Export and Innovation Awards 2022 winners announced

The Export and Innovation Awards 2022 have reached their recipients. The President of Latvia, Egils Levits, presented the Export Champion Award to network equipment manufacturer Mikrotīkls, which exports to more than 120 countries around the world. The Minister of Economics, Ilze Indriksone, presented the Innovation Champion award to local tech giant LMT for its investments into research and development, as well as creating an environment where other companies can test their innovations.

Opening the ceremony of the Export and Innovation Awards, the President of Latvia, Egils Levits, emphasised that society benefits from companies that demand higher standards from themselves and their partners, that operate according to best practices and that value their people who dedicate knowledge, time and skills to help the company grow.

“It is investment in people, skills and knowledge that will be the determining factor for Latvia’s competitiveness in the global market,” Levits said.

The Export and Innovation Awards honour companies that have excelled in exports in the past year and have created new and innovative products or services. The competition is organised by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) in cooperation with the Ministry of Economics, the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB), the financial institution Altum and the Latvian exporters association The Red Jackets.

Awards in five categories

The awards were presented in five categories: Export Newcomer, Export Leader, Export Champion, Innovation Champion and Most Exportable New Tourism Product. Unlike in previous years, this year’s winners, with the exception of the tourism category, were determined on the basis of data provided by the CSB. It considered companies’ exports, value added, profitability, number of employees and other indicators.

“Latvia’s economy is currently in transition, and we are developing sectors that are able to deliver higher added value. It is no coincidence that one of the leading motives of the government’s declaration is “Transforming the Latvian economy for better quality of life in Latvia”. The transition to the so-called “smart” economy will require major investments. Entrepreneurs will have to take on more risks, and the public administration will have to offer efficient support tools to make the process as smooth as possible,” said Kaspars Rožkalns, Director of LIAA.

Winners of the Export and Innovation Awards 2022

• Export Champion: telecommunications and technology company Mikrotīkls;
• Innovation Champion: telecommunications and technology company LMT;
• Export Newcomer with turnover of 50 to 200 thousand euros: Smart Aero;
• Export Newcomer with turnover of 200 thousand to one million euros: Int-Sol Unlimited;
• Export Newcomer nominees with turnover of more than one million euros: Kohsel;
• Export Leader in knowledge-intensive bioeconomy (small to medium wood processing companies): Latgran;
• Export Leader in knowledge-intensive bioeconomy (large wood processing companies): Latvijas Finieris;
• Export Leader in knowledge-intensive bioeconomy (small to medium food producers): Karavela;
• Export Leader in knowledge-intensive bioeconomy (large food producers): Dobeles dzirnavnieks;
• Export Leader in biomedical, medical technology and pharmaceutical industry (small and medium enterprises): Icotton;
• Export Leader in biomedical, medical technology and pharmaceutical industry (large enterprises): Grindeks;
• Export Leader in photonics, smart materials, technology and engineering systems (small and medium enterprises): Light Guide Optics International;
• Export Leader in photonics, smart materials, technology and engineering systems (large enterprises): Lexel fabrika;
• Export Leader in smart energy and mobility (small and medium enterprises): LSEZ Caljan;
• Export Leader in smart energy and mobility (large enterprises): Bucher Municipal;
• Export Leader in information and communications technology (small to medium enterprises): Estoty;
• Export Leader in information and communications technology (large enterprises): Tieto Latvia;
• Most Exportable New Tourism Product (small to medium enterprises): Untamed Nights and Nature Gallery produced by Don’t Panic and Skudras metropole; 
• Most Exportable New Tourism Product (associations, foundations, planning regions and local authorities group): Madame Hoyer’s Guest House museum of interiors.

Two special awards were also presented. The Delfi news website Readers’ Favourite award went to JA Travel from Liepāja, which won for its authentic fishing experience and freshly cooked seafood on board the boat. In the Safe Exporter category, the financial institution Altum awarded the company Valpro.

Source: Press release (labsoflatvia.com). Publicity photo - President of Latvia, Egils Levits, presented this year’s Export Champion award to John Martin Tully, Chairman of the Board of Mikrotīkls