Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš will leave for a working visit to the United States from 8 to 15 July. The Prime Minister will meet with representatives of the US presidential administration and Congress, will have discussions with entrepreneurs, representatives of think-tanks and give interviews to the mass media within the framework of the visit. The Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet with representatives of the Latvian diaspora in New York and Washington.
K. Kariņš will meet with representatives of the US presidential administration and Congress to address the issues regarding bilateral cooperation and transatlantic security, investment opportunities in the Latvian economy and the international fight against money laundering and terrorism financing.
The Prime Minister in Washington is scheduled to meet with United Sates Vice-President Mike Pence, National Security Advisor of the United States John Bolton and the United States Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross.
K. Kariņš will also meet with Steven Mnuchin, United States Secretary of the Treasury, Rick Perry, United States Secretary of Energy, Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and Senator Lindsey Graham, Chairman of the US Senate Judicial Committee.
K. Kariņš plans to take part in the public discussion “US-Latvian Relationship in a Time of European Transition” held in Washington and organised by the think-tank “The Atlantic Council”, as well as in a round-table discussion on the role of transatlantic relations today.
During his working visit to New York, the Prime Minister will address entrepreneurs at an event hosted by the Baltic - American and European - American Chambers of Commerce. The Prime Minister will also give interviews for the media, including an interview with Steve Forbes for his weekly podcast.
Latvia-USA relations
The Unites States is Latvia's strategic partner and ally. Until the restoration of Latvia's independence in 1991, the United States consistently pursued the policy of non-recognition of the occupation of Latvia, provided substantial support for the restoration of Latvia's independence, as well as contributed to Latvia's integration with NATO and the EU.
According to the data of 2018, the US is the 9th largest export market for Latvian goods; it ranks the 16th in terms of imports of goods. In 2018, exports of Latvian services to the United States amounted to EUR 187 million or USD 211 million (+21% versus 2017), while imports of services amounted to EUR 80 million or USD 90 million (+19% versus 2017).
According to figures provided by the Bank of Latvia, at the end of 2018, US direct investment in Latvia amounted to EUR 161 million or USD 182 million. According to Lursoft data, in June 2019 the US direct investment in equity capital of Latvian companies amounted to EUR 88 million or USD 100 million, 424 companies are registered in the Enterprise Register with US investment in equity capital.
Sandris Sabajevs Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Phone: 67082865, 22087726 E-mail: Sandris.Sabajevs@mk.gov.lv