Latvian companies that have excelled in exports in the past year and have created new and innovative products or services were honored at the Export and Innovation Award 2023 ceremony in Mežaparks Concert Hall. The competition is the highest state award in entrepreneurship, organised by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) in cooperation with the Ministry of Economics, the Central Statistical Bureau (CSP), the financial institution Altum and the Latvian Exporters Association "The Red Jackets".
Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis, stressed the perseverance of Latvian companies in facing global challenges and seeking new opportunities. "Today, we are witnessing a paradigm shift in economic development - a shift towards a sustainable development model, driven by modern technologies, innovation, exports and a growing capacity to compete in domestic and foreign product markets. Latvian entrepreneurs have shown that they can adapt to complex geopolitical situations and are not afraid to take risks to explore new markets and opportunities. It's important to express appreciation for our best exporters and innovation champions as they are the driving force behind our economic growth. Export performance and innovation remain the key drivers of economic development," said Viktors Valainis.
According to the competition rules, prizes were awarded in five categories - “Export Champion”, “Innovation Champion”, “Export Newcomer”, “Leader in Export Growth”, and “Most Exportable New Tourism Product”. The winners were determined by a panel of judges assessing the data on the company and its exports, value-added, profitability, number of employees and other indicators provided by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSP).
"About 70% of Latvia's gross domestic product comes from exports and closely related industries. Exporting companies invest the most in innovation, create new products and stimulate overall economic development. We believe that closer cooperation between the state and JSCientific institutions with exporters, who are tireless generators of new business ideas, will help us return to the growth rate that promises to reach the EU average in the next five to ten years," said Iveta Strupkāja, Acting Director General of LIAA, welcoming the participants of the event.
The “Export Champion” award has traditionally been presented by the patron of the "Export and Innovation Award", the President of Latvia, Mr. E. Rinkēvičs. This year, the award was presented to Latvijas Finieris, which managed to increase its export turnover by 27% last year. Additionally, the Minister of Economics V. Valainis presented the “Innovation Champion" award to "Latvijas Mobilais Telefons", which surprised with its success in covering the sea with 5G network coverage and the development of traffic monitoring technologies. This year, for the first time, the "Innovation Champion" award was also presented to a group of state capital companies, which was awarded to "Latvijas valsts meži" for innovations in logistics, data processing and drone technologies. The special award by Altum "Safest Exporter" went to SIA Polystylex.
In the "Most Exportable New Tourism Product" category, in the group of associations, foundations, planning regions or municipal institutions, the Valmiera Museum's exhibition "De Woldemer" of the municipality of Valmiera region received the award, and in the group of small and medium-sized commercial companies the award went to the cultural space "Ola Foundation". In this category, the jury assessed whether the product was innovative and with high added value, whether it was created by preserving local resources and whether it was developed taking into account local cultural, natural, social and economic factors.
Winners of the "Export and Innovation Award 2023" competition
- “Export Champion” – JSC “LATVIJAS FINIERIS”.
- "Innovation Champion" in the private equity group – LTD “LATVIJAS MOBILAIS TELEFONS”.
- "Innovation Champion" in the group of state-owned companies – JSC “LATVIJAS VALSTS MEŽI”.
- “Export Newcomer” in the group of companies with an export turnover from EUR 100 000 to EUR 1 000 000 – LTD “FORTES”.
- “Export Newcomer” in the group of companies with an export turnover from EUR 1 000 000 and more – LTD “SKY POWER”.
- “Leader in Export Growth” in the "Knowledge-intensive bioeconomy - wood processing" sector in the group of companies with 10 to 249 employees – LTD “VIKA WOOD”.
- “Leader in Export Growth” in the "Knowledge-intensive bioeconomy - wood processing" sector in the group of companies with 250 employees or more – LTD “GAUJAS KOKS”.
- “Leader in Export Growth” in the "Knowledge-intensive bioeconomy – food industry” sector in the group of companies with 10 to 249 employees – LTD “LATVIJAS PIENS”.
- “Leader in Export Growth” in the "Knowledge-intensive bioeconomy – food industry” sector in the group of companies with 250 employees or more – JSC “DOBELES DZIRNAVNIEKS”.
- “Leader in Export Growth” in the "Biomedicine, medical technology, pharmacy" sector in the group of companies with 10 to 249 employees – JSC “MADARA COSMETICS”.
- “Leader in Export Growth” in the "Photonics and smart materials, technologies and Engineering systems" sector the group of companies with 10 to 249 employees – LTD “HEIDELBERG MATERIALS SBC LATVIA”.
- “Leader in Export Growth” in the "Photonics and smart materials, technologies and Engineering systems" sector the group of companies with 250 employees or more – LTD “LIGHT GUIDE OPTICS INTERNATIONAL”.
- “Leader in Export Growth” in the "Smart Energy and Mobility" sector in the group of companies with 10 to 249 employees – LTD “MALMAR SHEET METAL”.
- “Leader in Export Growth” in the "Smart Energy and Mobility" sector in the group of companies with 250 employees or more – LTD “AKG THERMOTECHNIK LETTLAND”.
- “Leader in Export Growth” in the "Information and Communication Technologies" sector in the group of companies with 10 to 249 employees – LTD “EIS GROUP LATVIA”.
- “Leader in Export Growth” in the "Information and Communication Technologies" sector in the group of companies with 250 employees or more – LTD “MIKROTĪKLS”.
- In the category "Most Exportable New Tourism Product" in the group of small and medium-sized enterprises – cultural space “Ola Foundation”.
- In the category "Most Exportable New Tourism Product" in the group of associations, foundations, planning regions or municipal institutions – Valmiera Municipality - Valmiera Museum exposition "De Woldemer".
- Special award "Safe Exporter" of the financial institution "ALTUM" – LTD "Polystylex".
More about the competition - www.eib.liaa.gov.lv
