Latvian Agriculture minister's working visit to the Republic of Korea strengthens cooperation in agriculture, forestry, and food sectors

From March 16 to 19, 2025, the Latvian Minister of Agriculture, Armands Krauze, went on a working visit with a business delegation to the Republic of Korea. The primary aim of the visit was to foster trade relations and attract new investments from the Republic of Korea.

The Minister was accompanied by Latvian entrepreneurs from the food and fisheries sectors, who held meetings with key players in Korea’s food industry, including retail chains, distributors, wholesalers, and more. These discussions took place during a business forum organized by the Latvian Investment and Development Agency’s representative office in Seoul. As part of the forum, Minister Krauze, along with representatives from Latvia’s State Forests, also met with the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology to explore technological solutions for smart farms and sustainable greenhouse operations.

In addition, the Minister engaged in talks with the Korea Rural Community Corporation (KRCC), a key agency under the Ministry of Agriculture of Korea, to discuss potential collaboration in agriculture. The KRCC expressed strong interest in Latvian peat, particularly its application in greenhouses and horticulture. Furthermore, discussions with the Korea Forest Promotion Institute highlighted opportunities for cooperation in forest mapping technologies and methods. There is also significant potential for expanding the export of wood pellets from Latvia to Korea.

The visit concluded with a meeting at POSCO International, a prominent conglomerate involved in sectors such as fossil energy, renewable energy, metalworking, mobility, plastics, and agriculture. POSCO International expressed interest in increasing trade with Latvia and exploring investment opportunities. Additionally, discussions with SASE, one of Korea’s largest poultry meat importers, focused on progress related to the Latvian poultry meat certification for the Korean market.

Throughout the visit, several one-on-one meetings took place between Latvian entrepreneurs and Korean businesses, further strengthening the ties between the two countries.

Photo: Korea Forest Promotion Institute