About Us
The Vidzeme Planning Region* is one of five planning regions in Latvia. Its primary task is to plan and coordinate the balanced long-term development of the territory. This is achieved through the coordination of various municipal and state administrative activities, as well as the development and implementation of development projects within the Vidzeme Planning Region.
The Vidzeme Planning Region represents the interests of all its residents. In regional development planning and daily operations, the institution applies an integrated approach, encompassing economic, social, and environmental aspects.
The Vidzeme Planning Region also focuses on energy efficiency, blue bioeconomy, the Green Deal 2030, fostering knowledge and competencies, innovation, bioresource conservation, and other current priorities.
Three values
People, economy, and territory – the three main focus areas of the Vidzeme Planning Region’s activities.
People are the most valuable resource of the region, which is why it is essential to ensure that residents feel safe and secure. This involves improving living conditions, addressing socio-economic challenges, and tackling education-related issues.
The goal of the Vidzeme Planning Region is to enhance the capabilities and quality of life for its residents.
The region’s economy is directly influenced by decisions made at the national level and global trends. To strengthen the regional economy, the Vidzeme Planning Region focuses on promoting cross-border cooperation and enhancing the competitiveness of businesses, particularly by encouraging innovation and providing opportunities for lifelong learning. Improving the economic value of the Vidzeme Planning Region by fostering a better business environment and increasing economic sustainability is of paramount importance.
Key factors in territorial development include transport and communication infrastructure, the preservation of environmental resources, and strengthening the region’s identity. Tourism plays a significant role in the growth of the region. The Vidzeme Planning Region actively works to enhance accessibility, connectivity, and the overall appeal of the region. Equally important is the preservation and development of the region’s unique cultural landscape and the creation of a sustainable, well-functioning network of Vidzeme’s towns, grounded in principles of mutual cooperation and complementarity.
*In 2006, Latvia established planning regions with the aim of effectively coordinating planning and development policies at both local and international levels, as well as promoting the overall sustainable development of the regions. Planning regions are derived public entities, and their decision-making body is the Regional Development Council of the Planning Region (Regional Development Law, Section 5). The activities of the planning regions are supervised by the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development (Regional Development Law, Section 16).
