On 6 May, President of Latvia Egils Levits and Mrs Andra Levite visited Valmiera, one of the national development centres in Vidzeme. They met with staff and politicians of Valmiera regional municipality to discuss current priorities and challenges after the amalgamation. ‘Valmiera is the economic and cultural engine of Vidzeme, a role model for other Latvian cities in terms of development,’ President of Latvia pointed out.
Municipal experts and politicians shared their assessment on how life in the region has changed since administrative-territorial reform, which has been a success, especially in terms of funding of various development projects and business initiatives.
Discussion then turned to impressive size of the region and its potential to provide high quality services centrally. Members of the regional council informed that new regional integrated state and local client service centres will be added to the 12 existing one-stop-shop agencies located in 12 libraries. The total number of Valmiera region integrated client centres will then reach 19.
President of Latvia underlined the need to focus overall region’s strategic development on strong local community identities at the district level.
Valmiera has applied for European Capital of Culture in 2027. According to leadership, by winning the title Valmiera will show that it is ‘micro-metropolis of high culture’ where ‘culture interacts with traditions of pragmatism in governance’. Visit of President Levits coincided with mission of competition jury to Valmiera. President of Latvia has also visited two other Latvian contenders for the title of European Capital of Culture 2027, Liepāja and Daugavpils, in recent weeks.
Valmiera region is the second largest region of Latvia formed after the amalgamation of Beverīna, Burtnieki, Kocēni, Mazsalaca, Naukšēni, Rūjiena and Strenči regions. Its capital is Valmiera.
