President, economics minister and 125-strong business delegation to visit Berlin next week

RIGA - President Edgars Rinkevics and Economics Minister Viktors Valainis (Greens/Farmers) will visit Berlin next week, accompanied by a 125-strong business delegation.

According to the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), the delegation intends to strengthen economic relations between Latvia and Germany during the visit to Berlin.

The Latvian delegation will meet with various German companies, including representatives of the military industry, and German officials. An event organized by Latvian defense industry representatives in cooperation with the German defense industry association will take place in Berlin on October 15, bringing together around 70 participants, mostly from the German military and defense industry.

On October 14, Rinkevics, together with German Minister of Digital Affairs and Transport Volker Wissing and Bremen Mayor Andreas Bovenschulte, will open a Latvian-German local governments forum to discuss Latvian-German synergy and digital transformation, organized by the Latvian Embassy in Germany in cooperation with the Bremen representation in Berlin, as Rinkevics' advisor Martins Dregeris told LETA.

Dregeris points out that since the restoration of Latvia's independence, Germany has supported Latvia on its path toward the European Union and NATO. Cooperation has been particularly active and close at the local government level. The aim of the forum is to further develop mutual dialog and exchange of experience, in particular in digitization of the public sector.

On October 15, Rinkevics and German Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser will open one of the largest public digitization events in Europe, Smart Country Convention 2024, in Berlin, where Latvia has been selected as an official partner country to present its experience in implementing digital solutions in public administration, municipalities and public companies. More than 100 representatives from Latvian companies, scientific, municipal and public institutions will attend the event.

During the working visit to Germany, Rinkevics will also meet with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to discuss bilateral cooperation, regional security and support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. Rinkevics is also scheduled to meet with representatives of German defense and energy companies and to give interviews to the German media.

Meanwhile, the LIAA says that the business delegation will be made up of representatives of Latvian companies and organizations such as Tet, Mobilly, Latvijas Mobilais Telefons, Nordic Homes, Tiamo Group, Adventum Tech, Tilde, Tesla, ZZ Dats, WeAreDots, Tietovery, Zvaigznaja Komanda, Apply, CMB, EdTech, Helmes, Brivs, University of Latvia, UberHint, Lielvards, Datorium, Riga Business School, German-Latvian Chamber of Commerce, Latvian Wood Construction Cluster, IT Cluster as well as representatives of local governments and other institutions.

Rinkevics will be visiting Germany on October 14 and 15, and the business delegation October 15 through 17.