More information
Description
The objective of the Project is to reduce differences in the level of socio-economic development and to ensure balanced development in the Kurzeme planning region by promoting business development.
Project Applicant: Kurzeme Planning Region (KPR); partners: Rogaland County, Liepāja local government, Ventspils local government
Total costs: EUR 940 317.41
The target groups are as follows: KPR, local governments, entrepreneurs, non-governmental organizations, including organizations representing employees, trade unions, young people and natural persons.
Main activities: 1. Strengthening the capacity of the entrepreneurship centre, local governments and the specialists working for the Kurzeme Planning Region (KPR); 2. Promoting the KPR, strengthening its development level and entrepreneurship; 3. Regional mentoring of youth for entrepreneurship; 4. Region specific activities to increase employment and competitiveness.
Expected results:
- Strengthened operational capacity of companies.
- Strengthened capacity of the Kurzeme Entrepreneurship Centre
- Trained specialists in the fields of business promotion and local government cooperation, and strengthened capacity of the KPR.
- Strengthened business support capacity in local governments.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address disparities in socio-economic development levels and promote balanced growth in the Kurzeme Planning Region by fostering business development.
The project strengthened the capacity of the Kurzeme Planning Region''s entrepreneurship center, local governments, and specialists, promoted regional development and entrepreneurship, provided mentoring for youth in business, and implemented activities to boost employment and competitiveness.
The project results have significantly improved business support and municipal collaboration, positively impacting both businesses and municipalities, as well as their representatives. This impact is reflected in several key ways:
- 44 supported businesses have increased their operational capacity, allowing them to operate more effectively in the market.
- 1 business center in the planning region has strengthened its capacity to provide ongoing support for entrepreneurs.
- 60.90% of entrepreneurs are satisfied with the services and support provided by municipalities, a substantial improvement compared to 38% satisfaction before the project began.
- 41 specialists have been trained in business promotion and municipal collaboration, enhancing the quality of support available.
- 7 Latvian municipalities are participating in capacity-building initiatives to foster local business development.
- 79 individuals have received support for local business development, promoting employment and competitiveness.
- 2 region-specific solutions have been implemented to increase regional competitiveness and employment.
These results overall contribute to both business development and regional economy growth, helping companies and municipalities to collaborate more effectively and ensure sustainable growth. The beneficiaries of these efforts included local governments, entrepreneurs, NGOs, employee organizations, trade unions, young people, and individuals.
Summary of bilateral results
The project benefited greatly from having a donor project partner, as it strengthened the capacity of specialists in the Kurzeme region and its local governments by learning best practices in business support system development from Norwegian partners. Additionally, youth from both Norway and Latvia exchanged experiences and knowledge through activities aimed at promoting youth entrepreneurship.At the bilateral level, the project saw substantial benefits from the partnership with a Norwegian donor, significantly enhancing the capacity of specialists in the Kurzeme region and its local governments. This collaboration enabled them to learn and implement best practices in developing business support systems, directly informed by the expertise of the Norwegian partners. Additionally, the project fostered a valuable exchange of knowledge and experience among youth from Norway and Latvia, with activities specifically tailored to promote and encourage youth entrepreneurship. This cross-border interaction contributed to stronger business development frameworks and empowered young entrepreneurs in both regions.Building on these successful outcomes, we are committed to seeking new opportunities to continue our cooperation. The exchange of expertise and youth engagement between Norway and Latvia has proven invaluable, and we look forward to further strengthening our partnership to advance regional development initiatives. By continuing to collaborate, we aim to reinforce the foundations built during this project and support long-term growth in business support systems and youth entrepreneurship.