The Latvian business trade mission to the United States, organised by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), has concluded. Held during President Edgars Rinkēvičs’ working visit, the mission brought 44 Latvian companies and organisations to New York, Los Angeles and San Diego across four sector programmes. Memoranda of understanding were signed in defence technology and genomics, while discussions began on new research, investment, manufacturing and export projects.
Trade between Latvia and the United States reached €1.63 billion in 2025, up 13% year on year. Latvian service exports to the US rose 10% to €510 million, with information and communication technology services accounting for more than 40% of the total.
“The agreements reached during the visit show that the expertise of Latvian companies and researchers can attract world-class partners. In defence technology, the focus is on joint development, testing and manufacturing. In genomics, it is on involving our researchers, hospitals and universities in developing new technologies and precision medicine. This is an opportunity for Latvia to increase high-value exports, attract new projects and build long-term partnerships with leading international companies,” said Raivis Bremšmits, State Secretary at the Ministry of Economics.
ORIGIN and Anduril sign agreement on air defence technologies
Latvian defence technology company ORIGIN and US company Anduril Industries signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in air defence and unmanned systems technologies. The partnership envisages integrating ORIGIN’s autonomous interceptor system, BLAZE, with Anduril’s AI-powered Lattice command platform, as well as conducting joint technology tests and demonstrations in Latvia.
The agreement aims to develop layered counter-drone defence solutions for NATO’s eastern flank and assess their potential use in allied markets.
During the defence and dual-use technology programme, Latvian companies met representatives of Neros, Anduril, Shield AI, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Qualcomm, Axon and Analog Devices. Discussions covered component supplies, joint product development, technology testing and manufacturing, and opportunities for Latvian companies to join US partners’ supply chains.
In San Diego, President Edgars Rinkēvičs met Analog Devices executives to discuss a possible framework for cooperation between Analog Devices, SAF Tehnika and Riga Technical University.
Latvian company Perkons Energy also presented US partners with its high-power battery systems and energy management solutions for unmanned and autonomous platforms, developed and manufactured in Latvia. Producing such solutions in Latvia helps reduce Europe’s dependence on suppliers outside the continent.
“SAF Tehnika has operated in the US market since 2012, so we know that a place at this table cannot be won in a single visit. It takes a good product, time, money and sustained effort. The value of this mission lay not only in meeting senior executives of US companies, but also in seeing which Latvian defence companies are ready to work in America and how they present themselves. The President’s presence and the programme prepared by LIAA gave these discussions greater weight and Latvian companies additional credibility with US partners. The US is the world’s largest and wealthiest market, and it is worth Latvian companies competing for a place in it,” said Jānis Bergs, Member of the Management Board and Vice President of Sales and Marketing at SAF Tehnika.
Latvian researchers reach agreements with global genomics technology companies
In San Diego, the National Research and Innovation Institute signed a memorandum of understanding with US genomics technology company Element Biosciences. The agreement opens opportunities for Latvian researchers to work with the company’s technologies and expertise, and to test and develop new genomics solutions in Latvia.
A separate memorandum of understanding was signed by Illumina and six Latvian research, medical and higher education institutions: the National Research and Innovation Institute, Riga East Clinical University Hospital, Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital, Children’s Clinical University Hospital, Rīga Stradiņš University and the University of Latvia.
The agreement confirms the parties’ commitment to advancing genomics and establishes a framework for using precision medicine solutions and the latest biomedical technologies in patient care. It also gives Latvian researchers and doctors broader opportunities to participate in international research projects and in the development and testing of new technologies.
Participants in the life sciences programme also visited the Technology Transfer Office at San Diego State University and the Office of Innovation and Commercialization at the University of California San Diego. Discussions covered joint research projects, intellectual property licensing, technology transfer and the commercialisation of research results.
Latvia’s film industry presents production and co-production opportunities in the US
In Los Angeles, Latvian film industry representatives met representatives of Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. Discovery, The Walt Disney Company, Lionsgate, Blumhouse Productions, Ketchup Entertainment and Netflix. President Edgars Rinkēvičs joined discussions with Warner Bros. representatives on expanding cooperation with Latvia’s film industry.
Latvia’s offer covers film and television production, international co-productions, animation, studio and filming-location infrastructure, set construction, technical services and post-production. For foreign film and television projects, an LIAA programme can provide co-financing of up to 30% of eligible costs incurred in Latvia.
Films shot or made in Latvia demonstrate the international competitiveness of the country’s film industry. Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut, The Chronology of Water, had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival; Danish director May el-Toukhy’s The Unknown Woman, much of which was filmed in Riga, won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival; and the animated film Flow won an Academy Award.
Start-ups meet investors in New York
In New York, representatives of Latvia’s start-up ecosystem met US investors and representatives of ServiceNow, a global enterprise platform for AI and digital workflows. Latvian start-ups presented their solutions at the “Pitch to a President” event, receiving assessments and advice from US investors on their further development in the market.
The programme gave companies an opportunity to test how well their offerings fit the US market, build relationships with potential investors and customers, and discuss starting or expanding operations in the United States.
“Latvian companies and researchers showed in the US that they can offer not only ideas, but also world-class technologies, research infrastructure, engineering expertise and manufacturing capabilities. The signed memoranda are the most visible outcome of the mission, but several important discussions will continue after the delegation returns to Latvia. LIAA’s task now is to help turn the interest of US partners into joint projects, orders and investments. That is how we will measure the mission’s return,” said Ieva Jāgere, Director of LIAA.
Latvian companies and organisations participating in the trade mission
The defence and dual-use technology programme included Aumeux, SAF North America, ORIGIN, Raw-tech, Ardlat, Perkons Energy, LMT, LMT Defence and VIC TEC, as well as the Latgale Special Economic Zone, the Latvian Exporters Association “The Red Jackets”, the Federation of Security and Defence Industries of Latvia, the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the University of Latvia and Riga Technical University.
The biomedicine and pharmaceuticals programme included the National Research and Innovation Institute, the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Double Helix Technologies, Rīga Stradiņš University, Riga East Clinical University Hospital, Daugavpils University and the University of Latvia.
The film industry programme included Nafta Films, RED DOT MEDIA, Mistrus Media, Trickster Pictures, Baltic Pine Films, CINEVILLA FILMS, Ierakstu Māja and the Latvian Association of Film Service Producers.
The start-up programme included BirdyChat, Monetizr, Engycell, Submerge, Spotwise, Supliful, Tournated, Capture Study, HoneyB AI, Cellbox and Crowdable.
Representatives of BDO Latvia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also took part in the trade mission delegation.
“This visit showed that US partners highly value the innovation and technological development of Latvian defence and dual-use companies and engage with us as equals. They also recognise Latvia’s experience and understanding of security challenges shaped by our geopolitical position. Latvian companies have technologies, knowledge and expertise to offer the world’s largest economies. That is why trade missions like this matter: they help Latvian companies reach world-class partners and open doors that would be much harder for a single company to open. The presence of the President and the relevant ministries gives Latvian companies additional credibility and shows that the state stands behind our entrepreneurs and their ambitions in international markets,” said Līva Stūrmane, Chair of the Management Board of the Latvian Exporters Association “The Red Jackets”.
LIAA organises participation in overseas trade missions under the EU co-financed Innovative Business Development Programme for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), supported by the European Regional Development Fund and national funding. Companies may participate either by paying for the mission themselves or by receiving support to cover eligible costs.
