In Riga, primary information about the situation in a certain industry and the companies therein can be obtained from trade associations.

Most enterprises are members of a trade association, which has full information about the situation in the given sector. When looking for a cooperation partner in Riga, be it an exporter or importer, or an investment business, information can be sought not only at the Latvian Investment and Development Agency, the chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Ministry of Economy, but also at the trade association of the industry in question.

There are dozens of various trade associations in Riga. However, there are also the so-called umbrella- or the large associations. They represent the following sectors:

• Chemistry and pharmacy: Association of Latvian Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry (www.lakifa.lv)
• Finance: Association of Commercial Banks of Latvia (www.bankasoc.lv)
• Transport: Baltic Association of Transport and Logistics (www.batl.lv);
• Energy: Electric Power and Energy Construction Association of Latvia (www.bleea.lv);
• Information and Communication Technologies: Latvian Information and Communications Technology Association (www.likta.lv);
• Trade: Latvian Merchants’ Association (www.lta.lv);
• Electrical engineering, electronics: Latvian Electrical Engineering and Electronics Industry Association (www.letera.lv);
• Light industry: Association of Light Industry Enterprises (www.vrua.lv);
• Fores industry: Latvian Forest Industry Association (www.latvianwood.lv);
• Mechanical engineering and metalworking: Association of Mechanical Engineering and Metalworking Industries of Latvia (www.masoc.lv);
• Construction: Latvian Builders Association (www.lba.building.lv);
• Tourism, hotels, restaurants: Association of Hotels and Restaurants of Latvia (www.lvra.lv);
• Food industry: Latvian Federation of Food Enterprises (www.lpuf.lv);
• Publishing: Latvian Printers’ Association (www.lpua.lv).

Information, contacts and industry news at these associations’ websites are available in Latvian, English and Russian.

This material has been prepared in cooperation with the City Development Department of the Riga City Council and www.investinriga.com