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On 3 February 2026, the Economic, Agricultural, Environmental and Regional Policy Committee of the Saeima supported legislative amendments proposed for the final reading in the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia, which would extend the operating period of the Latgale Special Economic Zone (Latgale SEZ) until 31 December 2050.

At the same time, the Committee conceptually supported extending the operating periods of the Liepāja Special Economic Zone and the Rēzekne Special Economic Zone until the end of 2050. According to Committee Chair Kaspars Briškens, the Committee will request that the Saeima consider the amendments under an urgent procedure.

The proposed extension would provide businesses with long-term stability and predictability, which is essential for attracting new investments, expanding production, and creating jobs in the regions.

In parallel, the amendments also propose the inclusion of Alūksne Municipality in the Latgale SEZ, expanding the zone and broadening access to SEZ incentives, while strengthening the competitiveness of businesses in Latvia’s eastern border region. The inclusion of Alūksne would open additional opportunities for investment attraction, infrastructure development, and business growth, while also contributing to national security.

For the amendments to enter into force, they must still be approved by the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia in the final reading.

During a visit to the high-tech company Light Guide Optics International in Līvāni, specialists from the Latgale Planning Region and the Latgale Special Economic Zone (Latgale SEZ) administration confirmed that the decision taken three years ago to implement a large-scale investment project within the special economic zone has become one of the most prominent examples of industrial development in Latgale.

The investment agreement signed on 9 November 2022—at the time the largest in the history of the Latgale SEZ—marked a new stage of development for both the company and the Latgale SEZ. Today, this decision has materialised in a modern production facility featuring cleanrooms that meet the highest standards for medical product manufacturing, state-of-the-art technologies, and a rapidly growing team of highly qualified specialists.

Over the past three years, the company has implemented the investment project “Expansion of Production Capacity of the Medical Fiber Bundles Unit”, creating additional production premises through the reconstruction of the former medical unit building. The project included the adaptation of premises to ensure the production process and compliance with medical product manufacturing standards, as well as the acquisition of new technical equipment. The total value of the investment project amounts to nearly EUR 17 million.

Light Guide Optics International is one of the world’s leading companies in the development and manufacturing of silicon dioxide optical fibers and fiber-optic products. The optical fibers produced by the company are used in the manufacturing of minimally invasive medical instruments, as well as in industrial and scientific equipment. More than 99% of the company’s production is exported to countries such as the United States, Canada, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Germany, and others.