Business environment in LatviaPosted by Cynthia Smith on April 13th, 2024 According to the World Bank Group, Latvia ranks 22nd out of 189 countries in terms of the ease of doing business. The country ranks in top 20 for acquiring credit for companies; in top 30 starting a business, constructing and registering real estate, ease and efficiency of paying taxes, international trading, and enforcing contracts; and in top 50 for resolving insolvency and protecting minority investors. The weakest point of Latvian business environment is by far the ease of getting electricity for newly-built real property, for which the country ranks 65th. Legal framework Latvian policies favour free-market and accordance with EU policies. Some analytics classify Latvian legislation as conservative, meaning that new policies take a long time to be accepted by the government, and they are generally treated with caution. The exception in this case are legislative initiatives proposed by the EU. Latvia strives to be an active member of the European economic area, trying to adapt its policies to European standards. Business geography Cities of regional importance also play their part in the economic environment of Latvia. The city of Rezekne, for example, is where the Rezekne Free Economic Zone is located. The FEZ contributes to the development of the region, attracting companies with up to 100% real estate tax relief, corporate tax relief of 80% and the return of investment cost by tax incentives of up to 55%. Rezekne is also an important railroad hub. The most urbanized regions of Latvia are the central, Eastern and Westerns regions. It must be noted, though, that if the central region is thoroughly urban, the East and the West are urban in the sense that the majority of population lives near major cities, with pockets of rural areas in-between. The Southern and the North-Eastern regions are mostly rural. Market freedom In Europe, Latvia takes up the 17th place in the rank of market freedom. This position becomes stronger and stronger each year, as Latvia takes steps to integrate into the European economic zone and be on par with major member-states. Like it? Share it!More by this author |