Business Development in the Latgale Region Through the Modernization of Manufacturing with the Help of the LEADER Programme

Project title: "Business Development in the Latgale Region through the Modernization of Manufacturing with the Help of the LEADER Program"

Project implementation period: October 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025

Project participants: two faculty members (Dr.oec. Associate Professor Elita Jermolajeva and Mg.paed. Lecturer Vilma Keiša) and three second-year students of the short-cycle professional higher education programme “Entrepreneurship in Agriculture”: Elīna Liepiņa, Artjoms Ribakovs, and Andrejs Rudzinskis

Cooperation partners: the association “Ludza District Partnership,” the association “Preiļi-Līvāni District Partnership ‘Kūpā,’” and the association “Rēzekne District Partnership”

Tasks completed as part of the project: 

1. Review of scientific literature on entrepreneurship in agriculture and statistical data on European Union co-financing for rural development.

2. A questionnaire was developed and an online survey was conducted on the state of entrepreneurship in rural areas of the Latgale region (56 respondents participated).

3. With the support of the project’s partner organizations, information was compiled and analyzed on 197 LEADER programme entrepreneurship projects in the Līvāni, Ludza, Preiļi, and Rēzekne municipalities from 2016 to 2024, totaling 3.64 million euros.

4. Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted with entrepreneurs in Ludza and Rēzekne regions. 

Project leaders: Dr.oec. Associate Professor Elita Jermolajeva and Mg.paed. Lecturer Vilma Keiša

Project results:

The results of the study were presented at the applied research conference “EDUCATION. GROWTH. SUSTAINABILITY. 2025” organized by the Association of Colleges of Latvia at Riga Technical College, and an article “Entrepreneurship in Rural Areas of the Latgale Region – Opportunities and Challenges” was published. The publication is also available in the proceedings of the LBTU international conference “Research for Rural Development 2025,” which is indexed in high-impact scientific databases. The study was presented at the annual LBTU Malnava College student applied research seminar on May 27. During the project, students improved their knowledge and skills in scientific research and presentation; opportunities for research in business were promoted; and collaboration between faculty and students was fostered.

1. Presentation of the study (in Latvian): Pētījuma prezentācija LBTU Malnavas koledžas studentu lietišķo pētījumu seminārā
2. Study materials:  Pētījuma materiāls 

Information is also available on the websites of the project’s partner organizations:

1. Association “Preiļi-Līvāni District Partnership ‘Kūpā’: Biedrība „Preiļu-Līvānu novadu partnerība “Kūpā””
2. Association “Ludza District Partnership”: Biedrības “Ludzas rajona partnerība”
3. Association “Rēzekne District Partnership”: Biedrības “Rēzeknes rajona partnerība”