RIGA, Aug 20 (LETA) - During the fight with different challenges, municipal leaders should not forget the main goal - to increase residents' welfare, said Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity), addressing participants of the Latvian Association of Local Governments.

He said that at present the government and local governments have focused on overcoming the crisis. It is the fight with the Covid-19 pandemic and the crisis on the border with Belarus. These are challenges that Latvia will tackle. The main issue is not to lose the main goal - people's welfare.

In order to achieve this goal, new investments are necessary, it is also needed to attract business representatives who will create new jobs.

In the first half of this year, EUR 320 million new investments have been made in Latvia and more than 1,600 new jobs have been created.

The prime minister admitted that most of the investments were made in Riga, Pieriga and Latvia's largest cities. Therefore, forces should be put together to make the new regions stronger.

One of the next tasks that will follow the administrative territorial reform is reform of the school network. Karins underscored the role of local governments in this process. He said that Education and Science Minister Anita Muizniece will come up with a new vision on the school network and teachers' wage reform.

As reported, the 31st congress of the Latvian Association of Local Governments (LPS) takes place today to elect the board, the chairman of the board and deputies. The congress will focus on the work of local governments after the Administrative Territorial Reform.