In October, November and December of this year, a cycle of LIAA industry days will take place in Latvian regions for the food, energy, as well as electronics and electrical engineering sectors. Forums will be held in Madona, Liepaja and Ulbroka respectively. Applications have been opened for the first event of the cycle - the Food industry Forum, which will take place on October 30th at the Madona District Culture Center.
The food industry forum will focus on changing consumer habits and markets, competition for space on store shelves, new food packaging requirements, product development, production efficiency and loss mitigation. Entrepreneurs will share their experience of mistakes, investments and business development.
Separately, bioeconomy and circular economy options will be considered, including the conversion of production by-products into higher value-added products. The forum will also discuss the military and crisis food market and Latvian manufacturers' opportunities to participate in the country's and NATO's supply chains.
“The greatest strength of Latvian food exports is people – talented entrepreneurs and excellent specialists who are able to create products and adapt them to the needs of different markets,” says Vita Balode-Andrūsa, Director of the export and Innovation Services Department of the Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA), about Latvia's food export opportunities. “The dry rations of the Latvian army are one example of the importance of the following knowledge and cooperation: recipes for their new main courses have been developed together with food researchers from the Latvian University of Biosciences and Technology (LBTU). In some foreign reviews, Latvian army doses have received appreciative reviews for their taste. This experience also allows us to see opportunities in the military and crisis food market, where Latvian producers can participate in national and NATO supply chains. At the industry Day in Madona, we will talk about how companies understand the requirements of specific markets and find partners to use this potential in exports.”
“The food market is changing faster than ever,” emphasizes food and beverage technologist Daina Eglīte-Antona. "Consumer habits, purchasing power and demographics are changing. The question is not just what people will buy in 2030, but what the food producer needs to do today to remain competitive. At the event, we will talk about it together with representatives of industry companies and experts, covering various topics - from market trends and bioeconomy to food solutions for defense and crisis needs.”
The aim of the sectoral days is to promote practical exchange of experience and cooperation between entrepreneurs, state and municipal institutions, support organizations, educational and research institutions and industry experts. All forums will raise sectoral development issues; the programme includes expert lectures, discussions, practical masterclasses and networking. Special attention will be paid to the opportunities for business incubation program participants and other entrepreneurs to establish a dialogue with public sector representatives, experts and potential cooperation partners.
On October 30th, the doors of the Madona District Culture Center will be opened at 9:00 a.m., and the forum program will start at 9:30 a.m. Register for the forum and get acquainted with the program on the LIAA website.
The cycle of events is organized by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia within the framework of the “innovative Business Development Programme for small and medium-sized Enterprises” co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the Latvian State Budget.
About Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA)
The Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) is a state institution under the supervision of the Ministry of Economics, which helps Latvian companies to grow in international markets, attract investments and develop innovations. LIAA supports the export of companies, the acquisition of new markets, the implementation of investment projects and the strengthening of Latvia's competitiveness in the global economy.
