For the fifth consecutive year, FICIL will present the foreign investors’ assessment of the business environment in Latvia, taking a closer look at developments regarding tax system, access to labour and productivity, combating economic and financial crime, quality of higher education and other key factors.

How is Latvia’s economic competitiveness viewed by foreign investors?

What progress has been made this year by policymakers and the government?

What are the major concerns of the foreign investors in Latvia?

Is the current legislative framework promoting investment incentives of the existing and potential businesses in Latvia?

Professor Arnis Sauka will present the key conclusions of the research. Based on these conclusions, a discussion among politicians and investors will take a closer look at:

• human resources (including issues such as labor availability, quality of higher education, demography and health),
• financial system,
• tax system,
• justice, fair competition.

FICIL Sentiment Index 2019 report will be presented by Dr. Arnis Sauka, professor and Head of Centre for Sustainable Business at the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga (SSE Riga). Presentation will be followed by a discussion between policy makers and foreign investors, moderated by journalist Jānis Domburs. The report will be published on FICIL website at www.ficil.lv/research/

About the FICIL Sentiment Index

FICIL Sentiment Index is an annual report which follows development of the investment climate in Latvia from the perspective of foreign investors, identifying the most significant challenges in the business environment. It is a qualitative study, based on in-depth interviews with investors, carried out by FICIL in cooperation with SSE Riga.

FICIL aims to create evidence-based policy through realistic and forward-looking recommendations. The goal is to improve the overall business environment and investment climate in Latvia. The FICIL Sentiment Index addresses topical issues, such as demographic decline, digitalisation, economic competitiveness, quality of the higher education system, rule of law, as well as economic and financial crime issues.

The preparation of the FICIL Sentiment Index 2019 is generously supported by the Norwegian Embassy in Riga and the U.S. Embassy in Latvia. Furthermore, we are grateful for cooperation and support from Lursoft.lv.