Opening of the Honorary Consulate of Latvia in the State of Minnesota

On February 24, 2025, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia to the United States of America Elita Kuzma opened the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Latvia in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where Ansis Vīksniņš has begun serving as the Honorary Consul. In her speech, Ambassador Elita Kuzma thanked the Honorary Consul Ansis Vīksniņš for his previous work in diaspora activities and for representing Latvia in Minnesota and the United States.

Ansis Vīksniņš was born in Chicago, Illinois, but moved to Minnesota during his studies, where he became a lawyer. He has been an active member of the Minnesota Latvian community for over 20 years, including serving as the Council President of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Latvian Organizations Association of Minnesota.

Honorary Consul Ansis Vīksniņš also chaired the organizing committee for the XV Latvian Song and Dance Festival in the United States, held in Minnesota in 2022. Additionally, Mr. Vīksniņš is the Regional Director for Minnesota of the Latvian American Chamber of Commerce (LACC).

During her regional visit, Ambassador Elita Kuzma met with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who also praised the active Latvian diaspora in Minnesota. The governor’s wife, Gwen Walz, was a patron of the XV Latvian Song and Dance Festival in the United States.

The opening of the Honorary Consulate was also attended by Jodi Niehoff, Deputy State Director for U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, as well as the Minnesota Consular and Honorary Consular Corps and the President of the Ukrainian Center Dima Blyschak.