There is broad support for increasing productivity of entrepreneurs – how to find a suitable support programme for themselves?

Information campaign “Support for entrepreneurs” is a platform that brings together the national administrations providing European Union funds and State aid to existing and emerging entrepreneurs who advise entrepreneurs. In the framework of the campaign, conferences, seminars and exchanges of experience are organised throughout Latvia on topics of interest to entrepreneurs and topical topics, as well as opportunities to receive support for implementation of business projects.
The fora on state aid to entrepreneurs have become an annual tradition, providing the opportunity for entrepreneurs to receive up-to-date information regarding available and planned support for business development. To provide detailed information on the current and planned EU funds and state aid for launching and expanding business, as well as an insight into planned support after 2020, in September of that year, Latvian entrepreneurs are invited to forums “state aid business” that will be held Valmiera, Liepaja and Jelgava.
The forums “State aid business” is traditionally organised by the Ministry of Economics, the development finance institution Altum, the Latvian Investment and Development Agency and the European Commission's representation in Latvia as part of the information campaign “Support for entrepreneurs”.

The objectives of the information campaign:

1. Inform entrepreneurs about developments in business and co-financing.
2. Aging business in Latvia.
3. Improve the business environment in Latvia.
4. Improve the communication between economic operators and public authorities.

Andris Kužnieks, Deputy Head of Mission of the European Commission in Latvia, indicates: “Although more recently, Latvia was overwhelmed by the fact that the European Union's financial support will be negligible in the next programming period, or even if it is not at all, we see that there is no basis for concern. In the European Commission's proposal, on the basis OF EU support for one person, Latvia is still one of the countries that achieve much more than others. For example, funding for Latvia and Slovakia – around 300 euro per capita per year – is still three times higher than for example for Italy. What needs to be addressed is the change in our thinking and the gifts, or the recipients of grants, to become clever financial managers who can also use other financial instruments offered by Europe. It is necessary to consider how business needs to be more effective in building links with science and research, and much greater attention must be paid to innovation and green thinking."
In 2017, the information campaign “Support for entrepreneurs” became the “EUROPEAN ENTERPRISE PROMOTION AWARD 2017” for national winners in the nomination “Promoting entrepreneurial spirit”. 
News on State aid to entrepreneurs is invited to follow https://www.facebook.com/atbalstsuznemejiem/
Source: em.gov.lv