Latvian-Norwegian relations focus on economic and defense cooperation - Silina

RIGA - Latvia and Norway are united by regional cooperation between the Baltic and Nordic countries, common values and challenges, as well as growing economic and defense industry ties, Prime Minister Evika Silina (New Unity) said during her visit to Norway on Friday.

In Oslo, Silina met with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, First Vice President of the Norwegian Parliament Svein Harberg, and representatives of the Norwegian defense industry companies and several major existing and potential Norwegian investors in Latvia, as the State Chancellery informed LETA.

During Silina's meeting with the Norwegian prime minister, the two officials discussed the growing economic and defense industry cooperation between the Latvia and Norway and their support for Ukraine. The prime ministers also discussed implementation of NATO's deterrence and defense policy, common security challenges, including Russian aggression and risks posed by hybrid threats. The Norwegian prime minister also confirmed that Norway would join NATO Strategic Communications Center of Excellence in Riga.

In turn, Silina stressed that Latvia and Norway shared common values and challenges, and that Nordic-Baltic regional cooperation was of growing importance. Latvia and Norway will continue to support Ukraine in its fight against the Russian aggression, and Latvia's experience in dealing with hybrid threats posed by aggressor countries is valuable and useful for Norway, she added.

Latvia and Norway will also cooperate increasingly closely in the development of the defense industry, said Silina. The economic ties between Latvia and Norway are also becoming stronger, as an increasing number of Norwegian companies are choosing to expand into Latvia or relocate their business to Latvia. The Latvian side will continue to work to strengthen defense and economic cooperation between Latvia and Norway.

During the visit, Silina also attended a seminar on the Latvian and Norwegian defense industries. The seminar brought together representatives of dozens of companies from both countries to discuss opportunities for joint projects. Silina stressed that there was great potential for cooperation between Latvia and Norway in the defense industry. She also met with representatives of Norwegian defense companies Nammo and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace to discuss opportunities for cooperation and the development of the military industry.

Silina also met with representatives of Linstow, DNB, Jets Vacuum and Reitan Retail (Narvesen and Caffeine). She said that her government's objective was to reduce administrative burdens so that business projects could be implemented more quickly.

Representatives of the Norwegian companies said that Latvia had a friendly environment for Norwegian companies. In particular, they expressed appreciation of Latvia's corporate tax policy, education reforms and measures to reduce red tape, and praised the government's interest in listening to the needs and challenges faced by the business community.

Norway is the eighth largest foreign investor in Latvia. More than 240 Norwegian companies are currently operating in Latvia and, according to a survey conducted by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, eight of them are interested in expanding their business in Latvia in the next three years. 

At the end of her visit, the Prime Minister met with representatives of the Latvian community in Norway.