Latgale Strategy 2030
Latgale is one of the four regions of Latvia which is lagging behind in terms of social, economic and infrastructure development, as well as Latgale has seen the drop of the number of population in recent years. Latgale has historically been a multicultural region with different languages and cultures which is closely linked with other Latvian regions, Russia, Belarus and Lithuania. Latgale Strategy 2030 is a long-term development planning document of Latgale planning region. The Strategy sets a long-term goal to be achieved by 2030 in accordance with Latvia Sustainable Development Strategy 2030 – to achieve more rapid economic development of the region in order to raise income of people, maintain and enhance the rich potential of Latgale and would make Latgale for an attractive living environment also for the future generations. The Strategy was approved in 2010 in the meeting of the Development Council of Latgale Planning Region.
Latgale Program from 2010 until 2017 is the Action Program which has been developed under the Latgale Strategy 2030 in order to implement the Strategy. This Program is the proposal of Latgale region to the next EU financing period from 2014 to 2020. Latgale Program corresponds to the objectives of Latvia 2030 - Sustainable Development Strategy and its action directions include the development of creative industries and infrastructure of cultural institutions in order to foster the development of cities within the network of cities; activities aimed at protection of cultural space in rural areas; organization of big cultural events in order to raise awareness of the region through the Latgalian culture; and implementation of other projects linked to culture.
Challenges identified in the implementation of this measure: Latgale 2030 Strategy has been recently elaborated, therefore a successful implementation of the Strategy will be proved by: gradual rise in income, in 2030 reaching the 60% of EU average gross wage level; increase in employment rate and the increase of the role of the private sector created by increased efficiency of the existing companies, as well as technological excellence and labour productivity, and raising the economic activity level of the community (30 000 new jobs generated and the existing secured); stabilization of region's population. Despite to the unfavourable migration and population prognosis showing that the population in 2030 may fall below 260 thousand inhabitants, the reslut of targeted actions will ensure the population of the region at a level - at least 300 000 inhabitants.