Translated using ChatGPT service.
On May 9, Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis undertook a regional visit to Kurzeme, where he visited Ventspils and Liepāja, participating in two significant events dedicated to urban development and strengthening governance. The purpose of the visit was to familiarize himself with current regional development projects, assess the effectiveness of state support mechanisms, and strengthen cooperation with local governments to promote balanced economic growth in Latvia’s regions.
In Ventspils, the Minister took part in a ceremonial time capsule laying event at Saules Street 122—the site of the construction of two new energy-efficient rental apartment buildings. This is a major step forward in the city’s housing development, as new rental housing is being built in Ventspils for the first time in over 30 years. The project is being implemented by the Ventspils municipality in cooperation with the Development Finance Institution ALTUM, using a loan from the European Union Recovery Fund program.
As part of the visit, the Minister also toured the metalworking company Malmar Sheet Metal in Ventspils to learn about its operations and contributions to the region’s economic development.
Later in the day, the Minister traveled to Liepāja, where he participated in the forum "Latvian Cities 2040: Growth, Competitiveness, Governance." During the forum, he took part in the panel discussion "How to finance municipalities, promote competitiveness, and support business growth?" Other participants included the Director General of the State Revenue Service, Baiba Šmite-Roķe, and the Chairman of Valmiera Municipality Council, Jānis Baiks. The discussion was moderated by the Rector of the Turība University of Business Administration, Zane Driņķe.
