RIGA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Latvian Investment and Development Agency's official Kaspars Rozkalns has won a competition to become the government agency's new head, the State Chancellery said in a statement to the press on Tuesday.
Rozkalns, whose candidacy has been approved by Economics Minister Ralfs Nemiro, is expected to take the helm of the Investment and Development Agency on Jan. 20.
After meeting with the agency's new director, the minister told reporters that one of Rozkalns' key tasks would be to help strengthen Latvia's international competitiveness.
Rozkalns said he planned to develop the agency as an open, transparent and proactive one-stop agency for entrepreneurs seeking business contacts and investment opportunities in foreign countries. In the future, the agency's focus will be on tech companies.
"The future priority is focusing the Investment and Development Agency's work on technology-based enterprises in sectors like biotechnology, bioeconomy, smart cities, smart materials, ICT and global business centers where we can promote and develop businesses, starting from incubation, attract investment and facilitate exports," said Rozkalns.
The Latvian Investment and Development Agency's previous head Andris Ozols resigned last year after 15 years in the position.
The agency's mission is to promote Latvian exports and trade, facilitating foreign investment and implementing tourism development and innovation policies.
