News

On 23 April, the Daugavpils City Municipality approved the results of the production facility lease auction at the ALTOP Industrial Park (Eastern Latvia Smart Technology and Research Centre), marking another step forward in strengthening regional development.

In the near future, Daugavpils City Municipality will conclude lease agreements with SIA “Endline” and SIA “MAGISTR”, both of which plan to expand their production capacity and develop new products in the Latgale region.

The Latgale Planning Region (LPR) Latgale Special Economic Zone (Latgale SEZ), in cooperation with Alūksne Municipality, is organising an informational seminar “Latgale SEZ – The Key to Business Success” on 13 May at 11:00, which will take place at the Alūksne Business Support Centre, Brūža Street 7, Alūksne.

Entrepreneurs, manufacturers, municipal representatives, and other interested parties are particularly invited to attend.

During the seminar, representatives of the Latgale SEZ will present the key advantages offered by the SEZ, including tax incentives and direct tax relief, eligible investments, non-supported sectors, and the process for obtaining Latgale SEZ company status. Participants will also receive up-to-date information on recent amendments to the SEZ regulatory framework, including the inclusion of the territory of Alūksne Municipality.

Daugavpils University (DU) has submitted a new short-cycle professional higher education study programme, “Electronics,” for licensing. Developed in close collaboration with entrepreneurs and industry experts, the programme offers students the opportunity to obtain a Level 5 professional qualification – “Electronics Specialist.”

The programme was designed to meet the growing demand in the Latgale region for highly qualified specialists in electronics and optoelectronics.

On 19 March 2026, representatives of the Latgale Special Economic Zone (Latgale SEZ) visited the company SIA “Zelta Zeme” in Līvāni Municipality to assess the results of the implemented investment project on site.

SIA “Zelta Zeme” is one of the largest companies operating within the Latgale SEZ, with long-standing experience and a clear vision for sustainable development. The company specialises in peat extraction, production of peat raw materials, and the development of ready-to-use growing substrates for plants. It ensures high quality standards and efficient logistics, successfully operating in international markets.

During the visit, the results of the investment project “Modernisation of the packaging line of SIA ‘Zelta Zeme’” were reviewed. The project was launched in December 2024, with total investments reaching nearly EUR 2.9 million.

In March 2026, representatives of the Latgale Special Economic Zone (Latgale SEZ) took part in significant international industry and cooperation events, strengthening the region’s visibility and establishing new contacts with potential partners.

At the beginning of the week, Latgale SEZ representatives visited one of the largest manufacturing industry exhibitions in the Benelux region – ESEF Maakindustrie 2026, held in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Organised every two years, the exhibition brings together thousands of manufacturing professionals and companies, offering a broad spectrum of technologies and innovations – from digitalisation and sustainable manufacturing to high-tech and defence industries.

On 12 March, a meeting of the Latgale Planning Region Development Council took place, attended also by Dzintars Adlers, Chairman of the Alūksne Municipality Council. During the meeting, the Council agreed on a proposal to define the territory within Alūksne Municipality that could be granted the status of the Latgale Special Economic Zone (Latgale SEZ).

The proposal foresees the designation of a 2,000-hectare area in Alūksne Municipality that could be subject to the Latgale SEZ regulatory framework in the future. At the same time, the territories of the other municipalities currently participating in the Latgale SEZ are planned to remain unchanged.

According to the Law on the Latgale Special Economic Zone, proposals regarding territories eligible for SEZ status are prepared by the Development Council of the Latgale Planning Region in agreement with the respective municipality. The proposal is then submitted to the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development, which proceeds with the approval process in accordance with national legislation and submits it to the Cabinet of Ministers.

On 27 February 2026, at the restored Preiļi Manor, the Latgale Planning Region (LPR) and the Latgale Special Economic Zone (Latgale SEZ) Authority organized an Information Day for entrepreneurs, bringing together SEZ companies, industry experts, and representatives of financial institutions.

The event was opened by Maruta Plivda, Deputy Chairperson of the Preiļi Municipality Council, who emphasized the significant contribution of entrepreneurs to regional economic development and community strengthening. In her address, she also presented the revival story of Preiļi Manor, highlighting the importance of restoring historical heritage as part of regional development and identity-building.

The Daugavpils City Municipality is implementing one of the largest industrial development projects in Latgale – ALTOP (Eastern Latvia Smart Technology and Research Centre).

At the end of 2025, construction works were completed and a modern, energy-efficient production building meeting international business standards was commissioned. The facility offers high-quality premises and advantageous logistics accessibility.

The Municipality now invites entrepreneurs to apply for the lease rights auction, which will take place on 20 April 2026.
Applications may be submitted until 7 April 2026.

On 12 February 2026, the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia adopted, in the final reading, amendments approving the extension of the Latgale Special Economic Zone (Latgale SEZ) until 31 December 2050, as well as the inclusion of Alūksne Municipality within the territory of Latgale SEZ.

These decisions will expand business support opportunities in Latvia’s eastern border region, promote investment attraction and infrastructure development, and strengthen both regional and national security by ensuring long-term stability, investor confidence and the creation of new jobs.

The team of the Latgale Special Economic Zone (Latgale SEZ) participated in Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2026, one of the world’s leading exhibitions for the professional audiovisual and systems integration industries, held from 3 to 6 February at Fira de Barcelona, Gran Via, Spain. ISE is a major global forum where industry leaders, innovators, and technology professionals exchange the latest solutions and insights on emerging trends.

ISE regularly brings together thousands of professionals from more than 160 countries, with over 1,600 exhibitors and a wide range of technology zones showcasing the latest products and solutions in audiovisual technologies, digital signage, smart building systems, and systems integration. The exhibition serves as an important platform for networking, market intelligence, and the development of international partnerships.