The owner of print-products manufacturer "Prinful Latvia" is building a production and supply center in the Canadian city of Mississauga, near Toronto, the company reported on May 26.
In April 2020, the unemployment rate in Latvia was 9.2%, which is 1.3 percentage points higher as compared to March, according to May 25 data from the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB).
Mobile operator "Latvijas Mobilais Telefons" (LMT) in 2019 reached a turnover of EUR 186.099 million, which is 6.4% more than in 2018, according to Firmas.lv information on May 25.
Trading platform Nasdaq on May 25 announced the merger of Nasdaq CSD Iceland (CSD standing for Central Securities Depository) with Nasdaq CSD SE, which covers the Baltic states.
Mobile operator Tele2 reached a turnover of EUR 136.669 million in 2019, up 4% compared to 2018, according to Firmas.lv information on May 22.
The latest appeal for suitable startups to prepare their best pitches comes courtesy of the "EdTech" initiative promoting educational technology.
The Alternative Financial Services Association of Latvia has developed Latvia’s Crowdfunding Industry Guidelines, the goal being to "develop a sustainable and transparent collective crowdfunding field in Latvia," according to a press release May 20
Latvian company "SAF Tehnika" has developed a new tool for measuring human body temperature, company representative Toms Rekšņa told Latvian Radio on May 18.
The government competition to find a new head for the Competition Council (Konkurences padome) has failed to find a suitable candidate, the LETA newswire reported May 15.
A Latvian start-up company, unmanned aircraft manufacturer AirDog, has been purchased by one of the largest developers of smart home solutions in the US, Alarm.com, said the start-up representatives on May 15.
The Latvian company Exonicus has recently developed a virtual scenario for medics to help with reducing spread of COVID-19, said chief executive Jānis Kondrāts to Latvian Radio on May 15.
A Ukrainian-owned egg production company and a Nordic energy company say they have plans to open a modern egg production plant in Latvia which would involve a 100-million-euro investment creating up to 200 new jobs.
Facing problems caused by COVID-19, laser equipment production company DK Robotics has started producing face shields, said chairman Dainis Kļaviņš to Latvian Radio on May 13.
Latvian designer Mārcis Ziemiņš has used his time in lockdown to create an artsy hand-disinfectant stand, reports Latvian Radio.
A total of 42 companies from Latvia have registered for the trade promotion exhibition "China - CEEC Online Expo 2020" planned to take place in June.
From May1-3, an online hackathon brought together more than 300 industry representatives from 30 countries around the world to work together on projects that could potentially address the challenges posed by the COVID-19 crisis.
The Latvian parliament conceptually supported amendments to the startup law that would lengthen the term during which startups can qualify for government support, in addition to other changes that would make it easier for startups to access support, according to the Saeima Press Service on April 30.
Another online hackathon has been announced, this time aiming to contribute to the future of the creative industries.
The government supported amendments allowing employers to pay their employees 70% of their wages through the end of the year, according to the Ministry of Economics on April 28.
April 29 will see a live online pitching session taking place to decide the winners of the PowerUp! Challenge competition hosted by EIT InnoEnergy and supported by the European Union.
The American Chamber of Commerce in Latvia (AmCham), the United States Embassy in Rīga and the Baltic American Freedom Foundation (BAFF) in cooperation with TechHub Riga and the Latvian Startup Association Startin.LV have announced the latest Annual Latvian-American Innovation Award promoting entrepreneurship, research-driven innovation, and closer economic ties between Latvia and the United States.
State-owned development finance institution ALTUM's Land Fund purchased 2,200 hectares of land for 7.5 million euros in the first quarter, making the fund's total portfolio amount to almost 50 million euros and doubling both the amount of transactions and land area compared to the same period last year, according to ALTUM on April 24.
Latvian startup Partly has created a mobile application called Partly that helps people find a reliable handyperson or assistant for household work, according to Latvian Television's “Rīta Panorāma” on April 24.
Rīga municipal Acting Director Iveta Zalpētere issued a directive on April 22 creating a management advisory board for municipal companies and shares, according to the Rīga City Council on April 23.
The Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) surveyed Latvian export businesses, and results show that on average turnover has decreased by 20-30% during the state of emergency associated with the Covid-19 novel coronavirus pandemic, LIAA Director Kaspars Rožkalns said on April 22.
As information comes to light about companies that are honest taxpayers, but still don't qualify for government support during the state of emergency, Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš (New Unity) promises to improve and amend the regulations, according to Latvian Television's “Rīta Panorāma” on April 22.
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) invites environmentally-friendly farmers from Belarus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden and Ukraine to apply for its 2020 farming awards where country winners all receive a certificate and award of 1,000 Euros, and the regional winner receives 10,000 Euros, according to the World Wildlife Fund in Latvia on April 3.
The pandemic spread of the Covid-19 novel coronavirus has caused Latvian grocery merchants to reverse their direction towards going green and minimizing plastic after the Minister for Agriculture's order on “Regarding Additional Regulations for the Handling of Food during the Emergency Situation” was adopted on March 20, according to a Latvian Radio broadcast on April 16.
In regards to regulatory improvements, Latvia is still unable to work quickly and effectively when it comes to passing necessary laws and amendments, according to Competition Council Director Skaidrīte Ābrama on April 15, which is her last day in the role.
The world's largest online hackathon took place between 9 and 12 April, with the help of organizers from the Baltic states, including Latvia.