On 12 May, 2025, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Latvian Minister Baiba Braže and Ugandan Minister Gen. Odongo Jeje Abubakhar launched the forum “Latvia and Countries in Africa: Advancing Resilience and Development through Digital Solutions.” This second edition of the forum fosters dialogue and cooperation between Latvia and African nations.
During the event, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Latvian and Ugandan Foreign Ministries to establish regular consultations on bilateral cooperation and international issues. The Ugandan Foreign Minister also met with Latvia’s Transport Minister, Atis Švinka, to sign an Agreement on Air Transport.
“The first ever visit by a Ugandan Foreign Minister to Latvia is a historic milestone in the relations between our countries. During the second Latvia-Africa Forum, we had a discussion with Foreign Minister Gen. Odongo Jeje Abubakhar on the deepening of economic cooperation, including in the field of digitalisation. Both Latvian and African companies are showing increasing interest in cooperation, especially in the fields of ICT, new technologies, digitalization, food, agriculture, and forestry. In five years, trade between Latvia and African countries has increased by 52%. Latvian businesses and NGOs are implementing development cooperation projects in several African countries to help women and girls acquire IT skills and engage in entrepreneurship. Latvia is also carrying out projects related to good governance and innovative agriculture. To date, projects have been implemented in Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Egypt, South Africa, Cameroon, and Ghana. We also discussed Latvia’s priorities in the UN Security Council, including digital skills and the participation of women and youth around the world, and respect for international law and the UN Charter – in Ukraine, the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere,” said Foreign Minister Baiba Braže.
Minister Odongo explored opportunities in sustainable forest management and the digital sector by visiting AS Latvijas Valsts meži and the Latvian IT Cluster, where he interacted with several ICT companies.
The forum featured three panels on ICT cooperation, digital healthcare transformations, and women’s empowerment through digitalisation. Artjoms Uršuļskis, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasised the potential for collaboration in the ICT sector. The Senior Adviser of Transform Health, Nnenna Nwakanma, moderated the healthcare panel, discussing the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on digital health services. At the same time, the Special Envoy on Digital Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Viktors Makarovs, led the panel on women’s empowerment.
The Latvian National Museum of Art also unveiled an African art exhibition from 13 May 13 to 7 September. This forum is part of Latvia’s public diplomacy effort to support its candidacy for an elected seat on the United Nations Security Council, promoting international cooperation and contributing to global peace and resilience.
