It is important for Latvia to invest in and develop education and science - Rinkevics

RIGA - It is important for Latvia to invest in and develop education and science, stressed President Edgars Rinkevics, who participated in the World Latvian Economics and Innovations Forum at the National Library on Thursday.

Addressing the participants of the forum, Rinkevics emphasized three main tasks - national security, demographic development, competitiveness and education.

The President emphasized that compatriots outside Latvia have always been active in explaining the situation in Latvia and the Baltics, in talking to their political representatives, whether they are representatives of governments or parliaments, in explaining what Russia's aggression in Ukraine means. He called for continued cooperation in this area.

"[...] It is clear that this security situation is not going to change so quickly, we will not only have to allocate financial resources of 5 percent for defense and security, not only have to build and strengthen capabilities, not only have to work with NATO allies, but also have to explain this security situation in the home countries where you are in," Rinkevics said.

Speaking about demography, the President said that this priority is currently at the center of attention of the Government, the Parliament and the whole society.

In his address, Rinkevics also highlighted education and competitiveness. He expressed his satisfaction that it had been possible to advance many cooperation projects and attract investments. The President said that the Artificial Intelligence Center would soon be operational, and that many developments will be seen in the defense industry.

As reported, today the National Library of Latvia is hosting the ninth World Latvian Economics and Innovations Forum (WLEIF 2025).

The Foreign Ministry informs that since 2013, the Forum has evolved into a major platform for bringing together businesses representing the Latvian diaspora. The objective of WLEIF is to promote Latvia’s economic growth, to strengthen cooperation between professionals working in different business sectors in Latvia and worldwide, to promote attraction of innovation, financial and knowledge capital to Latvia, and to strengthen the belonging to Latvia among Latvians living outside the country.