From November 3 to 6, representatives of Latvian ports and companies will travel to Dunkirk, France, as part of a trade mission organized by the Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA), to develop cooperation with French and Belgian partners in the fields of port infrastructure, logistics, industry, and renewable energy. The Latvian delegation will be led by Alise Balode, Latvia’s Ambassador to France. During the visit, the delegation will participate in the 21st AIVP World Conference “Cities & Ports” and will meet with local business leaders, investors, and municipal representatives.
The goal of the trade mission is to strengthen the position of Latvian ports and companies in international supply chains, promote the development of new export markets, and identify investment opportunities in the development of port infrastructure, industrial zones, and energy projects. Special attention will be paid to connectivity between the Baltic and North Sea regions, supply chains for offshore wind energy projects, and sustainable logistics solutions.
“The development of Latvia’s ports is not just a matter for the transportation sector, but for the competitiveness of the entire Latvian economy. Our goal is to make full use of port infrastructure and land to attract new manufacturing facilities and investments, and to develop export-oriented businesses. I have consistently advocated for reorienting port operations toward new markets and higher-value-added sectors. Latvia’s ports have the potential to establish themselves as major industrial, logistics, and energy hubs in the Baltic Sea region. “The trade mission to Dunkirk is yet another opportunity to turn this potential into new partnerships, investments, and well-paying jobs in Latvia,” emphasizes Minister of Economy Viktors Valainis.
These opportunities for port development are also confirmed by recent initiatives for international cooperation among Latvian companies. On October 20 of this year, the Freeport of Riga Authority, the South Korean company “ECOMETHANOL,” and the Latvian company “AE Risinājumi” signed a memorandum of cooperation on the development of green methanol production at the Port of Riga. The project aims to assess the feasibility of establishing a production facility and an infrastructure for supplying alternative marine fuels, thereby expanding the port’s operations to include new industrial and energy services.
“Geopolitical changes have significantly altered international trade flows and supply chains. It is encouraging that Latvian companies and ports are not passive observers—they are adapting to the new reality, seeking partners, and developing new business opportunities. The future of Latvia’s ports lies not only in cargo handling. They are also becoming centers for manufacturing, energy, and the development of new technologies, providing a new impetus for both port operations and the Latvian economy. “The LIAA’s mission is to help transform this entrepreneurial spirit into investments, export orders, and new partnerships. We are traveling to Dunkirk not only to learn from others’ experiences but also to build cooperation that will yield concrete economic benefits for Latvia,” emphasizes LIAA Director Ieva Jāgere.
The Latvian delegation will include representatives from the Riga and Ventspils Free Port Authorities, the Liepāja Special Economic Zone Authority, SIA “LVR Flote,” and SIA “Bleste,” a manufacturer of port handling equipment, as well as representatives from the Latvian Embassy in France, Elīza Drāzniece, head of the LIAA’s representative office in France, and other LIAA representatives.
Dunkirk and the Hauts-de-France region in northern France are major centers of Europe’s industrial and energy transformation, where port infrastructure, renewable energy projects, and new industrial facilities are being developed. For Latvian ports and companies, cooperation with partners in this region opens up opportunities to participate in industrial projects, offer their services and technologies, and establish new logistics and transportation links.
Latvia to Present Port Development Opportunities at International Conference
From November 3 to 6, Dunkirk will host the 21st AIVP World Conference “Cities & Ports,” whose main theme is cooperation between cities and ports to ensure sustainable economic development. Conference organizers expect more than 400 participants from over 50 countries.
Artūrs Zandersons, a representative of the Freeport of Riga Authority, will participate in a high-level panel discussion on November 4. During the discussion titled “Investing Together: Ports and Cities Delivering the Environmental, Energy, and Societal Transition,” international experts and port representatives will discuss the importance of joint investments in port infrastructure development, the energy transition, and strengthening urban competitiveness.
On the evening of November 4, the LIAA and its French partner organization “ÉcosystèmeD,” in collaboration with AIVP and “POM West-Vlaanderen,” the development agency of the West Flanders region in Belgium, will organize a networking event for Latvian, France, and Belgium. The event’s goal will be to establish new business contacts and collaborative projects in the fields of ports, industry, logistics, renewable energy, and water management.
The trade mission’s program on November 5 and 6 also includes meetings with representatives of the Dunkirk municipal government, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, “ÉcosystèmeD,” and the water management organization “L’Eau du Dunkerquois,” as well as visits to companies and the Port of Dunkirk.
These meetings will allow the Latvian delegation to familiarize itself with the region’s port and industrial infrastructure development projects, identify potential cooperation partners, and assess opportunities for Latvian companies to participate in international projects.
The trade mission is organized by the LIAA representative office in France in cooperation with the International Association of Cities and Ports and “ÉcosystèmeD,” the economic development organization for the Dunkirk region. It is being implemented as part of the Program for the Development of Innovative Entrepreneurship in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the Latvian state budget.
About the Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA)
LIAA promotes the competitiveness of Latvian businesses, export growth, and the attraction of investment, while also developing the tourism sector and implementing the country’s image policy. The agency acts as the state’s partner in business development—from the initial idea to international markets. With an extensive network of representative offices abroad and regional business centers in Latvia, LIAA helps companies grow and positions Latvia as a safe, innovative, and open country in the global economy.