On June 6, 2024, during the International Conference “Third year of war. Latvian security” representatives of state institutions, municipalities and companies working in the field of defense informed the participants of the conference about the work done in preparing Latvia for a possible critical situation.
The conference was organized by the Polish-Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Irish-Latvian Chamber of Commerce, the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Latvia, the Association of Large Cities of Latvia in cooperation with the companies “Patria Latvia” and “Vic Tec”. Its development was supported by LMT and Road Construction Company “Igate”.
The Ministry of Economy has a special responsibility in the national security policy. Until now, it already creates the country’s strategic reserve of oil products, which should provide the country’s needs for three months at the time of the crisis. Now the ministry is also responsible for supplying citizens with essential goods in emergency situations.
Edmunds Valantis, the State Secretary of the Ministry, explained that the government has allocated the necessary funding for this purpose, and such goods will be purchased this year. By involving local governments, they would be promptly delivered to people affected by the crisis.
Valantis recognized the need of residents to withdraw cash from their bank accounts in emergency situations as a serious, still unresolved problem. This is hampered by the fact that ATMs are not available outside the cities, as well as legal obstacles.
Former Minister of Defense Artis Pabriks also spoke extensively about all these issues.
Ukrainian public worker and businessman, member of the Lviv City Council Andrians Hutnik (Андрийян Гутник) openly shared his harsh experience when the city had to receive a stream of panic-evacuated Kharkiv refugees at the beginning of the Russian war. He warned of the problems that could be caused by traffic jams, with trains taking up to a day and a half between the two cities and insufficient supplies of medicines.
Chairman of Valmiera County Council Jānis Baiks, also representing the board of the Association of Large Cities of Latvia, categorically confirmed the readiness of municipalities to be the “backbone” of civil protection. He recalled the experience gained during the Covid-19 pandemic, when state institutions closed their doors to visitors, but municipalities provided the residents with the necessary assistance. Baiks also pointed out that the regions themselves are able to cooperate both with the civil institutions of the state and with the Latvian army and its allies.
As “examples of good practice” of what has already been done, LMT’s contribution to the development of NATO communication technologies, where the company has been working for several years, as well as the recently opened armored personnel carrier production facility of SIA “Patria Latvia” in Valmiera, were especially mentioned. Also, the listeners were reminded about other vehicle, ammunition and harness manufacturers, about the Latvian drone industry – also as an opportunity to invest in the development of new products.
On the other hand, the Latvian defense industry can find a business partner in the Polish company association PGZ (Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa S.A. – Polish Arms Group). It includes 50 companies employing 18 thousand people in 100 production plants. PGZ Development Department Director Mateusz Roszkiewicz demonstrated the group’s impressive production – armored vehicles, artillery, radars – in his presentation.
“Order in the world began with order at home. It’s the same with security – if we know and are able to take care of our security, then the state and the government must act as the keeper of the guidelines, guide and cooperation partner between themselves, business and civil society,” believes
Jānis Mārtiņš Skuja, Founding Member of the Polish Latvian Chamber of Commerce.
Helsinki city rescue service expert Tomi Rask introduced the Finnish capital’s civil defense plan to the conference participants. It is based on close service cooperation not only with the Finnish army and its reservists or medics, but also with various public – including household – organizations. Rask described the situation in the city caused by Russian aggression as a “prolonged crisis”.
The audience of the conference repeatedly expressed the desire to regularly hear convincing news about how municipalities and the state as a whole are preparing for possible crises, so such conferences are desirable in the future as well.
