The arrival of the French company "Decathlon" in Latvia is a positive signal for our market potential

Today, on November 5, the store of the French sports goods manufacturer and trader Decathlon with the area of more than 5,000 m2 was opened in the new shopping center "Saga". It is currently the largest store in the Baltic region. Participating in the opening event, the Director of the Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA) Kaspars Rožkalns emphasized that the entry of Decathlon into the Latvian market is an important step in strengthening economic cooperation between Latvia and France.

“We are pleased that one of the world's leading manufacturers and traders of sports goods has entered the Latvian market. The first negotiations on the entry of the Decathlon into Latvia were started by LIAA already in 2014 and now the first round of this project is coming to an end. Considering that "Decathlon" is not only a trader of sports goods, but also a manufacturer, we have made an offer to the company for the development of a logistics park and sportswear production in Latvia and we believe that in the coming years any of these intentions will be successfully realized, "K. Rožkalns emphasizes.

In cooperation with textile companies and specialists of the Institute of Solid State Physics of the University of Latvia, LIAA is currently working on an offer to the company "Decathlon" for the development of special smart materials that could be used in the production of various sportswear and accessories. The company already offers sports goods equipment for more than 70 sports, but cooperation with Latvian scientists would allow to significantly expand this range.

The entry of Decathlon into the Latvian market is an important step in strengthening economic cooperation between Latvia and France. Given France's important role in the EU economy, the development of such projects will make a significant contribution to strengthening the economic development of both countries.

It should be emphasized that during the visit of the President of France Emanuel Makron at the end of September, the LIAA also confirmed that the French side is interested in closer economic cooperation, especially in the field of development of various intelligent technologies and materials.

The Decathlon chain includes more than 1,600 stores in 60 countries in Europe, North America, South America, Africa and Asia, and employs a total of 80,000 people.