The Estonian Embassy in Riga opened a Business Hub at its
premises, aimed at supporting business relations between Estonia and Latvia. The traditional Livonia Awards were also presented at the opening event.
“Now we also have excellent premises in the new Riga Embassy to support Estonian companies – these can include business meetings, events or product presentations,” Estonian Ambassador to Latvia Eerik Marmei said. According to him, embassies are a useful resource for exporting companies, which should use it for their benefit at the right moment.
The business centre is distinguished by its strategic location and modern business environment equipped with digital solutions, offering support to Estonian companies in entering the Latvian market. The centre serves as a practical cooperation platform for Estonian and Latvian entrepreneurs, with several business meetings, morning seminars and side events of fairs taking place in Riga planned for the coming months.
According to the ambassador, Latvia is still one of our most important business partners and many Estonian companies operate there. “SCE E-Piim and Bolt are excellent examples, and they are also laureates of this year’s Livonia Awards. The Latvian recipient of the award is Ausma Media (Tuta Things), which is active in media and children’s programme production,” Marmei said.
“The Livonia Award means a lot to us! It is rare that we have been noticed both in Estonia and Latvia,” Margus Leek, CEO of SCE Piim, said.
The company is active in the production and processing of milk in both countries and last year’s turnover stood at nearly €200 million. “We have about 90 members and milk producers in Estonia and 50 in Latvia. The cooperative has milk processing plants in Paide, Järva-Jaani, Põltsamaa, and Jaunpils. For example, we produce cheese at the new Paide cheese factory as well as in Latvia,” Leek explained.
He said the opening of the Business Hub at the embassy was good news for entrepreneurs. “For example, one option I see is to use the experience we and other companies have gained in entering and operating on the Latvian market,” Leek said.
The Livonia Awards were first awarded in 2013 and are presented by the Estonian and Latvian Chambers of Commerce and Industry together with the embassies of both countries. The Livonia Award is traditionally given to one Estonian and one Latvian company that has contributed to shaping the business landscape of their neighbour. This year, two Estonian companies received the award, as no award was issued in 2024. The 2023 winner was SCE E-Piim, recognised by both Estonian and Latvian parties, and the 2024 award went to Bolt.
The opening event was attended by Estonian Minister of Economy and Industry Erkki Keldo, Latvian Minister of Economic Affairs Viktors Valainis, Estonian business delegation, and representatives of Estonian and Latvian companies.
In addition to Riga, the embassies also have business hubs in Paris, Washington, Seoul, and Singapore. The next business hubs are set to open in London, Berlin, and Copenhagen.
The Estonian Business Hub in Riga was financed with funds from the NextGenerationEU of the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility.
Picture attached with Estonian Minister of Economy and Industry Erkki Keldo and Latvian Minister of Economic Affairs Viktors Valainis (author Toms Svilāns).
Estonian Embassy in Riga: https://www.flickr.com/photos/estonian-foreign-ministry/albums/72177720324666762/
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