On 4 December, at the festive awards ceremony of the “Export and Innovation Award 2025” in the New Hall of Dailes Theatre, the title of Export Champion was presented to the construction company AS “UPB”, while the Innovation Champion award went to AS “Latvijas finieris”.
Opening the event, President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs emphasised the talent of Latvian entrepreneurs and their ability to achieve excellent export results in a wide range of sectors: “I would like to thank entrepreneurs for their perseverance, creativity and ideas. Even in difficult moments you do not give up, and in the end you succeed,” said the President.
The “Export and Innovation Award” competition is the highest national award in business. It is organised by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) in cooperation with the Ministry of Economics, the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB), the Latvian Exporters Association “The Red Jackets” and the development finance institution ALTUM.
Minister for Economics Viktors Valainis: “The Export and Innovation Award is an opportunity to recognise entrepreneurs who, with bold ideas, innovations and export-ready solutions, create high added value and strengthen our economy. This year’s nominees prove that we are able to introduce innovations, create new products and compete in the global market. We will continue to provide all the necessary support to encourage entrepreneurs to make bold decisions and surprise the world.”
In addition to the Export and Innovation Champion nominations, awards were also presented to Export Growth Leaders, Export Newcomers and new tourism products with high export potential.
The ALTUM special award “Safest Exporter” went to the printing group “Mūkusala”, while the Central Statistical Bureau’s award for significant investments in research and development was received by SIA “RPG”.
“Today the Export and Innovation Award is not only a tradition with a 20-year history, but also a benchmark of value in Latvian business. The total export turnover of this year’s nominees exceeds one billion euros, and the investments in research and development made by companies nominated in the Innovation Champion category amount to 38 million euros. I am particularly proud of the export newcomers – companies that in just a few years, with a global outlook and perseverance, have proven themselves in world markets. LIAA’s mission is to be by your side with support programmes, market research and investment attraction, in order to support and encourage you,” said LIAA Director General Ieva Jāgere.
The competition winners were selected by a jury composed of representatives from the Ministry of Economics, LIAA, the development finance institution ALTUM, the Central Statistical Bureau, the Latvian Exporters Association “The Red Jackets”, the Patent Office, the Bank of Latvia, the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Economics, “Luminor”, “SEB banka”, the Association of Latvian Young Scientists, the Employers’ Confederation of Latvia, the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Latvian Council of Science, “Delfi.lv”, the magazine “Ir Nauda”, while the tourism categories were evaluated by representatives of LIAA, the Latvian Convention Bureau, the Association of Latvian Travel Agents and Operators and the travel agency “Estravel Latvia”.
The jury assessed companies’ export performance and activities aimed at entering new markets, their investments in research and development, the added value created by the companies, as well as the quality of their presentations. Candidate selection was based on Central Statistical Bureau data, while companies in the Export Newcomer and tourism categories were invited to apply themselves.
Laureates of the “Export and Innovation Award 2025” competition
- Export Champion – AS “UPB”
- Innovation Champion – AS “Latvijas finieris”
- Export Growth Leader in the group of companies with up to 249 employees – AS “Hansamatrix”
- Export Growth Leader in the group of companies with more than 250 employees – SIA “Light Guide Optics International”
- Export Newcomer – SIA “RAW”
- Most Exportable New Tourism Product in the group of small and medium-sized commercial companies – SIA “Laba Daba”: SAFARI trips with tastings of local products and team-building tasks
- Most Exportable New Tourism Product in the group of associations, foundations, planning regions or municipal institutions – New Museum multifunctional building with exhibition, Ventspils State City Municipality institution “Ventspils Museum”
- ALTUM special award “Safest Exporter” – printing group “Mūkusala”
- Central Statistical Bureau special award – SIA “RPG”
More about the “Export and Innovation Award” competition: https://www.eibalva.lv/
Photo: Export and Innovation Award
