Now, Swedish companies are offered both to use this and the fact that they decided to make a major effort to get more manufacturing companies to establish in the region. Here exist all the desired factors in terms of infrastructure, regardless if it is production of goods or services.
- The Port Administration is also responsible for the city's industrial development, says Igors Udodovs, head of the department dealing with marketing and development at the Ventspils Free Port.
- We offer not only port shipments, but also an industrial park with all infrastructures. We have 36 hectares to distribute to interested companies - there are opportunities to both rent space in existing facilities or to build your own.
Ventspils also supports small start-ups with its own incubator - it has an emphasis on high technology and is partly financed by the EU which means, for example, that they can offer an 85 percent discount on office rent during the first year.
The connection with Sweden is very good - Scandlines has regular ferry services five days a week to Nynäshamn. In addition, two fiber optic cables are drawn to Sweden - that means almost unlimited speed in data transmission, says Igors Udodovs.
The workforce in Ventspils is well educated - a University of high standards is present in the region, as well as more modern equipment training schools. We work constantly to adapt the workforce skills to meet business demands. A special council meets once a month to discuss, among other things, labor resources and their development.
There are about 43 000 people in Ventspils and the unemployment rate is currently 13 percent. Overall, salaries in Latvia have decreased by about 30 percent.
- We offer Swedish companies - both service and hardware manufacturers - tremendous opportunities, says Igors Udodovs. First of all, we are geographically very close, it takes no more than 11 hours by ferry and only one hour to Riga by airplane and then it is not far to Ventspils. Furthermore, we now have opportunities to bring in new businesses in the industrial park.
- It is entirely possible for the Swedish market to produce at a far lower price than in Sweden - given the short distance, this also applies to fresh goods.
The priority Ventspils has formulated, however, is more about IT, telecommunications, electronics and mechanical engineering. A so-called call-center could begin working immediately.
Ventspils is one out of four so-called SEZ (Special Economic Zones) in Latvia. This means that until 2017, generous tax rebates and other benefits can be offered which is not common in other places.
Overall Ventspils attracts with various benefits, the right time to invest is now!
Austra Kreslina
For more information and contact
Free port of Ventspils authorityJana street 19, Ventspils, LV-3601, Latvia
Phone: +371 636 22586
Fax: +371 636 21297
E-mail:
marketing@portofventspils.lv
www.portofventspils.lv