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OF THECITY OFRIGA THE ECONOMIC PROFILE THE ECONOMIC PROFILE OF THE CITY OF RIGA 2019

2019 1 10 reasons why Riga

Broad educational opportunities are evident Riga is the metropolis of the with by the increasing number of foreign students more than a million residents in the city every year and the adjacent1 areas 6

Local municipality that promotes development Developed and well – connected and economic growth international 2transport hub 7 A city with dynamic3 economic development Educated8 and multilingual workforce

Macroeconomic and political stability - A city with a balanced industrial, is a member of the and the residential and green environment euro-zone, which provides free movement of 4 goods, services,9 capital and labour

A rich cultural and architectural heritage, Riga Riga has a dominant role in Latvia’s economy a vast cultural5 life and10 business 1 2

THE ECONOMIC PROFILE OF THE CITY OF RIGA 2019 content

MACROECONOMIC CHOOSE RIGA – 18 ENVIRONMENT 1 10 REASONS WHY RIGA INVESTMENT 19 ENVIRONMENT RIGA IN THE WORLD 5 20 REAL ESTATE LOCATION 6 21 ICT AND INTERNET RIGA INTERNATIONAL 8 AIRPORT 22 BUSINESS: START-UP LAND TRANSPORT 9 23 BUSINESS: DEVELOPMENT 10 RAILWAY 24 NATURE AND CLIMATE 11 25 CULTURE 12 PORT OF RIGA 26 TOURISM THE LOCALS 14 27 HOTELS QUALITY OF LIFE 15 28 HISTORY 16 EDUCATION AND SCIENCE IMPORTANT HOLIDAYS 29 AND FESTIVALS LABOUR MARKET 17 30 TRADITIONS

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THE ECONOMIC PROFILE OF THE CITY OF RIGA 2019 Riga in the world Location

Helsinki You can find a city called Riga infive places in the world Riga has 29 sister cities

The center of Tallinn the Baltic States RIGA Stockholm St. Petersburg Norrkoping Astana The largest city in the Kiev Baltics by population Minsk Vilnius Third largest city in Warsaw the region

AREA POPULATION DENSITY

Riga is a member of 19 international organizations. For example:

Union of the Baltic Cities, UBC European Forum for Urban Security, EFUS Website: efus.eu/en/ Website: www.ubc.net/ EFUS aim is to develop and promote exchange of experience, UBC unites 106 cities from good practice and information between European cities, that 2 10 countries in the Baltic are member states of EFUS. 304 km Sea Region.

The of Modern Times (Städtebund DIE HANSE) Website: www.hanse.org/de The Hanseatic League of Modern Times unites 183 cities from 16 countries. The Hanseatic League’s of Modern Times aim is to promote its city collaboration to contribute to their economic, social, cultural 2099 and tourism development. Inhabitants Riga has its own representative offices per km2 in and Moscow

From Riga to other parts of the world DISTANCE FROM RIGA TO THE NEAREST EUROPEAN CAPITAL CITIES

RIGA Moscow 920 km

Helsinki 844 km

destinations 840 km 100 in summer 4 international trains destinations Warsaw 660 km 80 in winter Stockholm 550 km

Tallinn 310 km Ferry traffic International bus and services Vilnius 300 km

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THE ECONOMIC PROFILE OF THE CITY OF RIGA 2019 Riga international airport air traffic

Riga International Airport is the largest air traffic hub Transportation statistics from Riga International Airport in the Baltic States

2010 2015 2016 2017 Runway length Runway width Flights are provided

3200 meters 45 meters by 19 airlines Number of airplanes flown out 34 070 34 038 34 032 37 418

Number of inbound airplanes 34 075 34 041 34 029 37 421

Number of passengers flown 2 349.2 2 576.4 2 692.1 3 043.6 out, thousands

Number of inbound passengers, 2 314.4 2 584.4 2 708.6 3 053 Number of passengers thousands 6 096.6 thousand transported in 2017 Shipped cargo and mail, tonnes 5 299 11 136 11 506 13 205

Cargo and mail received, tonnes 6 994 7 622 8 043 10 244

TOP 3 charter flight destinations in 2017

+12.9% TOP increase in number destinations 21,0% of passengers (thousand) Antalya 873.0 845.1 638.1 367.8 Norway 340.0 265.8 235.1 232.5 223.6 2017 2018 221.7 14,5% Source: “Transport in Latvia 2018”, Central Statistical Bureau, Heraklion Riga International Airport “Yearbook 2017” 56,3% 8,2% Website: www.riga-airport.com Other Hurghada

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THE ECONOMIC PROFILE OF THE CITY OF RIGA 2019 land transport railway

Total length of the railway lines operated in Latvia

1 860 km total length of roads and Of which 251km or 13.5% 1 203 km streets in Riga municipality are electrified railway lines

Every day trains depart from on 4 international routes: Riga is at the intersection Moscow of two roads of European importance St. Petersburg Riga Minsk Kiev

Passenger transport in Riga is carried out by “Rīgas Satiksme” Every day trains from the RCS are travelling on 5 domestic routes:

Valga

142.7 million passengers transported Skulte by public transport in 2017 Carnikava Cesis Vecāķi Tukums Melluži Riga Sloka Majori Ogre Aizkraukle 39.4 million km Olaine Jēkabpils Dobele total mileage in the public Liepaja Rēzekne transport route network in 2017

Riga has: Freight transport International freight dynamics (thousands/ton)

43 785 thousand tons 2010 2015 2016 2017 routes of km freight transported 55 951.5 export 3 206 2 849 2 384 1 839 buses total route length 410 1 649 tons or 3.75% domestic traffic import 40 973 48 277 42 036 36 584

transit 3 722 2 848 1 917 3 713 19 routes of 163.7 km 28 604 1 003 253 total route length Russia Krievija 6 208 173 42 136 tons or 96.25% Belarus international traffic 1 056 167 Lithuania Latvia Uzbekistan 261 138 Ukraine Kazakhstan 10 routes of 120.9 km 190 132 105 trams total route length Estonia Lithuania import export (thousands/ton) (thousands/ton) Source: “Rīgas satiksme” Annual Report of 2017 Source: “Transport in Latvia 2018”, Central Statistical Bureau

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THE ECONOMIC PROFILE OF THE CITY OF RIGA 2019 Rail Baltica port of Riga

Baltic and Riga railway infrastructure will now be unified Riga Freeport is an important part of the global and regional freight with the European railway area transport chain and the Baltic Sea region passenger network

Tallinn The project envisages construction of new 1435 mm European Standard width 213 km rail line in the Baltic States connecting metropolis Tallinn - Riga - - The main cargo is containers, Warsaw - Berlin coal, oil products, various metals, timber, fertilizers and grain 1435 mm products Riga Around 200 different companies The total length of the new tracks 265 km work in Riga Freeport in the Baltic States will be

Up to 80% from the cargo turnover of 870km 392 km the is a transit cargo to be sent to or received from NVS Kaunas 80% Riga has the largest port in Latvia

Average speed for passenger trains 170 km/h, The second largest port for freight trains 68 km/h, 2 in the Baltic States 33,7 million tons by cargo turnover maximum speed for passenger trains – 234 km/h, for freight trains – 120 km/h In 2017, 743 thousand passengers were served in the port, including Two passenger stations are planned in Riga 87 thousand cruise passengers

In 2017, 3422 ships were serviced at the port with Riga Central Station Riga International Airport a total capacity of Station 46.1 million gross tonnage

Infrastructure Project implementation period Total area of the port

2020 2025 2030 6 348 ha Port land 1 962 ha which includes 189,4 ha area for Closed warehouse open cargos area 418 603 m2

plann to start the open connection open connection Total length of wharfs 20,0 km construction Tallinn-Riga-Kaunas with Warsaw

Maximum draft at Freezer area 7 800 m2 More information: www.edzl.lv the wharf 15m Freezer capacity 14 000 t Port aquatorium Capacity of bulk carriers 217 800 m3 4 386 ha Capacity of liquid cargo Source: “Rīgas satiksme” Annual Report of 2017 reservoirs 522 391 m3

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THE ECONOMIC PROFILE OF THE CITY OF RIGA 2019 Passenger ferry traffic and cruises the locals

Passenger turnover in Riga passenger port

Population in 2017 638 000

45.6% The biggest Population in Riga agglomeration 2016 2017 (Riga and its surroundings) 1 005 237 510.2 743 city of Baltics thousand thousand passengers passengers 33% of the total population of the country lives in Riga, Number of arriving / departing passengers it is one of the highest indicators in at the passenger port of Riga (thousands) (Source: Eurostat) 2010 2015 2016 2017

Passengers arrived 319.3 224.3 243.3 364.5 by ferries Proportion of nationalities in Riga

Passengers left by ferries 327.6 232.8 266.9 378.5 7,3% Others By gender Passengers arrived 58.6 69.2 71.4 87.4 1,8% Polish by cruise ships 3,4% 3,67%7% Belarussians

Port of Riga since 2006 283,5k 354,3k Stockholm male female Riga 36% Isabelle

Romantika

More than 60 cruise ships arrive at the port of Riga annually. The biggest cruise ship - Celebrity Silhouette - 319m 75,5 years Number of cruise ships in Riga increases every year 29% 47% Latvians 42 other years from Russia 5% 87 91 63 6% from Finland Median age Life expectancy 2016 2017 2018 33% for the ones born from in 2017 10% from Great Britain Germany 17% from Sofija Roberts USA The most Anna Aleksandrs popular names Emīlija Artjoms of newborns Marta Gustavs Alise Kārlis More than 1,000 cruise tourists came from Italy, Australia, Canada, , Switzerland, , and Israel

Source: “Demography 2018”, Central Statistical Bureau

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THE ECONOMIC PROFILE OF THE CITY OF RIGA 2019 quality of life education and science

Education possibilities in Riga Students 1 Norway ... 1 2 Switzerland 41 Latvia 239 pre-school educational institutions 81 602 148 general education institutions high-school and 3 Australia 45 college students, of which UN Human 46 universities and colleges 4 Ireland 49 Russia 8 806 Total number of Development 36 sport fields located at education institutions foreign students in 5 Germany 56 Kuwait 2018 Index 22 leisure time centers 11 621 13 interest education institutions are getting Source: UN vocational education 11 sports schools 8 806 Quality of life in Latvia and Riga of all vocational 9 music and art schools education students in Latvia 13 926 € 74,8 years 2 childcare centers gross domestic product life expectancy 82% per capita 2 regional sports centers of students in Latvia 3,1 % 380 € unemployment rate minimum wage in Riga Total number of foreign students in universities and colleges

~ 1044 € 55,8 km2 8 806 average monthly gross average housing wages of workers in Riga area in Riga 6 314 5 458 2018 4 261 3 492 2 757 2017 1,1 41. place 2016 number of rooms per safest country in the 2015 household member in Riga world by UN data 2014 2013

Most positive aspects of quality of life in Riga City Study programs

Accessible public transport Clean city Study thematic group Studying TOTAL Low noise level Quantity and availability of green zones (parks, boulevards, squares) Social sciences, commercial sciences and law 27 972 Low crime rate / safety in the city Access to general education Engineering, manufacturing and construction 13 357

Accessibility of cultural events Healthcare and social welfare 12 252

Services 7 622 Average prices (€ per kg/liter) Science, mathematics and IT (STEM) 6 995

Rice 1.23 Smoked pig meat 6.38 Apple 1.24 Humanities and arts 6 322 Pasta 0.92 Chilled salmon 9.88 Oranges 1.31 Education and pedagogy 5 676 Bone-free pork 4.81 Herring rolls 5.40 Potatoes 0.37

Chicken 2.20 Butter 10.29 Fine sugar 0.74 Agriculture 1 406

Beer, 4,0-5,5% 2.04 Source: Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia Source: Central Statistical Bureau

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THE ECONOMIC PROFILE OF THE CITY OF RIGA 2019 labour market macroeconomic environment

Latvia Riga Gross domestic product in Latvia, actual prices

895 737 486 996 jobs in jobs in billion EUR Latvia Riga + 4,6% 27 th 926 € 1 044 € 29 place average wage average wage in Latvia in Riga global labor market + 2,1% competitiveness 4,8% 3,1% 25 + 3,0% Source: The Global Competitiveness Report 2018 unemployment unemployment + 1,9% rate in Latvia in Riga + 2,4% 380 € 7,5% national minimum average monthly salary wages in Riga increased compared to 20 Proportion of economically the previous active residents of Riga year year 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 by level of education

46% higher education 22 039 26% vocational education or vocational secondary education vacant jobs in Riga* 2,9% 24% general secondary education average inflation in 2017 4% primary education or lower than primary education * July, 2018

Average monthly gross wage in Riga by type of business, EUR

Field EUR Economically active companies per Financial and insurance activities 1 961 1000 inhabitants Electricity, gas supply, heating and air conditioning 1 569 26,9 - billions of euros - Information and communication services 1 545 GDP in real prices 2017 Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries 1 359 economic growth rate Public administration and defense; compulsory social insurance 1 222 Professional, scientific and technical services 1 148 vs previous year was 4.6% Transport and storage 970 Manufacturing industry 954 37,5 % - GDP per capita Construction 939 87 113 increased significantly in 2017 Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles 937 compared to the lowest point Health and social care 916 Arts, entertainment and recreation 890 in Latvia in Riga in recent years in 2010 Real estate activities 862 Education 854 Administrative and support service activities 837 Number of companies Other services 792 Accommodation and catering services 680 Mining and quarrying 641 2014 2015 2016 2017 Open vacancies in Riga region

Simple Senior spe- Number of companies 100 491 109 642 115 477 112 400 Skilled workers Specialists 6 941 and craftsmen 1537 professions 1 033 cialists 479 Turnover (thousands, Equipment and Service and 51 102 535 51 303 570 51 195 898 55 406 260 2 076 machine operators and 1 043 sales staff 610 Servers 185 Manager euros) product assemblers

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THE ECONOMIC PROFILE OF THE CITY OF RIGA 2019 investment environment real estate

Riga residents’ housing Total (private, municipal, state and foreign) non-financial investment in Riga in 2017

2,3 billion 87% Apartment in a house with 10 or more apartments Investments in Riga were around 60% 4,5% Apartment in a house 60% (58% in the previous year) with up to 9 apartments of total investments in 6,3% Private housing the country in 2017

77% Housing fund

Foreign investor investment in the capital accounted 3,2 m2 housing fund 0,64 € average management for 77% of total foreign investment in the country per capita in Riga fee calculated by the residential fund on average per month

56,9 m2 average 19 511 m2 total area, 5 500 000 000 € housing area in Riga thousands Direct investment of foreign investors in the equity capital of companies registered in Riga Number of construction permits issued in Riga

Source: Lursoft/Public report of Riga Municipality 2017

Number of companies in resident and international enterprise groups in Latvia in 2017

7% 34 Other non-residential buildings Country of origin of the TOP 5% 27 Entertainment, educational, health buildings multinational groups 10% 49 Industrial production buildings and warehouses 13 463 6% 29 Wholesale and retail buildings companies 7% 33 Office buildings Estonia 546 2% 12 Hotels and similar use buildings 20% 99 Two or more apartment houses United Kingdom 478

Cyprus 403 43% 211 Single-apartment houses Lithuania 350

Sweden 209

Germany 204 Offices Price Denmark 186 41% 59% 5 673 residents 2-3% Proportion of Class A free offices 13-16 EUR/m2 class A Finland 132 7 993 international 6-7% Proportion of Class B free offices 9-12 EUR/m2 class B groups of companies 131 2,9% Proportion of free retail premises 30-55 EUR/m2 rent 2,5% Proportion of industrial space 3,5-4,6 EUR/m2 rent 57 Source: Colliers International. Baltic States Property Snapshot.

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THE ECONOMIC PROFILE OF THE CITY OF RIGA 2019 Ict and Internet business: start-up

Companies registered in the Commercial Register in 2018 84,9% Internet users in Riga 5 398 10 285 in Riga in Latvia

81,6% Companies registered in the Commercial Register in Riga households have available Internet 5 398 - compared to 2010, this indicator in 2018 increased by 21.8 points 5 383 in 2017 6 267 98,1% in 2016 households with children have Internet

Riga has 151.38 enterprises per 1000 inhabitants

Source: Lursoft

Riga offers several support programs for young entrepreneurs 81,2% “Kick-off“ In early 2018, 81.2 percent of the population regularly used the Internet, 18.7 percent more than in 2010 12 000 € Possibility of receiving up to €12,000 grant for starting or developing your business 25 % of residents use data storage “Riga Courage Grant“ sites (clouds) on 67% 25% the Internet Riga Courage Grant is smart money for residents developing the business idea – EUR 2000 and use a mobile the services of the Riga business incubator phone to mentor. 25 participants will receive funding access the Almost half of Latvia’s Internet residents shop on the “Riga Film Foundation“ Internet at least once a year Grant for foreign filming in Riga

Source: Riga Municipality

22 21 22 22 THE ECONOMIC PROFILE OF THE CITY OF RIGA 2019 business: development nature and climate

Company turnover in Riga (thousands, euro) Riga is located on both banks of

35 158 515 - in 2013

34 128 255 - in 2014 m a.s.l. 33 695 709 - in 2015 28,48 Dzegužkalns is the highest 33 839 612 - in 2016 natural mountain in Riga

Company turnover in Riga by industry (thousands, euro) Approximately

Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles 18 882 011 250 bird species Industry 4 804 026 from a total of 308 bird species 30% in Latvia can be seen in Riga. Transport and storage 3 115 180 91,03 km² Approximately 150 of them residential Manufacturing industry 2 981 155 area are nesting in the city Information and communication services 1 688 905

Construction 1 680 832 Climate

Electricity, gas supply, heating, air conditioning 1 680 173

Professional, scientific and technical services 1 166 156 The Atlantic Ocean plays an important role in the climate

Real estate operations 1 077 035 of Riga, bringing active cyclic action. About 220 days a year, marine air masses dominate in Riga and summers Administrative and support institution 879 163 are moderately warm. Accommodation and catering services 521 422 In the course of the Water supply; waste water, waste management and recovery 132 711 year, on average, Average air temperature 170 - 180 different 28% January -3,5° July +17,2° Other services 24 882 atmospheric fronts 85,09 km² go over Riga. It involves green wind intensification, Average number of sunny area precipitation, hail, hours per month Personnel costs (thousands, euro) Number of employees in Riga thunderstorms, snowstorms January 36 July 268

3 638 359 - in 2016 346 420 - in 2016 700 mm Monthly rainfall rate (mm) Estimated amount January 35 July 82 3 427 906 - in 2015 345 294 - in 2015 of rainfall in Riga

Source: Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre 3 205 444 - in 2014 337 688 - in 2014 16% Green Riga 2 938 754 - in 2013 315 282 - in 2013 47,67 km² water Area of gardens, parks, Total forest property area squares and plants in managed - 61 726,5 ha Companies by number of employees Economically active Riga - 252,6 ha In Riga there are three employers There are currently protected areas of national 12 micro-reserves in Riga importance: „Krēmeri”, Total 72 509 172 567 designed to protect specific „Jaunciems”, „” species or habitats 15% and nature park „Piejūra” 0-9 66 883 161 603 in Latvia 77 990 45,19 km² Area of the “Mežaparks” cultural The main value of Riga’s roads, streets 10-19 3 008 5 755 and recreational park - 385 ha specially protected nature in Riga areas is natural grasslands, 20-49 1 663 3 368 protected plants and bird 44 158 nesting sites. Protected 16,66 km² port sites areas and nature park are 50-249 799 1 603 32 870 33 694 5% 28 244 located on banks of water 2016 bodies, so they are suitable 250+ 156 238 3% 8,65 km² technical building area for recreation and nature 2014 2015 6,90 km² manufacturing areas tourism 2013 2% Riga Latvia 1% 2,86 km² airfield area Source: Riga Forests

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THETHE ECONOMIC ECONOMIC PROFILE PROFILE OF OF THE THE CITY CITY OF OF RIGA RIGA 2019 2019 culture tourism 7 726

43 Number of foreign travelers in Latvia 6 842 6 797 choirs 6 6 246 orchestras or Number of border 742,2 instrumental crossing, thousands 691,9 ensembles 668,5 Total expense on 18 foreign travel, million euros vocal ensembles 645,2 8 fine arts studios 2014 2015 2016 2017 26 folk art studios Number of foreign travelers (thousands) 8 national minority groups Cultural institutions

28 9 Riga Central Library music schools with branches throughout the city 5 776,3 1 949,5 6 one-day travelers multi-day travelers culture centers 2 Purpose of travel concert halls - “AVE SOL” and Riga St. Peter’s Church 4 exhibition halls

Cultural institutions of national importance, monuments, architectural, archaeological, historical, and important cultural sites are also concentrated in Riga as the capital of Latvia. 3 896,4 3 896,4 3 829,4 1 948,9 1 211 736,5 There are 7 theaters in Riga Tourism Transit Other Leisure Leisure with Business TOP Museums - Latvian National Museum of Art, Riga Motor museum friends and relatives The Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia, , The Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation, Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, Pauls Stradins Museum for History of Medicine, Natural History Museum of Latvia Multi-day traveler distribution by Country in 2017 Riga Art Noveau Centre, Latvian National Museum of History - The building was built in 1860-1863. The origins of the Latvian National Opera Source: “Tourism 2018”, Central Statistical Bureau and Ballet are to be found in 1782. Lithuania 15,4% - one of the oldest in Europe and the oldest in the Baltic

Special architectural heritage in Riga 42,2% other countries Germany 13,1% The silhouette with church more than towers is a business card and identity mark of the city of Riga, thanks to which Riga has acquired the European 800 Heritage Label. Russia 12,5% The historic center of Riga, wooden buildings including Old Riga, has been 2,8% architecture included in UNESCO’s World 4% Sweden Estonia 9,8% Heritage List.

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THE ECONOMIC PROFILE OF THE CITY OF RIGA 2019 hotels history

Number of people served in hotels and other tourism 1201. Riga was founded by the German bishop Albert, but a residential area accommodation in Latvia and Riga has existed already in the 12 th century.

2008 1 555 936 Latvia 1863. Current Latvian National Opera and Ballet building was constructed. 869 975 Riga 1880. First horse omnibus route was created. 2009 1 113 898 689 330 1891. First outpatient medical institution-leprosy is established. 2010 1 311 538 779 852 1896. First six-story rental house was built. 1 584 996 2011 943 671 1898. Electrical engineering plant “Union” is established (which later becomes VEF). 1 644 758 2012 1901. First electric tram starts running. 971 728 1 839 241 1912. Riga Zoological Garden was founded. 2013 1 112 990 1918. On November 18, an independent Republic of Latvia was proclaimed in Riga. 2 098 381 2014 1 274 357 1919. was established. 2 139 393 2015 1 333 520 1922. The starts to work. 2 303 643 2016 1930. was opened. 1 428 552 1935. The first airline opened (Riga - Liepaja). 2017 2 577 338 1 583 083 1938. VEF starts to manufacture . 1940. Riga Film Studio was founded. Distribution of people served in hotels and other tourism 1954. First TV translation. accommodation by country in 2017 1960. The Riga Central Railway Station complex was built. 1964. Riga bus terminal was opened. 1974. Construction of the airport “Riga” is completed. Other countries 27 Latvia 31 1991. Latvia regained independence from the . 2001. Riga celebrates its 800-year anniversary. 2003. in Riga. 2004. Latvia joins the European Union. 2006. NATO summit in Riga. 2014. Riga is assigned to be the European Capital of Culture. 2015. The official events of the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union took place in Riga. Sweden 3 2018. The 100 th anniversary of Latvia’s proclamation is widely celebrated United Kingdom 3,7 in Riga and throughout the country. Russia 9,4 Finland 4,5 Estonia 6,3 Lithuania 7 Germany 8,1 Riga symbols

Coat of Arms Tourist accommodation in Latvia and Riga The current coat of arms of Riga was approved on 31 October 1925 and the approval was renewed in 1988. Riga has a large and small coat of arms.

The shield of the arms of Riga depicts a red wall 809 17 017 40 824 open in a silver field, with two towers symbolizing the city’s right to independence, and under the 130 7 745 15 788 raised gate grille - the golden lion’s head. Above the gate are two crossed black keys symbolizing the pope’s defense, but above the keys are a golden Number of housing Number of rooms Number of beds cross and a golden crown that points to exposure to the bishop. The holders of the large coat of arms are two golden lions on a gray cap. Riga’s little coat *hotel resorts included Number of hotels by category* of arms is a shield of the great coat of arms Flag Number of people Number of hotels Number of beds served The current flag of Riga was approved on 4 May 1937, using the white and blue colors of the 17th 26 1 476 113 985 century Riga ship’s flag as a foundation. Riga’s coat of arms was added. 2 58 unknown The flag of Riga is a rectangle divided in two 23 2 754 278 027 horizontal parts of equal width. The upper part is blue but the lower - white. In the middle of the flag 33 7 928 1 002 686 there is the big version of Riga’s coat of arms.

8 809 76 634 Web page: www.riga.lv Source: “Tourism 2018”, Central Statistical Bureau 27 28

THE ECONOMIC PROFILE OF THE CITY OF RIGA 2019 important holidays and festivals traditions

Riga honors traditions, so a series of events are taking place every year, both for festivals known throughout the world and for those specific only to Riga and Latvia. Golden roosters at Riga Church Towers – Christmas and New Year they were once set up because superstitions say that devils are very afraid of rooster Christmas and New Year are widely celebrated in Riga every year songs and are avoiding places where they live.

The main squares of the city are Traditional Christmas Market is decorated with majestic and taking place in Dome Square embellished festive fir trees

Pagan traditions are also Christmas and New Year’s honored – a log is being concerts and events are taking dragged during solstice time place throughout the city

On New Year’s Night, the locals gather – on the waterfront for the traditional salute. The same place also a New an integral element of Christmas and New Year Year’s party with concert and dance celebrations for the city. Riga has been one of is taking place the first places in the world where the tree has been decorated for Christmas

Easter with a wide range of events is celebrated at the Easter Open Air Museum, which is a unique Latvian traditional lifestyle monument on the outskirts of the city. Over the years, the Open-Air Museum has built a unique exposition of ancient buildings and artifacts, where on this holiday it is possible to participate in Easter pagan traditions - swinging, fighting with colored eggs. Church services are taking place in the sacred buildings of the city

Jāņi, Midsummer celebration – this holiday is celebrated throughout Latvia, but celebrating Ligo festival on the Daugava Ligo festival (June 23-24) waterfront has become a relatively new tradition

One of the most spectacular festivals in Riga and Latvia, when everyone goes to enjoy the magic of the . In Riga, a number of events are taking place in honor of Ligo festival – the largest of them – in Dome Square and Ligo Festival night on the waterfront

Riga Marathon

One of the most ambitious sports events in the Baltic Sea Region. In 2019, the has achieved the For a city of over 800 years, there is no shortage of traditions – both old highest - gold - quality mark that allows to gather tens of thousands of running enthusiasts and new. An unfailing source of tradition is the Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia located on the outskirts of Riga – one of the oldest and largest open-air museums in Europe, where it is possible to learn about centuries of customs and traditions. Riga City Festival

Every year Riga City Festival is organized for residents and town guests with concerts, shows, parades and other activities.

You can find out more about the events in Riga on LiveRiga website (www.liveriga.com)

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THE ECONOMIC PROFILE OF THE CITY OF RIGA 2019 RĪGAS DOMES PILSĒTAS ATTĪSTĪBAS DEPARTAMENTS

The City Development Department 4 Amatu Street, Riga, LV–1050, Latvia www.rdpad.lv [email protected] (+371) 67 012 947 @rdpad RDPilsetasattistibasdepartaments

THE ECONOMIC PROFILE OF THE CITY OF RIGA 2019