Investment and Development Agency of Latvia
Latvian business development agency
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA; Latvian: Latvijas Investīciju un attīstības aģentūra) is a direct administration institution under the authority of Latvia's Minister of Economics. It promotes foreign investment and exports, administers business and innovation support programs, implements tourism policy, and coordinates implementation of Latvia's national image policy.[4] The agency also serves as a first point of contact for prospective investors and assists with market entry, partner identification and site searches.[5]
- Latvian Development Agency
| Latvian: Latvijas Investīciju un attīstības aģentūra | |
| |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 February 2004[1]: 5 |
Preceding agency |
|
| Type | Direct administration institution |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Latvia |
| Headquarters | |
| Employees | 280 (end of 2025)[1]: 23 |
Agency executive |
|
Parent department | Ministry of Economics (Latvia) |
| Website | www |
History and organization
The Latvian Development Agency was established in 1993.[3] Under a government reorganization approved in December 2003, it was replaced by LIAA, which began operations on 1 February 2004. Since 1 January 2013, the agency's legal status and functions have been governed by Cabinet Regulation No. 857.[1]: 5
The Latvian Tourism Development Agency was merged into LIAA in 2016, transferring implementation of state tourism policy to the agency.[3] In 2024, LIAA was reorganized to concentrate more staff on investment attraction and export promotion. A new structure took effect on 16 December, reducing the number of posts by 35 and the total workforce by 15 percent while increasing the number of employees assigned to investment and export work.[6]: 7 [7]
Investment and export promotion
LIAA acts as a one-stop shop for prospective investors and provides assistance with market entry, partner identification and site searches. It supports Latvian exporters through trade missions, national stands, business-to-business events and consultations on foreign markets.[3][5][1]: 14
LIAA reported that implementation began on 31 investment projects with its involvement in 2025, with a combined value of €1.01 billion and 1,350 planned jobs.[8] During the same year, it organized 22 national stands and 60 trade missions, and identified 505 export projects and inquiries for Latvian companies.[1]: 14
Tourism and national image
The Ministry of Economics develops and coordinates national tourism policy, while LIAA implements it and promotes Latvia domestically and abroad.[9] The tourism function was transferred to LIAA when the Latvian Tourism Development Agency was merged into it in 2016.[3]
LIAA's statutory duties also include participation in national image policy and coordination of its implementation. Its tourism activities include destination marketing, support for tourism product development and participation in international events.[4][9]
Business and innovation support
LIAA administers state-funded and European Union-funded programs for business incubation, innovation, technology transfer, digitalization and start-up support.[4][1]: 12–14 In 2025, the business incubation program operated through 22 LIAA offices in Latvia, including separate technology and creative-industry offices in Riga. During the year, 145 companies received financial support through the program.[1]: 13–14
In July 2024, payments under a start-up support program were temporarily halted because Latvia had not amended its rules after a new European Union de minimis regulation took effect. The government changed the rules in August, allowing LIAA to resume processing applications and raising the maximum aid amount from €200,000 to €300,000.[10]