Business Environment

The Heart of Northern Europe. With 850K+ metro population Riga accounts for 50% of Latvia's GDP. Riga is the economic centre of Latvia and the largest concentration of talent, business activity and consumers in the Baltics.

Strategic Location. Riga provides 90+ direct flight destinations and 50 global port connections. Riga connects Northern and Central European markets through world-class air, sea and future Rail Baltica rail infrastructure.

Competitive costs and favorable tax environment. Riga ranks #1 in Corporate Tax Competitiveness and #2 in Global Tax Competitiveness. Riga offers one of the world's most business-friendly tax environments, combined with competitive operating costs and investment incentives.

Highly Skilled Workforce. 40% of the population has attained higher education, and 75% speak two or more foreign languages. Riga offers access to a highly educated, multilingual talent pool, supported by leading universities, research centres and international talent.

Advanced Business Infrastructure. Home to 82% of Latvia’s startups, Riga is at the heart of the country’s startup ecosystem. With more than 50 smart city pilot projects, the city provides a real-world environment for testing and developing new solutions. Together with a dynamic business services ecosystem, this makes Riga one of the Baltic region’s leading hubs for startups and innovation.

High quality of life with affordable living. With 57.5 km² of parks and green areas covering 19% of the city, Riga offers a high-quality urban environment where nature is always close at hand. Shaped by the 15-minute city concept, Riga combines Northern European quality of life with competitive living costs, excellent connectivity and easy access to work, services and recreation.

Strategic Investment in Urban Development. Backed by a €288 million municipal investment programme in the 2025 budget, Riga is entering its next phase of growth. Transformational projects such as Rail Baltica, RIX Airport City, Knowledge Mile, Preses Nama Quarter, Riga Waterfront and Skanste are reshaping the city and creating new opportunities for investment, business and development.

Investor support. Strategic investors benefit from a dedicated point of contact, tailored support and coordinated approval processes. Through Riga’s Green Corridor initiative, strategic projects can move forward more efficiently, enabling faster and smoother project implementation.