Latvians abroad
Maija Krūmiņa, lead researcher of the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of the University of Latvia, has analyzed the experiences of 70 families that became refugees at the end of the Second World War in her doctoral thesis, reported the Latvian Radio program "Global Latvian. 21st century."
In order for Latvians living abroad to invest capital in Latvian companies, the re-emigrant organization Ar pasaules pieredzi Latvijā (With world experience in Latvia) has created a new diaspora initiaitive which was discussed by members of the Saeima together with state institutions on Tuesday, May 21, at the meeting of the Saeima Subcommittee on Business Development.
On January 23, the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers approved a Plan for Work with the Diaspora for 2024–2026 . which aims to "move ahead with a common approach to the diaspora policy, defining the priority areas, objectives and deliverables of the policy implemented by Latvia’s public authorities," according to an official release.
From the neighboring countries of Lithuania and Estonia to far-flung Thailand and South Korea, this year Latvian communities around the world will celebrate Jāņi (Midsummer) in at least 50 events in 21 countries, according to information collected by diaspora media Latviesi.com.
The north-eastern Estonian region of Ida-Viru is dropping efforts to attract tourists from Russia and will instead be promoting its attractions to Latvians, reports Estonia's ERR News.
On 31 July 2021, the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, and the Ambassador-at-Large for the Diaspora, Elita Gavele, took part in a meeting of members of the Union of European Latvians (ELA) to mark its 70th anniversary, the Ministry said in a release.
On 5 February 2021, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted an online presentation of the most recent research by the Centre for the Diaspora and Migration Studies of the University of Latvia (LU DMPC), “Attracting the young members of the diaspora to education institutions in Latvia”, with participation of its authors, Dr. Rita Kaša and Dr. Olga Cara.
One in ten members of the Latvian expat community currently living in the United Kingdom has considered emigrating during the COVID-19 pandemic according to an online survey conducted by Mārtiņš Kaprāns, a researcher at the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of the University of Latvia.