News

The French-Latvian Business Forum, held today in Riga, brought together business representatives and policymakers from the Transport, Defense, and Renewable Energy sectors. This event, organized by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) in partnership with the Embassy of France in Latvia and the French Foreign Trade Advisors of the Baltic States (CCEF), provided a platform for strategic networking, discussions, and the exploration of business opportunities, with a special focus on the Rail Baltica project.

The forum aimed to foster cooperation and investment in the Baltic region, highlighting the progress and prospects of the Rail Baltica project, Latvia’s defense industry initiatives, and renewable energy strategies. The discussions emphasized the critical role of robust infrastructure in enhancing economic attractiveness, creating jobs, attracting tourism and business, and fostering regional vibrancy.

Opening statements were delivered by Latvia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže, and France’s Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, Economic Attractiveness, Francophonie, and French Nationals Abroad, Franck Riester.

Minister Braže emphasized the importance of France as an economic partner, noting the strategic partnership’s development both bilaterally and within the frameworks of the European Union and NATO. She highlighted potential growth areas including ICT, infrastructure, defense, green energy, and AI. “Strengthening cooperation in these strategically important areas is a long-term investment in the security and resilience of our societies – at home, in the EU and more broadly,” said Foreign Minister Baiba Braže.

Minister Riester underscored the need to bolster Europe’s economic sovereignty and highlighted France’s success in attracting foreign investment, largely thanks to its robust infrastructure. France has ranked as the most attractive European country for foreign investors for the fifth consecutive year. He praised the Rail Baltica project as a significant asset for the region’s future, noting its substantial contribution to the region’s economic attractiveness.

Catherine Trautmann, the European Coordinator for the North-Sea Baltic Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), also addressed the audience remotely, sharing her perspective on the project’s progress and expressing strong support for its implementation especially since the war, when its importance has increased even more.