Lightguide is one of the world's leading companies in the design and manufacture of silica optical fibres and fibre optic products. The light-conducting fibres produced here are used in the manufacture of minimally invasive medical instruments, as well as in the production of fibre bundles that are further used by the world's leading industrial and scientific equipment designers and manufacturers.
Regula Baltija Ltd. is a manufacturer of unique specific equipment and has been doing so since June 2005. The company's main activity is the production of equipment that enables the authentication of protected documents, the verification of identification cards, passports, banknotes, driving licences, etc. The company also develops software to work with the equipment produced and databases for entry documents.
Pulsar Optics Ltd. is part of Yukon Advanced Optics Worldwide, headquartered in the heart of Europe, Lithuania. Our history dates back to 1991. It was started by a group of friends who shared a passion for human empowerment. This group of enthusiasts assembled the first wooden observation tubes in the basement of a once unfinished residential building.
Five new companies joined the Latgale SEZ last year. This year is also promising, with six new companies having already joined the SEZ. 12 contracts have been signed for investments of €5 million and around 40 new jobs created.
The Latgale SEZ was established eight years ago in 2017. The interest of entrepreneurs in the zone shows that the establishment of the Latgale SEZ has been bringing economic benefits to the region for several years.
Currently, 38 capital companies are doing business in the Latgale SEZ, and 91 investment agreements worth more than EUR 106 million have been signed. More than 700 new jobs are planned to be created, of which about 500 have already been created.
From July 1 to 4, representatives of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) visited Latvia to discuss the development needs and future opportunities of Latvia's border regions together with The Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development of the Republic of Latvia, the Latgale Planning Region (LPR), and local governments in Latgale.
Meeting at the Ministry of Finance: EU Funds and Security Priorities
The visit began with a meeting at the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Latvia, where the following key topics were discussed: Progress in the implementation of EU funds, emphasizing the stable pace of investment expected to continue through 2025; Mid-term revisions, with significant reallocations focusing on national security—including cybersecurity, military mobility, energy independence, civil protection, and regional resilience; Framework for the next EU programming period, outlining national investment priorities and the most effective support mechanisms.
Field Visit to Latgale: Understanding Local Challenges First-Hand
The EC delegation traveled to Latgale to gain on-the-ground insight into the challenges faced by border municipalities, entrepreneurs, NGOs, and education sector representatives.
Web site was created within the Project “Entrepreneurship support measures in the Latgale Planning Region” of European Economic Area Financial Mechanism 2021-2024 Programme “Local Development, Poverty Reduction and Cultural Cooperation”
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