It is not this government’s objective to promote a redistributive economy. The objective, according to her, is supporting entrepreneurship, said Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa during a meeting with the Foreign Investors Council in Latvia (FICIL) on Friday, the 3rd of November.
This Friday there was a meeting held between the Latvian government and FICIL. This meeting focused on human resource topics, measures to reduce bureaucracy, data and their use, as well as green procurements.
The PM said it is the government’s objective to support entrepreneurs and the creation of new products. This is why the government wants to focus on supporting municipalities that support entrepreneurs.
FICIL board chairperson Zlata Elksniņa-Zaščirinska told journalists after the meeting that the state needs to be faster with climate and energy affairs to promote attraction of foreign investors.
To promote attraction of investors, according to Siliņa, it is necessary to ensure domestic and external security, education, reduction of bureaucracy, prevention of grey economy, digitisation and energy.
The PM also stressed that companies require clever human resources capable of adapting to changing situations. This is why a political agreement has been reached to ensure affairs related to human resources will be the responsibility of the Ministry of Economy. The government has also agreed that it is necessary to reduce the existing level of bureaucracy. In this topic
the first task will be shortening the terms for reviews of construction projects.
FICIL chairperson stressed in her speech that there is no economic process that can go on without involvement from multiple sides. She invited colleagues to look at resolution of related problems as a joint effort.
At the same time, she admits there are topics that are on the agenda now,
and although everyone is in a “storm of change” now,
it is necessary to be able to find progress in crises.
Looking back at the work the state has done to attract investors last year, Elksniņa-Zaščirinska stressed there are topics in which progress is observed, such as the work done by the State Treasury and State Chancellery to create a single service centre. A great deal of effort was also put into the reduction of the administrative burden in the construction sector. At the same time, however, there are topics in which the state has had no progress at all.
“When it comes to the Ministry of Climate and Energy, we can see things that should have gone more quickly are still in the works. Time is our enemy, because there needs to be a political strategy, which is vital to be able to make long-term business decisions,” said Elksniņa-Zaščirinska.
PM Evika Siliņa said the state is prepared to propose a clear energy policy and green course plan to present investors a clear plan of action in this sector. She also stressed that the government is becoming flexible and more open, giving room to innovations and letting business take more risks.
Also read: Latvia’s investment environment worsens; country is in “modest chaos”
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