, alternative fuels, and other innovative green energy products,”
emphasized Ansis Zeltiņš, CEO of the Freeport of Riga Authority.
Today, responsible sectoral ministers, Riga City Council officials, business leaders, and media representatives visited Kundziņsala to review the ambitious development vision and learn about the completed and upcoming projects that will turn this area into the new growth hub of Riga Port.