The Freeport of Riga recently conducted its annual management meeting with stevedores, focusing on the port’s performance in the current year and outlining plans for the future. The port’s growth strategy emphasizes not only cargo handling but also ongoing digitization, industrial cluster development, and substantial investments in infrastructure. Notably, the containerized cargo segment experienced a 7% increase, and the agricultural cargo segment grew by 15%, contributing to a potentially record-breaking year for the Port of Riga. Investments in infrastructure development by port merchants reached EUR 30.6 million in 2022 and EUR 166 million over the last five years.
The Freeport of Riga Authority’s investments in port infrastructure for 2022 totaled EUR 5 million, with expectations to reach up to EUR 9 million in 2024. The port cluster employed 4,165 people in 2022, generating EUR 33.3 million in taxes. The positive impact of cruise tourism was highlighted, with a record 79.6 thousand tourists arriving in Riga during the successful cruise season. The importance of local government involvement in developing passenger infrastructure, particularly the construction of the new Riga Passenger Terminal, was emphasized, aligning with the positive sentiment of 87% of Riga residents towards cruise tourism. Additionally, discussions on connecting Rail Baltica with the Port of Riga were suggested to open new opportunities for port companies and enhance the country’s military mobility capacity.
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