Innovation
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Serbia: Digitization – The ICT sector is growing faster than any other industry
Serbia provides a cost-effective alternative to established markets for companies looking to outsource software engineering, offshore systems design and integration. Over 2 600 ICT companies operate in Serbia including a Microsoft development center. Serbs offer expertise, high-end IT development services and software development solutions in a highly completive global sector. Nearly 39 000 ICT professionals…
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Interview: Aigars Rostovski, President, Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI)
Historically what have been Latvia’s most important economic drivers? Traditionally our biggest sector has been wood and timber produced from by our forests. They cover more than half of Latvia. Forests are referred to as Latvia’s “Green Gold.” A second historically strong sector is manufacturing, in Soviet times Latvia was an industrial hub. A third…
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Interview: Martin Gauss, CEO, Air Baltic
How important is the development of Latvia’s aviation sector for the economy? If you look at the connectivity of the Baltic States, Riga at the moment is the key capital. Latvia being in Northern Europe has reachability issues. Connectivity with Europe by road and rail systems do not fully meet the needs of the region…
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Latvia: ICT sector surpassing 4% of GDP
The turnover of the ICT sector is estimated at EUR 3 400 million, accounting for 4% of the total GDP. Approximately 6 200 companies operate within the sector. ICT related services, software, hardware, and telecom sub-sectors have grown significantly in recent years. The exportation of foreign-sourced computer hardware and software are a significant share of…
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Baiba A. Rubesa, CEO, Rail Baltica, on creating a new economic corridor
Rail Baltica, a new railway infrastructure connecting the three Baltic States to Poland and indirectly to Finland, is often called the project of the century. This project marks a symbolic return of the Baltic States to Europe. Currently, most rail freight traffic in the Baltics originates from the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) countries and…
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Interview: Arvils Aseradens, Latvian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Economics
How do you assess Latvia’s economic growth? Four key points are behind Latvia’s economic growth; European Funds, external situation, accumulation of private savings and rising income levels. Income levels have increased 5% in the past three years. This has been a very active base for private consumption. In addition, the private sector has large amounts…
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Interview: Marta Jaksona, Executive Director, Foreign Investors’ Council in Latvia (FICIL)
How do you assess current foreign direct investments in Latvia? I would like to see higher levels of investment. Foreign direct investments in Latvia increased sharply after Latvia’s accession to the EU in 2004. After the crisis, the investment slowed. However, we saw this in the entire EU. The fight for investments is obviously increasing.…
