Latvia’s blue-chips search for investors

RIGA - Latvian business leaders and government officials are to be in London at week’s end on a roadshow to meet with potential investors interested in buying into some of Latvia’s largest companies.

Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis, Chief Economist at the EBRD Dr. Erik Berglof, Citadele Bank CEO Guntis Belavskis and others will participate in an Oct. 18 conference to discuss investment opportunities, reports the EBRD Web site.

The program, titled ‘Invest in Latvia Forum 2013,’ proclaims Latvia as “the fastest growing economy in the European Union.’

The EBRD Web site highlights that “Latvia has bounced back from the global financial crisis and today is the fastest growing economy in the European Union. The imminent adoption of the euro on January 1, 2014 is expected to be an additional boost for potential investors in the Baltic country. On this basis the government is preparing to promote investment possibilities in the transport and financial sectors which will offer interested parties the opportunity to acquire stakes in these promising sectors of the economy.”

The meeting is organized by the Embassy of Latvia in the UK and the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, and hosted by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

The blue-chip list of attendees includes: CEO of airBaltic Martin Gauss, CEO of IBS Prudentia Karlis Krastins, CEO of Latvijas Finieris Uldis Bikis, CEO of Latvenergo Aris Zigurs, CEO of Nasdaq Omx Daiga Auzina-Melalksne and CEO of telecoms company LMT Juris Binde.