Kurzeme Business Forum
BALTIC DEFENCE INVESTMENT PITCH 2025
November 28
Ventspils Science Center VIZIUM
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Kurzemes Business Forum 2025 — a meeting point for entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators shaping the next generation of business.
This year’s focus is on the development of the defence and security industry in the Baltic region, highlighting technology, innovation, and investment opportunities.
The forum will also host the Baltic Defence Investment Pitch 2025 – the first Baltic-wide investment pitch for defence technologies, where innovation meets investors and ideas turn into real opportunities.
Armands Puče
Moderator of Part 1
Jānis Vītoliņš
Chairman of the Ventspils City Municipality Council
Viktors Valainis
Minister of Economy of the Republic of Latvia
Artis Pabriks
Executive Director of the Military Technology, Drones and Robotics Association ("MilTech")
Igors Udodovs
Acting CEO of the Freeport of Ventspils, Deputy CEO, Head of the Marketing and Development Department
Jēkabs Krieviņš
Member of the Board, ALTUM
Jānis Lielpēteris
Moderator of Part 2
Uģis Norītis
Deputy State Secretary for Planning Issues of the Ministry of Defence
Mart Luide
Chief Technology Officer, Ardlat
Elīna Egle-Ločmele
Chairwoman of the Board, Federation and Defence Industries of Latvia
Laura Štrovalde
Deputy Director of Investment and Development Agency of Latvia
Agenda
Part 1
Is Latvia ready to Host Defence Industry Manufacturing?
10:00 - 13:00
Moderator: Armands Puče
9:30 Registration and Coffee
10:00 Opening remarks
Jānis Vītoliņš, Chairman of the Ventspils City Council
Viktors Valainis, Minister of Economics of the Republic of LatviaUģis Norītis, Deputy State Secretary for Planning Issues of the Ministry of Defence
Laura Štrovalde, Deputy Director of Investment and Development Agency of Latvia
Elīna Egle-Ločmele, Chairwoman of the Board, Federation of Security and Defence Industries of Latvia
Laura Štrovalde, Deputy Director of Investment and Development Agency of Latvia
Elīna Egle-Ločmele, Chairwoman of the Board, Federation of Security and Defence Industries of Latvia
10:50-11:30 Diskusiju panelis
Igors Udodovs, Acting CEO of the Freeport of Ventspils, Deputy CEO, Head of the Marketing and Development Department
Viktors Valainis, Minister of Economy of the Republic of Latvia
Uģis Norītis, Deputy State Secretary for Planning Issues of the Ministry of Defence
Artis Pabriks,
Executive Director of the Military Technology, Drones and Robotics Association (“MilTech”)
Challenges and Opportunities in the Development of Defence Industry Manufacturing
11:30 EU and National Funding for the Defence Industry
Jēkabs Krieviņš, Member of the Board, ALTUM
TBD
12:15-13:00 Panel Discussion (in English)
Jēkabs Krieviņš, Member of the Board, ALTUM
Mart Luide, Chief Technology Officer, Ardlat
Elīna Egle-Ločmele, Chairwoman of the Board, Federation of Security and Defence Industries of Latvia
Laura Štrovalde, Deputy Director of Investment and Development Agency of Latvia
Lunch Break*
* Complimentary lunch will be provided for event participants by the organizers.
Part 2
Defence investment pitch
14:00 - 17:00
Moderator: Jānis Lielpēteris
Forum language: Latvian. Interpretation at the forum will be provided by the TILDE AI tool (Please bring your own headphones).
Registration
Organizers
