Watch the event below:

 Live stream: FICIL youtube

 

For the eighth consecutive year, FICIL will present the foreign investors’ assessment of the business environment in Latvia, taking a closer look at development regarding public sector reform, workforce availability, fair competition, combatting shadow economy as well as other key topics of concern.  Dr Arnis Sauka will give a brief overview of the main results of FICIL Sentiment Index research. Journalist Jānis Domburs will moderate a discussion among public sector representatives, politicians and investors. 

The focus of the research and the discussion will be on the effectiveness of the public sector and ways to improve cooperation among businesses and state administration. As part of the research, investors were asked to evaluate policymakers work over the last 12 months, as well as note what the next public sector reforms should focus on. Topics such as energy independence, workforce availability, and public sector efficiency were mentioned frequently, therefore the discussion will also cover these topics.

The presentation event will take place 24 April at 10 AM. Arrival and coffee break is available from 9:30 AM. The Sentiment Index presentation will take place at Wellton Riverside Hotel in Old Riga. You are invited to attend and participate in the discussion. The public panel will take place in Latvian with a simultaneous translation to English.

The FICIL Sentiment Index draws on a survey: mini case studies of foreign investors in Latvia. From January 2023 to mid-February 2023, we interviewed 55 senior executives representing companies that are key investors in Latvia. Altogether, these companies (including their subsidiaries) contribute to 21% of Latvia’s total tax revenue and employ 18% of the total workforce of companies with an annual turnover above 145 000 EUR and 50% foreign capital (data from Lursoft, 2021).