From next week, arrivals from 10 European countries will not have to observe self-isolation upon arrival in Latvia, including Hungary and Bulgaria, according to the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (SPKC)
Economy
The rusty railings of the Vanšu Bridge in Rīga have been cordoned off for two years. However, the Rīga City Council is only planning to announce procurement for this and other bridge construction projects, meaning that real work could begin only in two years, Latvian Radio reported June 11.
It's not only the Saeima and Constitutional Court who are currently pondering the meaning or meanings of the word "marriage". Now the Latvian central bank (Latvijas banka, LB) is getting in on the act with a collector coin dedicated to matters matrimonial.
While it is customary that at the beginning of summer owners of restaurants and bars face a labor shortage with the opening of terraces, this year has turned out to be a whole hunt for employees, Latvian Radio reported June 10.
Natural gas tariffs for households will rise starting July 1, 2021, depending on the amount of consumption, by anywhere between 25% and 43.1%, according to the official publication by Latvijas Gāze.
At the end of May this year, the registered unemployment rate in Latvia reached 7.6 percent of the economically active population, down 0.3 percentage points from a month before, according to the State Employment Agency.
Provisional data published June 9 by the Central Statistical Bureau show that in April 2021 the foreign trade turnover of Latvia amounted to EUR 2.72 billion, which at current prices was 39.6 % larger than a year ago, of which the exports value of goods was 33 % higher, but imports value of goods – 45.7 % higher. In April Latvia exported goods in the amount of EUR 1.25 billion, but imported – in the amount of EUR 1.47 billion. Compared to April 2020, foreign trade balance has worsened as exports in total foreign trade amount decreased from 48.3 % to 46 %.
Due to a high number of accidents involving electric scooters, the State Police will step up monitoring of scooter traffic as of Wednesday, June 9, Latvian Radio reported.
Lending is currently on the rise in Latvia, and there are more loans for housing, said the head of the Finance and Capital Market Commission (FKTK) Santa Purgaile in an interview with Latvian Radio June 8.
Fresh data published June 8 by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) show that in May 2021, compared to May 2020, the average level of consumer prices in Latvia increased by 2.6 %, up fairly substantially on April's equivalent figure of 1.7 %.
In the first quarter of this year, the Latvian banking sector worked on a profit of EUR 52.321 million, which is three times that of the corresponding time period of 2020, according to data published by the Finance and Capital Market Commission (FKTK), LETA reported June 8.
The biggest obstacle to the tourism sector in Latvia is currently a ban on entry for 'non-essential' reasons, and no influx of tourists can be expected until it is lifted, Santa Graikste, executive director of the Association of Hotels and Restaurants, told Latvian Radio June 8.
This summer, travelers will have to take into account various safety checks, both on entry and departure from Latvia, Latvian Radio reported June 7.
Arrivals from Poland do not have to observe self-isolation, according to the latest information published by the Disease Prevention and Control Center (SPKC) June 4.
The Ministry of Transport (SM) said June 4 that to encourage residents to choose the train more frequently for their daily trips, the Rīga and vicinity railway stations will be turned into "mobility points" with the financing of the Recovery and Resilience Fund.
Last year, 40% of cases of green public procurement in food and catering sectors had issues of non-compliance with criteria, Latvian Radio reported June 4.
Data compiled by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) and released June 3 show that, compared to April 2020, in April 2021, industrial production output rose by 20.5 % (according to calendar adjusted data at constant prices).
Anastasija Oleinika has been CEO of Latvian FinTech TWINO Group since 2019. Here she gives her personal view on how the Baltic region in particular and Europe as a whole could become a global innovation hub.
A great buzz has taken over major malls, which will resume work starting Wednesday evening or Thursday, Latvian Television reported June 2.
Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) data published June 2 show that in the first quarter of 2021, compared to the 1st quarter of 2020, passenger traffic by all modes of transport has reduced by at least a half.
Estonian company Treeland, owned by entrepreneur Ivar Vendelin, has become the holder of 51% of shares of the catering company Lido, LETA reported June 2.
The lowest number of employed persons was observed in December 2020 – 875.6 thousand, but the highest number of unemployed persons (84.7 thousand) in July, according to Labour Force Survey: Key Indicators in 2020 issued by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) June 1.
Data published by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) June 1 show that in the first quarter of 2021 the average monthly gross wages and salaries for full-time work comprised EUR 1,207.
Despite the stable and growing demand for organic products, the number of organic farms is growing slowly. In Latvia, only 20% of all farms are biologically managed, Latvian Radio reported June 1.
Data compiled by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) and released May 31 show that in the 1st quarter of 2021, compared to the 1st quarter of 2020, gross domestic product (GDP) decreased by 1.3 % (according to seasonally and calendar non-adjusted data).
The number of flights at the Rīga International Airport are starting to pick up but are still only at 10% of the pre-crisis level, Latvian Radio reported May 30.
The Rail Baltica joint venture RB Rail AS has announced the continuation of its 'Rail Baltica Academy', a knowledge-sharing platform that provides a series of public lectures for students as well as for the general public across the Baltic countries.
In April 2021 Latvia's seasonally adjusted retail sales grew 3.9 percent at constant prices against March 2021, the Central Statistical Bureau informed.
Catering providers will be allowed to stay open from at 6:00 in the morning until midnight, the Saeima decided in the final reading on Thursday, May 27.
Latvia's largest shopping centers have prepared applications for the Constitutional Court in regard to prohibition to work, the Real Estate Developers Alliance (NĪAA) said May 27.