Translated using ChatGPT service.
In May of this year, amendments to the Cabinet of Ministers regulations – the improved “green corridor” framework – came into effect, producing the first results: it is now possible to automatically identify companies that meet the established criteria and can receive public services through an accelerated procedure.
As a result, 536 companies have been identified in the list created by the Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA) as meeting the criteria for prioritized service provision, and it is expected that future selection will also be quick and straightforward. The Ministry of Economics (MoE) informed its partners of this during the Large and Strategically Important Investment Projects Coordination Council (LIP) meeting on Thursday, 4 September, providing a report on the “green corridor.”
“The regulations approved by the government this year, aimed at attracting investments, promoting exports, and supporting the development of the defense industry, have already delivered tangible results – companies that meet specific criteria can now access public services faster. This sends a strong signal for investment attraction and demonstrates the public sector’s readiness to reduce bureaucratic obstacles with modern solutions, streamline processes, and thus support economic growth,” emphasized Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis.
The Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No. 277 of 6 May 2025, “Procedure for Ensuring Priority Provision of Public Services to Companies” – the improved “green corridor” framework – significantly expands the range of companies eligible to receive public services through an accelerated procedure, supporting not only priority project implementers but also companies that have already made significant investments in Latvia and contribute to substantial export growth.
In 2024, under the “green corridor” initiative, public services were provided in an accelerated manner to 18 priority investment projects, including 4 in the knowledge-intensive bioeconomy sector, 1 in photonics and smart materials, technology, and engineering systems, and 13 in smart energy and mobility. The total planned investment amounted to EUR 2.2 billion, creating 1,588 new jobs. With this year’s regulatory improvements, a significantly larger number of companies can now access public services faster, ensuring that investment, export promotion, and defense industry projects can be implemented more quickly, making a substantial contribution to strengthening the Latvian economy.
At the LIP meeting on 4 September, issues were also discussed regarding territorial planning restrictions for investment project development, improvements to existing regulations for testing innovative solutions in Latvia, and the necessary state support for several current defense industry investment projects in Latvia. Decisions were made on the further advancement of investment projects totaling more than EUR 880 million.
The LIP is an inter-institutional cooperation platform chaired by the Prime Minister, aimed at ensuring coordinated collaboration for the successful implementation of investment projects in the interests of the Latvian state. The deputy chair of the council is the Minister of Economics.
Since the council resumed its work in April 2024, five meetings have been held, addressing issues such as facilitating the issuance of personal identification cards (eID cards) for foreigners, reducing the tax burden for foreign investors, improving wind farm licensing and exploration regulations, and ensuring the availability of timber resources, among other topics.