On 23 May 2025, the Latgale Planning Region (LPR) office had the honour of welcoming representatives from the Nordic Committee for Co-operation (NSK). Comprising senior public officials from all Nordic countries, NSK is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Nordic intergovernmental cooperation, including international collaboration.
Earlier, on 21–22 May, NSK held meetings in Riga at the Nordic Council of Ministers' Office. This marked the first time the Committee convened not only in Latvia, but in the Baltic States — a significant milestone that highlights the growing strength of Baltic-Nordic relations and the Nordic region’s continued commitment to deepening its presence and engagement in the area.
The three-day programme concluded with a visit to the Latgale region. During the visit, LPR had the opportunity to showcase cross-border cooperation projects developed in the region and its municipalities, many of which draw inspiration from Nordic practices. The visit offered NSK representatives valuable insights into the realities and issues of Latvia’s eastern border region.
Vadims Murašovs, Project Manager at the Nordic Council of Ministers' Office in Latvia, provided an overview of the office's activities in the Latgale region. He highlighted key initiatives and events implemented in cooperation with local partners.
Ingrīda Bernāne, Head of the Development, Planning, and Project Implementation Department of the Latgale Planning Region, together with Vladislavs Stankevičs, Deputy Manager of the Latgale Special Economic Zone (Latgale SEZ), presented an overview of cooperation projects carried out by the LPR. They also outlined the region’s economic profile and detailed the business opportunities available within the Latgale SEZ.
Additionally, Olga Tolmačova, Head of the Investment and International Relations Department of the Daugavpils City Municipality, introduced NSK representatives to the city of Daugavpils. Her presentation covered key tourist attractions, investment opportunities for entrepreneurs, and the municipality’s experience in implementing cross-border cooperation and EU-funded projects.
The Nordic Committee for Co-operation (NSK) typically convenes 8 to 10 times per year. Each meeting is chaired by a senior official from the country holding the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers. The Presidency rotates annually among the five Nordic countries, with each serving a full calendar year. In 2025, the Presidency is held by Finland, and the Finnish delegation to NSK is led by Ann-Sofie Stude, Head of the Secretariat for Nordic Cooperation at the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
During her visit to the Latgale Planning Region, Ms. Stude expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to witness the work of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ partners in Latvia firsthand.
“It truly offers a completely different perspective on the work we all do! Thank you for the excellent presentations,” said the Chair of NSK as she concluded the visit.
We extend our sincere thanks to the representatives of the Nordic Committee for Co-operation for their visit!
