English
The Cabinet of Ministers decided to invest EUR 64 570 017 in the development of the infrastructure of the Freeport of Riga at its meeting on 26 November this year with the aim to strengthen the development of offshore wind technology production in Latvia, which is critical for the European Union's supply chain. The investment will create a green industrial territory in the Freeport of Riga, where businesses will be able to develop production facilities for offshore wind and onshore wind technologies and components in the future.
The development of a 30-ha green industrial area in the Freeport of Riga will facilitate further business development and attract investment in the adjacent areas (60-90 ha in total). The development of the port territory and the lease of the said area to companies producing wind energy technology components will result in estimated exports of €160 million, 650 jobs and at least €7.8 million in annual tax payments.
Developing the Freeport of Riga territory it is planned to invest into construction of engineering networks, increase of network capacity, construction of access roads and a railway crossing in the port area, construction of deep-water berths with increased bearing capacity, construction of new logistics infrastructure or reconstruction of the existing one, reconstruction and construction of shore reinforcement, as well as dredging of the water area and relevant shore reinforcement.
Kundziņsala, located in the territory of the Freeport of Riga, is one of the most important multimodal hubs in the Freeport of Riga, which is in the immediate vicinity of the port quay, near the main shipping canal. Most of Kundziņsala territory is reclaimed land, created from soil disposed in the result of the main shipping canal dredging. Currently, part of the territory is not fully utilised, but appropriate investment in the development of the area's infrastructure would ensure the long-term development of the site into logistics and production infrastructure, while facilitating the establishment of production facilities for clean, resource-efficient and deep technologies in the Freeport of Riga area. Under the support programme, the Freeport of Riga Authority will ensure the development of the infrastructure of the Kundziņsala area to ensure the continued accessibility and lease of the site to companies intending to invest in the production of offshore and onshore wind technologies and components.
By 31 December 2029, it is planned to develop a port logistics infrastructure of 30 ha and to support at least two merchants who would rent the developed area and whose economic activity would be mainly related to profitable investments in offshore wind and onshore wind technologies, in line with the scope of the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP). The STEP Regulation aims at reducing the strategic dependencies of the European Union by facilitating the transition of European industry towards digital technologies, net zero emissions and biotechnologies. The Freeport of Riga will be responsible for the maintenance of the infrastructure and will ensure its future sustainability by attracting additional private investment of €40 million.
Information for media
- liene.ozola [at] rop.lv, +371 670 308 53
- Freeport of Riga Authority
- 12 Kalpaka blvd, Riga, Latvia, LV-1010
