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Official name: Republic of Latvia
Area: 63 700 km²
Administrative divisions: Latvia is divided into four administrative regions: Kurzeme, Latgale, Vidzeme and Zemgale. It has 26 rural districts (rajons): Aizkraukles, Alūksnes, Balvu, Bauskas, Cēsu, Daugavpils, Dōbeles, Gulbenes, Jēkabspils, Jelgavas, Krāslavas, Kuldigas, Liepājas, Limbazu, Ludzas, Madonas, Ogres, Prejlu, Rēzeknes, Rīgas, Saldus, Talsu, Tukuma, Valkas, Valmieras, Ventspils and 7 municipalities: Riga, Daugavpils, Liepaja, Jelgava, Jurmala, Ventspils, Rezekne
Cities:
Population: 2,3 million people
Ethnic groups:
Latvian 57,7%, Russian 29,6%, Bielorussian 4,1%, Ukrainian 2,7%, Polish 2,5%, other
Official language: Latvian
Religion:
Majority Lutheran, others: Roman-Catholic, Orthodox
Official currency: Kroon (EEK)
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 0,62 LVL (last update 07.03.03)
Political system: Parliamentary democracy
President: VaraVike-Freiberga
Prime Minister: Einar Repse
Political parties:
New Era is a centre-right, populist party with pro-EU and pro-NATO policies, in favour of privatisation, economic expansion. Its popularity is largely due to the charismatic figure of its leader, Einar Repse, former disident and head of the Latvian National Bank.
For Human Rights in a United Latvia is a coalition of the People’s Harmony Party, a left-wing conservative party with appeasing policies towards the Russian ethnic group and the Latvian Socialist Party. The two parties declare themselves in favour of better social programs, protection of employees’ rights, mild social reforms.
People’s Party is a conservative, center-right party. It is closely related to business circles and it advocates for strong reforms. It is also pro-EU and pro-NATO party.
Latvia’s First Party is a coalition of parties of christian-democratic orientation including the Christian-Democratic Union, moderate center-right party.
Green and Farmers’ Union is a coalition of the Latvian Green Party, center-right, environmental party and the Latvian Farmers’ Union, conservative, center-right party advocating protectionist policies for the agricultural sector.
Alliance Fatherland and Freedom-LNNK is nationalist, conservative party, who advocates anti-Russian policies.
Elections:
Climate
Latvia has a temperate climate with long, cold, wet winters and mild summers.
The average temperature ranges from -1°C in January to +17°C in June.
Latvia is two hours ahead GMT, one hour ahead of Belgium/the Netherlands/Germany.
By plane
| Km | Driving time (hours) | |
| Amsterdam | 1 632 | 20 |
| Belgrade | 1 701 | 23 |
| Berlin | 962 | 14 |
| Bratislava | 1 310 | 17 |
| Brussels | 1 720 | 21 |
| Bucharest | 1 690 | 20,5 |
| Budapest | 1 337 | 18 |
| Copenhagen | 445 | 23 |
| Frankfurt | 1 508 | 19 |
| Ljubljana | 1 735 | 21,5 |
| London | 2 018 | 24,5 |
| Munich | 1 553 | 19,5 |
| Paris | 2 017 | 23,5 |
| Prague | 1 207 | 16,5 |
| Rome | 2 464 | 27 |
| Sofia | 2 095 | 25 |
| Vienna | 1 362 | 18 |
| Vilnius | 291 | 3,5 |
| Warsaw | 663 | 9,5 |
| Zagreb | 1 661 | 22 |
Latvia has a fairly good road infrastructure. 64,693 kilometers total, of which 7,036 kilometers highways. One of the most significant future infrastructure project is the Via Baltica highway going across the three Baltic states and Poland, linking Finland and Scandinavia with Central and Eastern Europe.
The main international airport is Riga, which has direct connection to a few major European cities. Major airline companies operating daily flights include: SAS, Lufthansa, Finnair, CSA, LOT, RIAIR and Air Baltic.
There is a well developed railway infrastructure: 3 400 km of railway track. The width between the rails is 1,520 mm which is the same as in the Russia and Finland, but different to that of western Europe. Riga is an important railway hub, connected by rail to Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vilnius and Tallin.
Maritime transport is very important for Latvia’s economy, as its ports are situated on important transit corridors. Latvia has three main ports which are ice-free year long: Ventspils, Riga, Liepaja. Direct ferry connections are available from Stockholm (Sweden) and Travemunde (Germany) to Riga.
Average gross wage (2001): 277 EUR
Average wage for a manual labourer: 100-150
Average wage for economist leaving university: 320 - 450 EUR
Regional differences in wage levels are considerable, e.g. wages in Riga can be up to 40-50% higher than in other regions. Therefore when looking for staff, it is important not to pay exuberant wages, as they will not motivate your local staff at all, but on the other hand beware not to pay too low wages, as they will without doubt demotivate your local staff. Eastwards takes care of your recruitment of local top management, sales and financial management or specialists, and will consult you which wage packages are most suitable for the job responsibilities and place of employment you offer.
| 2000 | 2001 | |
| Inflation | 2,6% | 2,5% |
| Real GDP growth rate (change to previous year) | 7,1% | 5% |
| GDP per capita | 3 300 USD | 3 600 USD |
| Unemployment | 14,2% | 13,1% |
| 2001 | Percentage of the total | |
| Exports to DE | 381,3 mil. EUR | 17% |
| Imports from DE | 589,6 mil. EUR | 15% |
| 2001 | Percentage of the total | |
| Export to SE | 246,7 mil. EUR | 11% |
| Imports from SE | 275 mil. EUR | 7% |
| 2001 | Percentage of the total | |
| Exports to NL | 89,7 mil. EUR | 4% |
| Imports from NL | 117,9 mil. EUR | 3% |
| 2001 | Percentage of the total | |
| Export to EU | 1 372,7 mil. EUR | 61,2% |
| Imports from EU | 2 067,7 mil. EUR | 52,6% |
International passport needed for entering the country, you will be controlled at the border. EU nationals do not need a visa for entering the country.
Cultural heritage & gastronomy
Latvian cultural heritage results as a mixture of local (Latvian), Swedish, Polish, Russian, German influences. Latvia has many historic heritage sites. A major centre of the Hanseatic league, Riga’s medieval centre is part of the UNESCO world heritage. The Latvians are especially proud on the magnificent Art Nouveau and fin de siecle quarters, one of the most beautiful examples of this late 19th and early 20th century architecture in Europe.
Historic cities: Riga
Smaller historic places: Aluksne, Sabile, Ventspils, Rēzekne
Castles: Limbazi, Aluksne, Saldus, Grobina, Jelgava
Nature: Baltic coast
Gastronomy
Latvian cuisine has been heavily influenced by Russian, German and Swedish cuisine.
A few traditional dishes include: pîrâgi (bacon bans), saldskabmaize (rye bread), skabputra (sour porridge), rasols (potato salad), kringel (coffee cake). Latvians are heavy beer drinkers, the most popular brand is Aldaris. A special drink from Riga is Balzams, a kind of herb drink. Riga boasts of good quality restaurants.
Regional price differences exist as well. The capital is slightly more expensive than the rest of the country.
| LVL | EUR | |
| bread | 0,22-0,35 | 0,35-0,56 |
| 0,5 l of beer | 0,36 | 0,58 |
| 1 cup of coffee | 0,3 | 0,53 |
| 1 bottle of wine | 3 | |
| 1 litre of milk | 0,24 | 0,42 |
| 1 kg of chicken meat | 2,5 | 4 |
| 1 litre of petrol | 0,45 | 0,72 |
| 1 litre of diesel oil | 0,39 | 0,62 |
| Taxi services | 0,3/km | 0,48/km |
| Average cost of meal | 4-10 | 6,45-16,1 |
| Real estate/m2 | 500-1 200 EUR/m2 | |
| 1 movie ticket | 1,7-2,6 | 2,74-4,1 |
| Average cost of lodging | 60-100 |
Take the ordinary safety precautions. Avoid walking alone late at night in the big cities.
| Public institutions | 09.00 - 17.00 |
| Business offices | 09.00 - 17.00 |
| Banks | 09.00 - 17.00 (weekdays) |
| 09.00 -13.00 (Saturdays) | |
| Department stores | 10.00 - 20.00 (weekdays) |
| 08.00 -13.00 (Saturdays) | |
| Shops (grocery stores) | 08.00 -18.00(weekdays) |
| 08.00 -13.00 (Saturdays) |
| 2004 | |
| New Year’s Day | January, 1st |
| Good Friday | April, 9th |
| Easter Monday | April, 12th |
| Labour Day | May, 1st |
| Whit Sunday | May, 30th |
| Mother’s Day | May, 8th |
| Ligo Day | June, 23rd |
| Midsummer’s Day | June, 24th |
| National Day | November, 18th |
| Christmas Holidays | December, 25th - 26th |
| New Year’s Eve | December, 31st |
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