OREANDA-NEWS. July 12, 2011. The Prime Minister held a meeting with Ambassador of Italy Francesco Puccio and Ambassador of Austria Hermine Poppeller during their farewell visit. During the discussion, both – the Ambassador of Austria and the Ambassador of Italy expressed appreciation for resolute efforts made by V.Dombrovskis to lead Latvia out of financial crisis and return to economic growth.

The Prime Minister and the Ambassador of Italy discussed Latvia’s EU Council Presidency from January 1, 2015, when it will take over the presiding country’s duties from Italy and transfer them to Luxembourg in the second half of the year, which will conclude the Trio Presidency. V. Dombrovskis informed that on July 5, the Cabinet of Ministers supported Latvia’s participation in the international exhibition ”World Expo 2015” to be held in 2015 in Milan. The officials positively assessed Latvia’s export growth by 59.6% in 2010 amounting to EUR 120 million. The parties acknowledged that there is great development potential to promote both countries’ economic relations.

The Ambassador of Austria expressed Austria’s readiness to increasingly use opportunities of economic cooperation with Latvia in the area of information technologies and green energy. The Ambassador noted with satisfaction the cooperation between the Ministries of Welfare of both countries in solving the employment issues, which started after the meeting of the High Level Advisory Group organized by the Prime Minister in 20120 with participation of Austrian experts. The Ambassador of Austria noted the Austrian contribution to training of the Latvian tourism and hotel staff.

Latvia-Italy trade statistics:
In 2010, the Latvia-Italy trade turnover reached EUR 346.26 million, ranking Italy in the 11th place among the foreign trade partners of Latvia. Compared to the trade volume in 2009, it has increased by 37% or EUR 95 million (exports by 59.6%, imports - by 28%). The main export goods from Latvia to Italy in 2010 were electric equipment, timber products, peat, scarp metal etc. The main imports from Italy in 2010 - textiles, machinery and mechanical appliances, metal products. On June 21, 2011, there were 347 Latvian-Italian joint ventures registered in the Enterprise Register, the Italian investments in the equity capital of Latvian companies amounted to EUR 12.57 million.

Latvia-Austria trade statistics:
In 2010, the Latvia -Austria trade turnover reached EUR 106 million, ranking Austria in the 25th place among Latvia’s foreign trade partners. Compared to figures of 2009, in 2010 the trade balance of Latvia and Austria increased by 7% or EUR 7 million (exports decreased by 58% or EUR 14.73 million, imports increased by 34% or EUR 22 million). The main Latvian export goods to Austria - timber and timber products, machinery, and mechanical appliances, electrical equipment, metals and chemical industry products, livestock products, mineral products etc. The main imports from Austria in 2010 – chemical industry products, machinery and mechanisms, metals and metal products, timber products etc. On June 21, 2011, there were 99 Latvia- Austria joint ventures registered in the Enterprise Register, the Austrian investments in the equity capital of Latvian companies - EUR 82.7 million.