Uldis Biķis: Latvia must choose the West and bring earned money back home

Uldis Biķis, chairman of the supervisory board of AS “Latvijas Finieris,” shared his views on the conditions needed for Latvia to become a true success story in an interview for the Jauns.lv programme “Jauns Jautājums.” According to him, success is not accidental but results from pragmatic work, clearly defined values and a united team.

A united team and a clear choice

Biķis argues that company growth depends on the ability to make structurally sound, long-term decisions, and the same logic applies at the national level — it is essential for the political, economic and social elite to agree on a common goal not only during crises but in everyday development work. He believes one of the biggest mistakes is trying to remain a middleman between East and West. Given the ongoing war in Europe, such ambiguity is no longer acceptable — Latvia must clearly commit to the legal and economic space of the West and the Nordic countries, and this choice should also be demanded of businesses and society at large.

The right to fail

Biķis notes that a country's success is built by its people, so for a small society like Latvia it is dangerous to completely exclude those who make mistakes, as this diminishes the overall level of knowledge and competence. He calls for giving people the chance to learn from their mistakes and grow, rather than pushing them out of public and professional life.

Production, exports and resources

The businessman stresses that national prosperity cannot rely on services alone — it requires production, exports and a thoughtful approach to using local resources, including land and forests, balancing environmental protection with freedom for economic activity. If the state fails to defend its production potential, it risks losing its economic significance. Biķis concludes that a nation grows wealthier by selling its products, services and stories to the world, but that money must then be brought back to Latvia. Achieving this requires a rapid leap in productivity and technology, along with closer partnership between the state, businesses and science.