Foreign Investors' Council in Latvia

08/10/2026

🇱🇻 FICIL Launches New Policy Labs to Drive Results-Oriented Public Administration Reform

As Latvia forms a new government, the Foreign Investors’ Council in Latvia (FICIL) is launching a new initiative – Institutions Workstream 2026–2027, led by Zlata Elksniņa-Zaščirinska, FICIL’s Innovation, Institutions & Development Work Group leader.

The initiative aims to turn public administration reform from a long-standing ambition into a practical and measurable programme of change, bringing together public sector representatives, foreign investors and experts to develop concrete solutions.

🤝 Between October 2026 and February 2027, FICIL will organise four Policy Labs – a series of collaborative working sessions involving the Finanšu ministrija, Ministru kabinets / Government of Latvia, Valsts Kase, Valsts administrācijas skola - VAS, Valsts digitālās attīstības aģentūra, FICIL members and external experts.

The Policy Labs will focus on developing a concrete roadmap for three key areas of reform:

🔹 Centralisation of public functions – identifying opportunities to improve efficiency by expanding shared services across public institutions.

🔹 Expenditure management – introducing systematic cost analysis and management to improve the efficiency of public spending.

🔹 Performance-based budgeting – strengthening the link between public funding and measurable results.

The goal is clear: to move from discussions to concrete actions that make Latvia’s public administration more efficient, accountable and results-oriented.

The outcomes of the Policy Labs will be presented to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance, providing practical recommendations to support the new government in defining its reform priorities and next steps.

👉 To read the full article in Latvian, please go here: https://www.ficil.lv/2026/10/08/jaunajai-valdibai-ir-iespeja-izveidot-uz-rezultatiem-orientetu-valsts-parvaldi/

👉 To read the full article in English, please go here: https://www.ficil.lv/2026/10/08/new-government-has-a-window-of-opportunity-to-build-a-results-oriented-public-administration/

05/10/2026

Dear FICIL Members! Join us for the first FICIL PULSE – 9 October!

Our new FICIL PULSE meeting series kicks off with a discussion on cybersecurity!

- What can cyber incidents teach us about business resilience?
- What risks companies still do not take seriously enough?
- How is artificial intelligence changing the cyberattack landscape?
- How can a company verify whether its incident response plan actually works in practice?

Date & Time: 9 October, 15.00–16.15
Format: Online
Language: English

Speakers:
Dana Ludviga - Cybersecurity Expert, Project Manager and Information systems security analyst at CERT.LV
Egita Peimane - FICIL Criminal Law Expert, Partner at Eversheds Sutherland Bitāns, Head of Corporate Crime and Investigations

Do not miss this practical and engaging discussion on how businesses can stay ahead of evolving cyber threats and strengthen their resilience!

02/10/2026

On 1st October, Adele Stanford, Headteacher of King's College School, Latvia, represented FICIL by participating in a panel discussion on the “Reduction of Administrative Burden in Latvia”, hosted by KPMG Latvia.

The aim of the panel was to discuss how excessive bureaucracy increases costs for businesses and public administration. Besides Adele, the panel included Ilze Beinare (Ekonomikas ministrija), Raimonds Lapins (Centrālā statistikas pārvalde) and Janis Butkevics (SIA Citrus Solutions).

Adele highlighted not only the direct costs and time associated with the administrative burden, but also emphasized that it creates unpredictability, discourages investment and, as a result, negatively impacts Latvia’s economy.

She illustrated this with the experience of King’s College School, Latvia - the British School of Latvia, which employs highly qualified teachers, who are native English speakers with professional experience of delivering a truly British education. Immigration procedures related to attraction and retention of these highly qualified professionals are becoming increasingly complex over the last decade, which, in part, is fuelled by an unclear national immigration policy.

Instead of renewing a work permit for employed workers every four years, as it is done in other countries such as Spain, annual renewals are required. These renewals are associated with high anxiety for employers and employees, high costs, unpredictable timelines and requests, as each application is processed by different public sector employees.

The panel discussion revealed that a one-size-fits-all bureaucratic approach is not efficient. Increased accountability, clear migration policy and collective stakeholder involvement are needed to address Latvia’s administrative burdens.



Pilsonības un migrācijas lietu pārvalde Izglītības un zinātnes ministrija Labklājības ministrija

01/10/2026

🚨Call to Action! 🚨

Dear FICIL Members, Partners and other Stakeholders!

Do you want to reduce bureaucracy in Latvia?

If YES, FICIL kindly encourages you to contribute to the work of the Bureaucracy Reduction Action Group (BAG) by providing concrete examples of where you encounter excessive bureaucracy. We need them to act on your behalf!!!

Feel free to provide examples in Latvian or English, using the FICIL online form: https://qualtricsxmtvwt58qtd.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1SLS1SAlYrf1kGy

Or at the BAG website: https://www.atmetambirokratiju.lv/iesaisties/

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!

Ekonomikas ministrija Finanšu ministrija Latvijas Tirdzniecības un rūpniecības kamera Latvijas Investīciju un attīstības aģentūra - LIAA Latvijas Darba devēju konfederācija The Red Jackets

30/09/2026

🇱🇻 KRISTS MERTENS: WHAT DO FOREIGN INVESTORS EXPECT FROM THE NEW GOVERNMENT?

Krists Mertens, Co-leader of FICIL Energy & Industrialisation Work Group and Project Director at SCHWENK Latvija, sees investment as one of the key drivers of Latvia’s economic growth and long-term development. Both foreign and domestic investment create new jobs, strengthen prosperity and generate additional public revenues that can be directed towards defence, healthcare, education and other essential areas.

📈 For investors, confidence comes from a secure and predictable business environment, a clear understanding of Latvia’s national priorities, and the assurance that adopted strategies and decisions will be implemented consistently in practice.

These elements are closely connected. Predictability supports long-term investment decisions, clear priorities help businesses understand Latvia’s future economic direction, while consistent implementation strengthens trust in the overall investment environment.

🤝 Looking ahead, FICIL hopes that the next government and Parliament will continue strengthening Latvia’s investment climate and creating the conditions for sustainable economic growth, while maintaining close cooperation and constructive dialogue on how to make Latvia an even more attractive and competitive destination for investment.



Ekonomikas ministrija Klimata un enerģētikas ministrija

30/09/2026

❗ Message of foreign investors: Latvia’s next government must be bold and foster cooperation ❗

As Latvia heads towards the Saeima elections, FICIL has outlined what foreign investors see as essential for Latvia’s economic growth.

There is no single solution, but Latvia needs a coherent growth system built on:
❎ Innovation and cooperation – connecting business, research, universities and the public sector.
❎ Human capital – developing future-ready skills and attracting and retaining talent.
❎ Good governance – predictable regulation, fair competition and effective public services.
❎ Energy competitiveness and resilience – ensuring competitive energy costs and a secure energy supply.

With limited resources, Latvia needs the courage to focus on areas where it can build genuine competitive advantage!

“Latvia’s advantage cannot be the scale of its resources. It must be our ability to quickly connect people, knowledge, capital and ideas, turning them into greater productivity, innovation and export growth. This requires bold, consistent and cooperation-oriented action from the government,” emphasizes Reinhold Schneider, Chairperson of the FICIL Board, CEO at Schwenk Northern Europe, Chairman of the Management Board at SCHWENK Latvija!

Read the full article in English here: https://www.ficil.lv/2026/09/30/foreign-investors-the-new-government-must-be-bold-and-foster-cooperation/

Read the full article in Latvian here: https://www.ficil.lv/2026/09/30/arvalstu-investori-jaunajai-valdibai-jabut-drosmigai-un-javeicina-sadarbiba/

Ekonomikas ministrija Finanšu ministrija Izglītības un zinātnes ministrija Andris Kulbergs Ministru kabinets / Government of Latvia

As the Saeima elections approach, the Foreign Investors Council in Latvia (FICIL) calls on the new government to place Latvia’s economic growth at the centre of its agenda. From investors’ perspective, growth is not a matter of a single policy area. It is a system in which human capital, good go...

29/09/2026

🇱🇻 ILZE KRAMIŅA: WHAT DO FOREIGN INVESTORS EXPECT FROM THE NEW GOVERNMENT?

Ilze Kramiņa, Leader of FICIL’s Construction Subgroup and Attorney at Law, Partner at Eversheds Sutherland Bitāns, emphasises that for foreign investors, confidence begins with knowing what to expect. In the real estate and construction sector, this means having a clear understanding of how a project can move from property acquisition to completion — including what decisions are required, how long each stage should take, and how consistently the rules will be applied throughout the process.

🏗️ Several areas deserve continued attention:

▪️ Predictable project timelines and decision-making. Investors need greater certainty throughout the entire development process.

▪️ Less administrative complexity. Latvia has already made important progress through digitalisation, a more unified construction process and the possibility to implement projects in stages. The next step is to continue simplifying and shortening procedures.

▪️ Consistent rules across municipalities. The same regulatory principles should be applied predictably across Latvia, regardless of where an investment project is developed.

▪️ Transparent requirements for public infrastructure. Investors should clearly understand when and under what conditions the public sector can require private investment in infrastructure.

Latvia has an opportunity to build on the progress already made and create a development environment that is faster, clearer and more competitive — not only within the Baltics, but also at the European level.

Klimata un enerģētikas ministrija

28/09/2026

🇱🇻 JĀNIS ZUĻĶIS: WHAT DO FOREIGN INVESTORS EXPECT FROM THE NEW GOVERNMENT?

Jānis Zuļķis, Leader of FICIL’s Energy & Industrialisation Work Group and Senior Legal Counsel at Gren Latvija, emphasises that attracting new foreign investment — while retaining existing investors — requires consistent government action that strengthens predictability and investor confidence.

💡 Jānis highlights three key priorities:

▪️ Clear ex*****on of long-term strategies. Documents developed over the past 10 or even 20 years — such as Latvia’s Energy Strategy 2050 — need to translate into concrete action.

▪️ Consistent implementation and communication. Once decisions are adopted, they should be implemented predictably and clearly communicated among key stakeholders, including municipalities, public institutions and state-owned companies. This is essential to ensure that investments can move from plans to implemented projects that benefit both society and the economy.

▪️ Fair competition. Where state- or municipality-owned companies engage in commercial activities, these activities should comply with competition law and ensure a level playing field for all market participants.

Overall, foreign investors expect the new government to have both the capacity and courage to balance economic development with broader public interests, while ensuring that investors who have followed the required project development process are not faced with unexpected decisions at the final stage.

Klimata un enerģētikas ministrija Ekonomikas ministrija

25/09/2026

⚠️ 2% Quota for Foreign Labour Threatens Latvia’s Labour Market and Competitiveness!

FICIL, together with the Latvijas Tirdzniecības un rūpniecības kamera (LTRK) and the Latvijas Darba devēju konfederācija (LDDK), strongly oppose the proposal to introduce a 2% quota for the employment of third-country nationals in Latvia! The proposed quota is not sufficiently linked to actual labour market needs and would negatively affect Latvia’s competitiveness and investment environment. Decisions of this scale should be based on data, comprehensive analysis, thorough impact assessment and consultations with the relevant ministries and social partners.

FICIL, LDDK and LTRK believe that, at a time when Latvia is facing labour shortages and demographic decline, such measures risk limiting access to the human capital Latvia’s economy needs. They may also create additional uncertainty for businesses and investors regarding Latvia’s ability to respond effectively to labour market challenges.

“During this parliamentary term, the Ekonomikas ministrija worked extensively with the social partners on the Human Capital Development Strategy, and if this work had been brought to completion, we would now have a professionally developed framework agreed with businesses and social partners for making decisions of this kind, rather than individual solutions pursued without a clear link to the broader human capital, labour market and economic development strategy. Secondly, decisions of such significance require a thorough implementation analysis, clear criteria, transitional mechanisms and an impact assessment, because adopting a decision alone does not ensure the desired outcome; moreover, in this case, the annotation does not sufficiently assess alternative solutions or the proportionality of the requirements and costs. Finally, the category of ‘third countries’ is too broad to address the very different security, qualification, labour market and integration issues through a one-size-fits-all approach; a much more nuanced, risk-based approach is therefore needed,” emphasises Claudio Rivera, FICIL Labour Force & Requalifications Work Group Leader (Founding Director of Bachelor Programs at RTU Riga Business School).

➡️To view the press release in English, please go here: https://www.ficil.lv/2026/09/25/business-organisations-2-quota-for-foreign-labour-threatens-latvias-labour-market-and-competitiveness/

➡️To view the press release in Latvian, please go here: https://www.ficil.lv/2026/09/25/uznemeju-organizacijas-2-arvalstu-darbaspeka-kvota-apdraud-latvijas-darba-tirgu-un-konkuretspeju/

25/09/2026

🇱🇻 DAIGA ZIVTIŅA: WHAT DO FOREIGN INVESTORS EXPECT FROM THE NEW GOVERNMENT?

Daiga Zivtiņa, Leader of FICIL’s Court Efficiency & Digitalisation Sub-group and Partner at Ellex Kļaviņš, highlights that foreign investors need confidence in Latvia’s justice system — knowing that their rights can be effectively protected within a reasonable timeframe. A high-quality and efficient justice system allows businesses to resolve disputes promptly and direct their resources towards further development.

Latvia has already taken important steps towards improving court efficiency and strengthening investment protection. Daiga highlighted several positive examples:

▪️ Fewer international investment disputes involving Latvia. In recent years, the number of disputes brought against Latvia has decreased, reflecting progress in strengthening the mechanisms available for foreign investment protection.

▪️ The Economic Affairs Court. It is a strong example of judicial specialisation and demonstrates the importance of ensuring that complex cases are examined both efficiently and to a high standard. In a rapidly changing business environment, timely and high-quality proceedings are essential.

▪️ Regulatory reforms. Improvements to the arbitration system, together with practical changes such as reductions in state fees and the introduction of maximum fee limits, can improve access to justice and make the overall system more effective.

⚖️ Overall, Latvia has made progress towards a more efficient court system, but further improvements are still needed — particularly in strengthening procedural discipline among the parties involved in court proceedings.

Latvijas Republikas Tieslietu ministrija