Proceedings of 8th European Assembly on telework (Telework2001)

114Telework - an opportunity for regional developmentEdvins Karnitis, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor, Assistant to the Minister <strong>of</strong> Economy, LatviaAn integrated economic, political and social strategy 1 for sustainable development <strong>of</strong> Latviaduring next 20-30 years has been elaborated in order to achieve the living standards <strong>of</strong> highlydeveloped countries. Co-ordinated activities are envisaged for unified development trends fornational economy 2 , governance, education and other sectors that are significant for the State andsocial security, that make use <strong>of</strong> Latvia’s competitive advantages.Development <strong>of</strong> all regions as a multifunctional, diverse, balanced and sustained process, includingthe employment diversification adhering to the traditions and mentality is considered a principalcomponent <strong>of</strong> the process.The regional development in strategic documents is defined as a process <strong>of</strong> positive economic,social, environmental, cultural changes in the respective territory in order to promote the growth<strong>of</strong> general welfare level, security and living quality for the society. In Latvia there are noterritories without opportunities for development, but the regional development is not balancedand significant socio-economic differences between regions exist – environmental and culturalnuances, differences in traditions, economic activities, employment, income level 3 .Number <strong>of</strong> territories has been defined as extra supported areas according to specific criteria.Several rural territories have been the long-time lagging regions, the support policy shall be givenover to the respective region assistance. Functioning and development <strong>of</strong> the borderland is morecomplicated – special security status, outskirts effect and in the same time improved opportunitiesfor cross border cooperation. Economic development <strong>of</strong> protected areas should be coordinated withsystematical maintenance <strong>of</strong> the protected biotypes and territories.Hence territorial aspect and regional sectoral structural policy become an important component <strong>of</strong>the integrated state development strategy in order to establish advantageous and equal living andemployment conditions in all Latvian regions and to reduce undesirable regional differences.Baselines <strong>of</strong> the regional strategy include diversification <strong>of</strong> economy in the countryside, citieswill become crystallization centres for development <strong>of</strong> the new economy in the province. Formation<strong>of</strong> the knowledge hubs (university/college, technological/business/industrial centre, informationcentre/library) will be stimulated in cities as one <strong>of</strong> essential factors for development. But alsobusiness activities in the traditional branches (agriculture, as well as food, wood and light industry),that are modernized on advanced technological base, should be supported in all towns. At the sametime various forms <strong>of</strong> telework will become ordinary in the rural territories.1 http://www2.acadlib.lv/grey/valstsparvalde.htm2 Strategy for Long-term Economic Development (in Latvian). http://www.lem.gov.lv3 Macroeconomic Potrait <strong>of</strong> Latvia´s Regions. Central Statistical Bureau <strong>of</strong> Latvia. Riga, 2000.