Ambassador Elita Kuzma’s Regional Visit to Minnesota

From February 24 to 25, 2025, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia to the United States of America Elita Kuzma went on a regional visit to Minnesota.

Ambassador Elita Kuzma met with Governor of Minnesaota Tim Walz and First Lady of Minnesota Gwen Walz, as well as representatives of the Minnesota Trade Office, discussing security and economic cooperation issues, along with the active role of the Latvian community in Minnesota. During their discussion about economic cooperation, Ambassador Kuzma and Governor Walz concluded that the economies of both Latvia and Minnesota are comparable, and Ambassador expressed hope that Governor would have the opportunity to visit Latvia on an economical visit. Governor Walz expressed interest in development issues related to the Baltic region as an external border of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The First Lady of Minnesota Gwen Walz was a patron of the XV Latvian Song and Dance Festival in the United States, held in Minnesota in 2022.

During the visit, Ambassador Elita Kuzma also opened the Honorary Consulate in Minnesota, where Ansis Vīksniņš has begun serving as the Honorary Consul. The opening event was 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.

Ambassador Elita Kuzma participated in a discussion with members of Global Minnesota, who showed great interest in Latvia’s perspective on current security challenges in Europe and the significance of the  strategic alliance between the United States and Latvia. Global Minnesota is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Minneapolis, dedicated to fostering international engagement by facilitating connections among individuals, enterprises, and communities through programs of cultural exchange, education, and global outreach.

In a meeting with the Medical Alley association, Ambassador Elita Kuzma discussed the development of biomedical and pharmaceutical industries, as well as the thriving startup ecosystems in Latvia and Minnesota, and agreed to explore the possibility of signing a cooperation memorandum. Medical Alley representatives noted that Minnesota stands out in the U.S. for its relatively high quality of life, including affordable housing and real estate costs, and a favorable and accessible environment for investments and startup development. Medical Alley is a globally recognized hub of health innovation and care, encompassing healthcare companies, startups, and institutions driving advancements in medical technology and services across the state.