Latvia is making a remarkable impression at Europe's largest public administration digitalization exhibition in Berlin

“Germany is the largest economy in Europe, and being highlighted at such an exhibition gives us an advantage in offering our solutions for business management and the public sector. It’s an opportunity that must be seized. Here, we see that Germany is still working on implementing solutions we have been using for five years. It’s important to note that during the exhibition, several Latvian companies have already secured concrete agreements for cooperation with German partners, demonstrating the strong interest in the offerings of Latvian technology companies,” said Viktors Valainis, Minister of Economics.

Latvia has been selected as the partner country for the Smart Country Convention as one of the digital governance leaders in Europe. Currently, 84% of Latvian internet users use e-government services, while 91% of public services are delivered online.

During the exhibition, Latvia's leading telecommunications and ICT companies - such as TET, LMT, Tilde, ZZ Dats, Helmes, Mobilly, and others - presented on various stages. Representatives from the municipalities of Riga, Jelgava, Valmiera, Liepāja, and others shared best practices in public sector digitalization. Latvia also has a dedicated stage at the exhibition, the "Latvia Digital Lounge," where members of the Latvian delegation present their products and solutions in business and public administration digitalization.

"Our ambition is to be the first to cover the Baltic Sea with a 5G signal by digitizing ships at sea. We have already done this in the Port of Riga with LVR Flote. Many processes in Europe currently lack digital capacity, and this is an open niche. We are here to meet with representatives of the ports of Lübeck and Hamburg to continue discussions on implementing these solutions," said Ingmars Pukis, Vice President at LMT.

During the Latvian delegation's visit, cooperation at the federal-state level is built. Essential meetings have also been held with the ministers of the economic and digitalization of Brandenburg, Schleswig-Holstein, and Baden-Württemberg to promote cooperation in the field of public digitalization, where solutions offered by Latvian companies will play an important role. Additionally, at the end of November, a visit to Latvia by representatives of Germany's federal states' technology and public sector, in collaboration with the ICT industry association Bitkom, has already been planned.

Other events are scheduled alongside the Smart Country Convention, with participation from Latvian companies, local governments, and officials. For example, the Embassy of Latvia in Germany, in cooperation with the embassies of Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, and Finland, as well as the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is organizing an event focused on the hydrogen economy. The event will highlight the contributions and potential of the Baltic States and Poland, and the importance of regional cooperation in promoting the EU's energy independence. The aim is to bring together key stakeholders to assess the potential for hydrogen in production, transport, and other areas within the Baltic Sea region.

During President Edgars Rinkevics's and Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis's visit to Berlin, significant attention was also given to security and defense matters. The President and Minister met with several companies producing military optics, drones, and other defense-related products. Several German companies expressed interest in exploring collaboration opportunities with Latvian suppliers and establishing manufacturing operations in Latvia. The companies acknowledged Latvia's strategic importance in European defense.

In collaboration with the German Security and Defense Industry Association (BDSV), a panel discussion was held on Latvia's role in the broader military supply chains. Over 90 attendees participated, highlighting the strong interest from German companies in this field. President E. Rinkevics opened the panel, emphasizing Latvia's commitment to increasing its military budget and urging other European countries that have been less decisive to do the same.

The discussion featured notable participants, including Dr. Hans Christoph Atzpodien, Managing Director of the Federation of German Security and Defence Industries; Admiral Carsten Stawitzki, Head of the Directorate-General for Equipment within the Federal Ministry of Defence; Michael Humbek, CEO at Dynamit Nobel Defence GmbH; Viktors Valainis, Minister of Economics; Kaspars Rozkalns, Member of the Federation of Security and Defence Industries of Latvia; Major General Andis Dilans, Deputy State Secretary at the Ministry of Defence.

The panelists agreed that much greater cooperation and partnership between German and Latvian industries is needed. It was decided that in the first half of next year, the German Security and Defense Industry Association plans to organize a large-scale delegation of German companies to visit Latvia.

Latvian companies and organizations participating in the trade mission include: TET; Mobilly; LMT; Nordic Homes; TIAMO Group; Adventum Tech; Tilde; TESLA; ZZ Dats; WeAreDots; Tietoevry; Zvaigznāja komanda; Apply; CMB; EdTech; Helmes; Brīvs; University of Latvia; UberHint; Lielvārds; Datorium; Riga Business School; German-Latvian Chamber of Commerce; Latvian Wood Construction Cluster; IT Cluster.

LIAA organizes the participation of high-ranking government officials in international visits within the framework of the Innovative Business Development Programme for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), co-financed by the European Union with support from the European Regional Development Fund and national funding.