During the visit, the President of Latvia visited production companies and educational and scientific institutions in Ventspils, which were becoming increasingly closer cooperation partners in recent years.
Raimonds Vējonis participated in the opening of a new technological line of electronic producing company, HansaMatrix, which would almost double the company's output and would create dozens of new jobs. “Here, science joins quality education and professional skills, creating an inspiring success story of high-tech business,” stated the President of Latvia.
Raimonds Vējonis also visited the flexible packaging production company, JSC Immer Digital, and Bucher Municipal Ltd. producing utility vehicles for street cleaning and snow removal.
The head of state appreciated the fact that industrial production was increasing in recent years in Ventspils. “It is crucial that the students of Ventspils Technical College train their practical skills at local companies, whereas the graduates of Ventspils University College join the family of leading specialists,” said the President of Latvia.
While visiting the Ventspils Technical College, Raimonds Vējonis familiarised himself with the training of young professionals. “High-quality vocational training becomes more and more prestigious. The highly sought after professionals and successful entrepreneurs are among the graduates of vocational education establishments,” indicated the President of Latvia.
During the meeting, the Ventspils Education Board informed of the new curriculum and teaching methods introduced in Ventspils schools and designed to encourage students to go into subjects of exact sciences more, develop creative and intellectual abilities, and make decisions in difficult situations. The new teaching methods used on an experimental basis in Ventspils and showing the first positive results would be implemented in all the schools of Latvia in 2018.
The President of Latvia visited the International Radio Astronomy Centre of the Ventspils University College, where complicated space research was carried out enabling the University College to implement the internationally significant research projects.
During a meeting with the Board Members of the Freeport Authority of Ventspils, the President of Latvia was informed about the plans of the Freeport Authority on creating support for the companies operating in the territory of the Freeport. The visit ended with Raimonds Vējonis attending the Ventspils Creativity Centre and meeting the population of Ventspils City and Region.