On 1 June, President Edgars Rinkēvičs paid a working visit to Cēsis Municipality, where he met with the municipal leadership, learned about the work of local businesses, visited the research organisation “Environmental Solutions Institute”, and met with local residents.
During discussions with the leadership of Cēsis Municipality, the parties addressed changes to the school network, housing availability, the development of entrepreneurship in the municipality, and civil protection issues.
The President visited the production facility of the dairy cooperative “Straupe” in Plācis, SIA “Duck Woodworks” in Cēsis, the rental housing project “Māja Cēsīs” developed by Draugiem Group, and met entrepreneurs from the “Rainis” creative industries and technology business district.
“Entrepreneurship in Cēsis is thriving and diverse, both in terms of sectors and scale. Here we see strong companies that have grown beyond the boundaries of the municipality and the region while continuing to strengthen the local community through their work and ideas. The municipality also promotes business growth – it’s open to new initiatives and addressing a wide range of issues. I am convinced that the cooperation between residents, entrepreneurs and the local government will continue to help implement the municipality’s future development plans,” said E. Rinkēvičs.
At the research and innovation organisation “Environmental Solutions Institute”, which operates on the site of the former Priekuļi airfield, the President was introduced to the researchers’ work in the fields of environmental technology, bioeconomy and remote sensing. “The work of the “Environmental Solutions Institute” demonstrates how closely nature and technology are intertwined today. Researchers based in Priekuļi use satellite data, drones, and sensor technologies to study Latvia’s forests, grasslands and water bodies, monitor floodplains in the Dviete area of Sēlija, and help analyse rice cultivation processes in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. The contrast between the Dviete floodplains and one of the world’s largest rice-growing regions illustrates modern science perfectly – meaningful research can be carried out regardless of geographical location. We can be proud that an organisation of international standing operates in Cēsis Municipality,” the President emphasised after the visit.
During the visit, President Rinkēvičs also met pupils from the preschool group “Dārtiņa” of Bērzaine Elementary School and concluded his working visit by meeting with local residents at the “Cēsis” concert hall.
