On Saturday 4 November, Prime Minister Māris Kučinskis participated in the Latvia-India Transport and Logistics Conference in Mumbai (India).
Addressing the participants of the conference, M. Kučinskis pointed out that by engaging in the development of emerging International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), Latvia offers its partners access to the Baltic Sea by proving the opportunity to deliver cargos to the European Union (EU). He emphasized that Latvia would like to see that the Port of Riga, its services and the country as a whole are interesting for entrepreneurs in India. "It is important that Rīga and Latvia are marked by the Indian economic operators on their supply and logistics world map, thus developing India's cargo attraction and organizing its further distribution to Europe through the Port of Riga and the Latvian railway infrastructure. It can be argued that the sea has been for centuries the gateway through which our ancestors met the cooperation partners. Today, the geographical location of my country and Mumbai, as well as the multimodal infrastructure form a natural bridge between the two parts of the world, “said M. Kučinskis.
The EU is the largest trading partner of India. During the conference, it was emphasized that Latvia is one of the best places in the European Union to develop business. In 2014, Latvia joined the Eurozone; last year it became a member of the OECD, Latvia ranked 14th in the "Doing Business" rating. Economic growth in Latvia is one of the fastest in the EU. Economic growth is expected to reach 4% of GDP this year.
The conference was also attended by the representatives of the Ministry of Transport, the Freeport of Riga and company "Latvijas Dzelzceļš".
M.Kučinskis is paying a working visit to India from 2 - 6 November. Within the framework of the visit, he will meet with the President of India Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister of India Narendra Damodardas Modi, the ministers of India, as well as participate in the business forums.
Andrejs Vaivars
Press Secretary to the Prime Minister
Phone: 29228678
E-mail: Andrejs.Vaivars@mk.gov.lv