We must stop migration and attract investors - Ratnieks

RIGA - The most important tasks in the next term of the Riga City Council will be stopping migration and attracting investors, Edvards Ratnieks, candidate for mayor of Riga of the National Alliance (NA), told LETA in an interview.

"It is very important for us to defend the Latvianisation of Riga and national interests - to stop the wave of migration into Latvia and Riga from third countries, by creating a smart city policy based on preserving Latvia and Riga for Latvians, protecting language and culture," the politician said.

He stresses that he will only work in a coalition in which the coalition partners support the national issues of the NA.

This has also been a problem in the current legislature when working with Latvian parties. "We had difficulties, for example, with the renaming of streets, immigration and the abolition of Russian schools, and now we also see a difference of opinion on the immigrant issue," Ratnieks said.

The politician acknowledges that the economic development of the capital is a very important issue, as Riga is currently lagging behind economically.

The NA also believes that the law on the Local Government Equalization Fund should be changed, as the current equalization procedure has led to Riga's underdevelopment.

The tax money that could be spent on the development of the city is going elsewhere and Riga is short of funds.

Ratnieks says he will personally go after investors. He believes it is very important that the City Council leadership talks to investors.

Asked where he will look for investors, Ratnieks says that the target countries are in the West.

"These are countries that are also important for us in attracting tourists, for example with cruise ships. Big tourism exhibitions are held in the US, where the presence of the political leadership of the cities is very important. It is important to participate in all international tourism events where the municipality is already present, for example in France, to boost Riga's economy," the politician explains.

Riga has many advantages - a port, an airport very close to the city center, several industrial development zones.

There is also an opportunity to attract investors through young talent.

In the next term, targeted investment in science and technology centers will continue, with the development of state-of-the-art science classrooms that will generate interest in these fields among young people. This is a good basis for attracting investors and further developing manufacturing.

Riga's potential has also not yet been fully exploited in the development of start-up houses, he added.