Embassy of the United States

U.S. Ambassador joins Prime Minister to visit Jeld-Wen Latvia Plant in Aizkraukle

Riga, August 7, 2006. --Tomorrow U.S. Ambassador to Latvia Catherine Todd Bailey will join Prime Minister Kalvitis for a tour of U.S.-based Jeld-Wen Company's new wood fiber plant located in Aizkraukle. The Ambassador is visiting Jeld-Wen Latvia at the invitation of Prime Minister Kalvitis, who will host a discussion of the future of the timber and wood-manufacturing sectors in Latvia after the tour.

Jeld-Wen Latvia opened the new plant in January of 2006. The ultra-modern facility represents a $50 million investment on the part of Jeld-Wen, and is the single largest foreign investment in the manufacturing sector in Latvia during the past decade. The factory incorporates the most advanced technologies available in the wood-manufacturing sector, and is a good example of the type of investment that assists in the transformation of Latvian industry to high-technology, high-skills jobs that keep Latvia competitive in a global economy.

In addition to the Prime Minister and Ambassador Bailey, the visit will also include the Minister of Economics, the Mayor of Aizkraukle, the State Secretary of Agriculture, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Regional Development, and a number of representatives from private industry.

The Jeld-Wen investment highlights the growing economic ties between the United States and Latvia, and demonstrates the excellent opportunities that exist to further develop trade links between the two countries in the timber and wood manufacturing sectors.

U.S. Embassy, Riga, Public Affairs Section
Smilsu iela 7
Riga, LV 1050
Phone: 371 750-9022
Internet: www.usembassy.lv
Media specialist's e-mail: ruklisk@state.gov