On April 15, a seminar titled “The Business Ecosystem in Local Governments,” organized by the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development, took place in Valmiera, bringing together local government leaders, development planners, and business specialists from across Latvia. The aim of the seminar was to enhance the capacity of local governments and planning regions to promote business development by improving knowledge and practical skills in creating a business-friendly environment, attracting investors, fostering cooperation, and effectively utilizing support instruments. The seminar also featured discussions on experiences with applying the conditions of support measures and the planned support within the multiannual financial framework for 2028–2034.
The seminar was opened by Ilze Oša, Deputy State Secretary for Regional Development: "Entrepreneurs choose places where things happen—where decisions are made quickly, processes are clear, and the attitude is open. This is precisely where the role of municipalities begins: the ability to collaborate across broader functional territories and place human capital at the center of development determines where a higher value-added economy will emerge and where the municipality will become a true partner to the entrepreneur."
The seminar program consisted of several complementary presentations on the development prospects of local governments, the investment climate, economic forecasts, and their application in decision-making. The experiences of the municipalities of Valmiera and Daugavpils in the field of business support were also presented.
The second half of the day focused on the importance of human capital and public-private partnership projects, and included a discussion on the role of municipal infrastructure in promoting innovation and export capacity.
At the conclusion of the seminar, participants took part in an exchange of experiences at the Valmiera Industrial and Business Park, learning about practical examples of business environment development.
The seminar was implemented within the framework of the project “Improving the capacity of municipalities and planning regions” of the specific support objective 5.1.1. “Promoting integrated social, economic and environmental development of local territories and cultural heritage, tourism and safety in urban functional areas” of the EU Cohesion Policy Programme 2021–2027, measure 5.1.1.2.
