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On 19 March 2026, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže, during a working visit to Oslo, in the Kingdom of Norway, opened the first Latvian–Norwegian Drone Forum, which brought together more than 20 Latvian and 40 Norwegian drone manufacturers. The Minister also delivered a speech at the international Construction Days conference, the largest construction industry event in Norway, which was attended by Latvian companies UPB, We Build Parks, and Compor.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže:
“Norway is a reliable and important trade partner for Latvia and the eighth-largest foreign investor in Latvia. We wish to deepen cooperation in the economy, technology, and the defence industry, particularly in the field of drone technology. This is essential not only for strengthening national military capabilities but also for regional cooperation and the security of supply chains. Moreover, Latvia’s defence industry is demonstrating rapid maturity and potential – in 2025, we secured approximately 50% more funding from the European Commission and the European Defence Fund than in 2024. This demonstrates our ability to lead cross-border consortia and strengthen our position in European supply chains.”
The first Latvian-Norwegian Drone Forum was organized by the Latvian Embassy in Oslo, the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), Military Technology, Drones & Robotics Association and the Norwegian Defence Industry Association. The Minister invited Norwegian representatives to participate in the international Drone Summit in Riga on 27 May. The Minister of Defence of Latvia, Andris Sprūds, and the Commander of the Latvian National Armed Forces, Kaspars Pudāns, also participated in the forum.
“Latvia and Norway have great potential for cooperation in the construction and infrastructure sectors – both in high-readiness military infrastructure projects and in energy efficiency, sustainable construction and timber construction technologies. The presence of Latvian companies – UPB, Tenax Panel, We Build Parks, Northproject, CLT Profi and others – in Norway demonstrates our professionalism and capacity to work under demanding conditions.
The construction sector is part of comprehensive defence – for example, the construction of military infrastructure within NATO requires specific equipment, skills, certification, and more. Innovation and technological development in this industry have been driven by the geopolitical realities.
Close cooperation in construction and infrastructure development contributes to the resilience and security of the Baltic and Nordic region, including by ensuring a faster response in times of crisis,” noted Baibe Braže.
In Oslo’s historic centre, Baiba Braže visited the Qvarteret building rehabilitation project carried out by the Latvian construction company UPB. UPB is one of the largest Latvian companies operating successfully in the Nordic market and delivering large-scale construction projects.
At the Norwegian Business School, one of the largest business schools in Europe, Baiba Braže met with the school’s Vice-Rector Dr Thomas Hoholm, Associate Professor Jānis Bērziņš and students, including those from Latvia, and discussed cooperation among the Baltic Sea region countries and Latvia’s achievements in the fields of renewable energy, drone, space, 5G/6G, AI and quantum technologies.
The Minister gave interviews to the Norwegian public broadcaster NRK and Norway’s leading construction news portal bygg.no.