On December 14, the Saeima expressed confidence in the new Cabinet of Ministers set up by Krišjānis Kariņš and Ilze Indriksone was reapproved as the Minister of Economics. As it is known, I. Indriksone has been performing duties of the Minister of Economics since 26 May 2022. “Being pleased with what has been done and being convinced in future priorities, I am ready to continue the work that I started so that together with entrepreneurs and society we create a strong, self-sufficient, economy in Latvia,” I.Indriksone says.
In continuing her duties as the Minister of Economics, I.Indriksone has set strengthening the country’s economic security, promoting growth and access to finance for entrepreneurs and increasing the contribution of science to the economy as her priority tasks. “It will be important for us to ensure that exports continue to play an important role in ensuring the overall economic growth of Latvia in the coming years, because the development of our country is based on export-capable entrepreneurs. We will also continue the initiatives launched to raise new investments, develop support instruments and implement them to promote business competitiveness, promote access to housing in regions, as well as increase energy efficiency in every sector,” the Minister continues.
Next year at the Ministry of Economics will be marked by full responsibility for employment. I want to see Latvia as home to world-class innovations, high-value-added companies and smart people. Employment policies should therefore focus on the skills needed in the labour market, setting up of start-ups and providing skilled workforce for our entrepreneurs. Today we need to quickly acquire new knowledge, continuously educate and raise qualifications – this is the only way to maintain personal competitiveness in the labour market,” I.Indriksone says.
The Minister of Economics emphasises that it will be important for her to continue a regular dialogue with major organisations representing entrepreneurs, both by listening to their problems and by calling for a discussion on economic challenges.
In assessing the progress made so far in the field of energy, the Minister of Economics emphasises: “This May, when I accepted duties of the Minister of Economics, I received one of the key tasks – ensuring the energy independence of the country. Today, I am pleased to say that the task has been completed and I am handing over to the new Minister of Climate and Energy a broad set of decisions and measures taken by the government for further development of the energy sector, which have already enabled Latvia to implement more rapidly not only strategically important measures in the name of energy security and independence, but also to accelerate processes for the production of renewable and alternative energy sources, as well as to ensure support measures for the population, entrepreneurs and local governments.”
Ilze Indriksone has been elected to the 14th Saeima from the list of the National Alliance party. Previously she also worked as parliamentary secretary of the Ministry of Economics. Member of the Board of the National Alliance. She is the mother of four children and dances folk dances. She obtained a Master’s degree in environmental management at the University of Latvia, the qualification of an environmental engineer, and the degree of the Bachelor of Environmental Sciences at the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies.
At the same time, please be informed that Elīna Kehre will be the head of the Minister’s office, and Andris Čuda will continue to be the parliamentary secretary of the Ministry of Economics. Previous advisers to the Minister – legal adviser Agnese Strode, adviser for innovation and digitalisation Ieva Siliņa and communication adviser Vineta Vilistere - Lāce – continue working at the Minister’s office.
Additional information:
Vineta Vilistere – Lāce
Adviser to the Minister of Economics
in Public Relations
Mobile phone: 26399995
E-mail: Vineta.Vilistere-Lace@em.gov.lv