TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section one 3-6
1.1- Introduction 3
1.4-The Vision of Kurzeme 2035 5-6
Section two 6-11
2.1 -Action Plan 6 2.2- A summary of Developments and Investments 7
Unique Specific Territories 7
2.3- Hydro power station – Liepaja 7
Accessibility and mobility 8-9
2.5-Migration 9
2.6- Transport link and connections 9
Economic and Social Development 10-11
2.9- Small industries 10 1. Tourism 11 2. Algae Industries 11
Section three 12-16 3.1-Justifications 12-14
3.2- Recommendations 15
References 16 Tables
1.3 - SWOT Analysis Table of the ‘Territorial Capital’ of the Kurzeme Region 4-5
Figures
1.2-Figure 1: Latvia showing the boards of Kurzeme Region 3
2.4- Figure 2: Show the location of the new Hydro power station in Liepaja. 8
2.7- Figure 3: Current Transport links of Latvia 9
2.8- Figure 4: The new Transport links 10
SECTION ONE
1.1 Introduction
The region of Kurzeme is located in the Kurzeme Peninsula in the western part of Latvia and is bordered by the Baltic Sea to the West and the Gulf of Riga to the East (see Figure 1). More than half of Latvia's total coastline lies in Kurzeme region with the farthest inland point of a 100 km from the sea. There is also a strong maritime influence evident throughout the region. Kurzeme region covers 136.001 square kilometres of land with a population of 310,672. The region was previously divided into five administrative districts: the Talsi, Ventspils, Kuldiga, Saldus and Liepaja districts. However, the above former districts have been abolished and 18 new counties have been established in their place. Liepaja is the country's third biggest city by population size and Ventspils is the sixth. These two cities have the biggest sea port in Latvia and guarantee good access to and from foreign countries. The infrastructure for maritime and overland transport is also well developed.
1.2-Figure 1: Latvia showing the boards of Kurzeme Region
1.3 - SWOT Analysis Table of the ‘Territorial Capital’ of the Kurzeme Region Strengths Weakness .The Ventas Rumba waterfall on the Venta (has a width of 110m is the widest waterfall in Europe)-Kuldiga
.Good Transport axes connect and extensive network of local roads
. Naval Port ( built by the Russians in the 19th Century) -Liepaja
• Well established international trading tradition
. Good Transport axes connect and extensive network of local roads
. The region as resources like gravel, sand, clay, dolomite and Limestone but in comparatively small quantity.
.Agriculture
. Main sea ports of Latvia ( Kuldiga & Liepaja) Majority of Latvia’s coastline in Kurzeme
• Kurzeme’s location on the Baltic Sea
• Good access to and from foreign countries
• Strong maritime influence .2005, unemployment rate at 7.7% the highest in the region. (Kuldiga & Liepaja)
.Frontier region becoming somewhat marginalised as a result of transport axes
. peripheral region
. Region has no energy resources of its own
. Low GDP per capita (Ventspils’ GDP 2005 contribution to Latvia was EUR 1000)
. Low birth rate
. Very low population density
. High rate of urban labour outwards migration rate
. improper Harvesting Algae in the southern area
. Poor infrastructure
