Drošības un aizsardzības industrijas eksporta apmērs var pārsniegt 500 miljonus eiro, apstiprina Dienas Bizness

Latvia’s security and defense industry exports may have surpassed 500 million euros in 2024, according to Elīna Egle-Ločmele, chairperson of the Latvian Security and Defense Industry Federation (DAIF Latvija).

Speaking in a TV3 interview on the program “900 Seconds” on April 24, 2026, Egle-Ločmele stated that the export volume for the previous year could have exceeded the half-billion-euro mark, expressing hope that the sector would continue to grow.

“I very much hope that we will surpass the half-billion-euro threshold in exports,” said Egle-Ločmele, noting that detailed data on company performance for 2025 would be available in May.

She emphasized that one of the key priorities for the current year should be strengthening the security of critical infrastructure.

The Latvian Security and Defense Industry Federation represents companies operating in the security and defense sector, which has seen increased focus from national authorities aiming to develop the industry and integrate it into NATO and European Union supply chains.

According to the Ministry of Economy, the government has defined five main directions for developing the defense industry, including targeted investments in research and development, expanding military production capacity in Latvia, reducing administrative barriers for the industry, establishing a contact point within the Latvian Investment and Development Agency for large defense projects, and creating reserves of essential goods such as food, medicine, and fuel.

The Ministry of Economy’s “Defense Industry and Innovation Support Strategy 2025-2036” plans to establish an investment attraction model in 2025 to help Latvia better integrate into global supply chains, with the Latvian Investment and Development Agency designated as the main contact point for foreign investors in defense and dual-use projects.

The strategy also includes specialized support programs for the defense industry, such as continuing the Ministry of Economy’s investment fund of 67 million euros and securing 150 million euros in European Union funding to enhance industrial capabilities.

support is available for the development of new dual-use products through the program “Support for New Product Development and Internationalization” in its third round.

Representatives of the defense industry have previously raised concerns about coordination gaps between the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Economy regarding the involvement of local companies in strengthening Latvia’s and Ukraine’s military capabilities.

In April 2025, Egle-Ločmele had indicated that the turnover of Latvia’s defense industry could have reached two billion euros in 2024, highlighting the sector’s significant economic weight.