To help Latvian defense companies reach foreign buyers and promote the development of manufacturing in Latvia, a subgroup of the Defense Industry Advisory Council has begun its work under the leadership of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA). At its first meeting on October 6 in Riga, representatives from government agencies, industry associations, and chambers of commerce outlined future areas of cooperation in exports, attracting investment, and planning international events.
Demand for defense technologies opens up new opportunities for Latvian companies, but competition for contracts, investments, and a place in international supply chains is fierce. The subgroup’s task is to facilitate the exchange of information, review industry proposals, and coordinate the work of the institutions and organizations involved in accordance with the needs of businesses.
“The defense technology sector gives Latvia the opportunity to develop high-value-added manufacturing, create skilled jobs, and boost exports. In the Advisory Council’s subgroup, we can sit down together to discuss the needs of businesses and agree on how each institution can help. The LIAA’s role is both to help companies reach foreign buyers and partners and to attract investment for the development of manufacturing in Latvia. Entrepreneurial initiative is also crucial in this work—clearly identified target markets, collaboration with our foreign representatives, and regular information exchange. This allows us to work together on specific business opportunities,” emphasizes LIAA Director Ieva Jāgere.
The subgroup’s work is intended to coordinate support from the LIAA, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Economics, and to draw on the experience and contacts of industry associations, business organizations, and chambers of commerce. At the introductory meeting, participants familiarized themselves with the proposed working model and raised questions regarding future work.
Export Contacts and a Broader Range of Latvian Products
The discussion focused particularly on the quality of business meetings at international trade shows and trade missions. Participants suggested forming specialized defense industry delegations, reaching out to potential foreign partners in a timely manner, and helping companies prepare precise, compelling proposals.
“An international industry event held in Latvia allows us to showcase our manufacturing capabilities on a much broader scale than we could at a single exhibition abroad. The Drone Summit provides a solid foundation on which to build a broader range of offerings from Latvia’s defense industry—from technologies and finished products to components and assemblies. It also provides an opportunity for mechanical engineering and metalworking companies to meet foreign customers and become involved in defense supply chains. “Within the subgroup, we can coordinate this work in a timely manner to showcase to our international partners both our companies’ areas of specialization and opportunities for cooperation,” notes Ivars Eniņš, Vice President of the Latvian Confederation for Industrial Development.
Participants emphasized that there are also opportunities in defense supply chains for companies that manufacture components and assemblies or provide the technologies and services needed by defense manufacturers. Furthermore, cooperation among several Latvian companies would allow them to combine their offerings into broader, integrated solutions.
Cooperation with LIAA’s foreign representative offices, Latvian embassies, and military attachés is essential for establishing export contacts. The meeting discussed the need to regularly update the defense industry catalog so that it serves as a practical tool for presenting Latvian companies and their offerings to foreign partners.
Participants reviewed the calendar of international activities for 2026 and 2027, which includes trade missions, Latvian national pavilions, and industry events in Europe, North America, Australia, and South Korea. The discussion emphasized the importance of timely coordination of events and attracting foreign buyers, cooperation partners, and investors.
From Investment Concept to Production
In addition to exports, the meeting focused on the establishment of new production facilities and the expansion of existing production in Latvia. Companies are encouraged to inform the LIAA about regulatory and administrative barriers that hinder development or influence investment decisions. The LIAA can forward these issues to the relevant ministries for review.
The upcoming defense industry investment roadmap was proposed as one of the tools for future work. It outlines the investor’s journey from the initial concept to project implementation in Latvia, with a particular focus on regulatory requirements and stages where practical improvements are needed.
The discussion called for broader involvement of financiers to ensure that companies at various stages of development have access to appropriate sources of funding—ranging from business angels and venture capital to bank financing for production expansion. Participants also proposed establishing clear performance indicators that would allow for monitoring the sector’s development and assessing the benefits of the implemented activities for companies.
Subgroup meetings are scheduled to be held twice a year, with thematic working sessions and information exchanges organized as needed between them.
About the Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA)
The Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA) is a government agency under the supervision of the Ministry of Economics that helps Latvian companies grow in international markets, attract investment, and foster innovation. LIAA supports companies in exporting, entering new markets, implementing investment projects, and strengthening Latvia’s competitiveness in the global economy.