June 4, 2026

The following is a press release:

Riga, Latvia – Around 90 investment promotion, economic development and investment professionals from 20 countries are gathering in Riga this week from June 3-5 for the 2026 Aftercare Forum, the world's only international event dedicated exclusively to investment aftercare.

Hosted by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) and organised by Cities & Collaboration, the Forum explores how technology, data and partnerships can help countries strengthen investor relationships, support business expansion and improve long-term competitiveness.

For Latvia, hosting the Forum reflects a broader evolution in investment promotion. While attracting new investors remains important, increasing emphasis is being placed on supporting companies already operating in the country, strengthening long-term investor relationships and developing more effective aftercare services.

As one of Europe’s most digital economies and a country where more than half of the investment volume attracted with LIAA’s support in 2025 came from expansion and reinvestment projects, Latvia offers a practical example of how aftercare is becoming an increasingly important pillar of economic development and competitiveness.

By opening the Forum, Latvia's Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis stressed the importance of supporting investors throughout their lifecycle:

"Investment attraction does not end when an investor arrives. The real work begins afterwards. Every challenge solved and every relationship maintained helps create the trust that leads to reinvestment, expansion and long-term economic growth. Today, more than 500 international investors operate in Latvia, and around half are considering further investment. This demonstrates why aftercare has become a strategic priority. By combining technology, data and close cooperation with investors, we can better identify opportunities for growth and strengthen Latvia’s competitiveness in an increasingly dynamic global economy."

The Minister's remarks reflected a broader shift taking place across investment promotion agencies worldwide. Increasingly, countries are focusing not only on attracting new investment projects, but also on helping existing investors grow, expand and reinvest.

For many investment promotion agencies, investor retention and reinvestment are becoming just as important as attracting new projects. Existing investors often account for a substantial share of new capital expenditure, job creation and business expansion, making aftercare an increasingly strategic component of economic development policy.

Ieva Jāgere, Director General of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, highlighted:

"Today, countries no longer compete only for investment - they compete for investor trust. This is why Aftercare is becoming one of the most important drivers of long-term competitiveness. The ability to help companies grow, reinvest, and develop new projects often creates greater economic value than the initial investment decision itself. What makes this forum particularly valuable is the opportunity for investment promotion professionals from all over the globe to exchange experiences on how to build long-term partnerships with investors and translate investor feedback into practical improvements to the business environment. For Latvia, this discussion is especially relevant - more than half of the investment volume attracted with LIAA’s support in 2025 came from expansion and reinvestment projects."

As a small, open and highly digital economy, Latvia sees technology-enabled aftercare as an increasingly important tool for strengthening competitiveness. Through dedicated aftercare, investment intelligence and sector-focused teams, LIAA is expanding its ability to identify investor needs, support business growth and translate investor feedback into practical improvements to the business environment.

Reflecting on the Forum's central theme, Carolina Arriagada Peters, Founder of Cities & Collaboration, highlighted the significance of this year's theme, Tech-Powered Aftercare:

"We live in a unique moment in history. Technology is radically changing how we work, invest, make decisions and live. The business opportunities are massive. The pace of transformation relentless. The shifts deep. This year’s Forum theme of Tech-Powered Aftercare reflects on the increasingly strategic role of technology in a context of uncertainty and change, and the growing importance of using data, intelligence, and digital tools to strengthen investor engagement, coordination, and competitiveness across systems and borders."

Throughout the two-day programme, participants are exploring how investment promotion agencies are adapting to a rapidly changing global environment. Sessions examine how artificial intelligence, investor intelligence systems and data-driven decision-making are transforming investor engagement and helping agencies identify expansion opportunities earlier and more effectively. Discussions also address the impact of geopolitics on investment decisions, talent attraction and workforce development, cybersecurity, stakeholder coordination, and the evolution of global business services. The Forum also showcases practical case studies from leading investment destinations, demonstrating how aftercare is increasingly becoming a strategic tool for competitiveness, resilience and long-term economic growth.

A recurring theme throughout the Forum is that effective aftercare is increasingly becoming a strategic capability built on people, data, trust and collaboration. Delegates highlight the importance of combining technology-enabled investor intelligence with strong personal relationships to better understand investor needs, identify opportunities for growth and respond proactively to emerging challenges.

Discussions in Riga are also highlighting a growing international consensus that investor retention, expansion and reinvestment are becoming just as important as winning new investment projects. By bringing together investment promotion professionals from 20 countries, the Aftercare Forum provides a unique platform to exchange practical solutions, share lessons learned and advance the global conversation on how countries can build stronger, more competitive and more resilient investment ecosystems. Forum photos: https://failiem.lv/LIAA/u/upb53r7q5d

About Cities & Collaboration

Cities & Collaboration is a London-based FDI consultancy working with governments, investment promotion agencies (IPAs), economic development organisations (EDOs) and business support organisations (BSOs) to design and deliver investment attraction, trade and economic development strategies. Through its training platform, FDI Campus, it provides masterclasses, webinars, executive mentoring and specialised training for investment professionals. In 2026, the organisation is hosting the FDI Retreat Europe for the fourth consecutive year.

About the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA)

The Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) promotes investment, exports and business development while strengthening Latvia's competitiveness in international markets. Through its international network and regional business centres, LIAA supports investors and companies in developing new business opportunities, fostering innovation and creating long-term economic growth in Latvia.

For further information:

International Marketing and Communication Department

Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA)

E-mail: prese@liaa.gov.lv