Terms of Use of the Information System “State Platform for Business Development” (www.business.gov.lv) of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia

These Terms of Use are binding for all users of the Information System “State Platform for Business Development” (www.business.gov.lv)

1. Terms used
1.1. LIAA - the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (taxpayer registration No. 90001739473, legal address: Pērses iela 2, Riga, LV-1442;
1.2. Platform - the information system “State Platform for Business Development” www.business.gov.lv;
1.3. Authentication - an electronic process in which an electronic identification service provider performs verification of the electronic identification data of a natural person in order to ensure the electronic identification of that person;
1.4. E-service - a type of service provision on the Platform, ensuring the execution of one or more services or separate stages thereof in electronic form;
1.5. User - a natural person using the Platform in accordance with these Terms;
1.6. Customer - a natural or legal person represented by a user registered on the Platform; 
1.7. User's Workplace - a workplace of the registered user on the Platform, where the User can switch between his/her represented Customers and perform activities on the Platform corresponding to the user level in the Customer’s account and which is available in the “Workplace” section of the Platform;
1.8. Customer's Account - Customer’s personalised information, initiated and completed activities on the Platform (e-services, events, cooperation offers, chat room entries);
1.9. Customer’s Profile - a section of the Customer's Account filled in by a registered user for the Customer. The Customer’s Profile can be published on the Platform.

2. General Information
2.1. The platform manager is LIAA.
2.2. All intellectual property rights in the Platform shall belong exclusively to LIAA. In the case of a violation of these rights, the guilty person shall be held liable in accordance with the laws and regulations, as well as shall be fully liable for all losses that are or could be caused to LIAA and third parties.
2.3. The aim of the Platform is to provide existing and future companies with proactive and personalised information about industries, export markets, cooperation offers, LIAA aid opportunities, application and receipt of e-services, participation in LIAA and cooperation partners’ events, promoting business development in Latvia.
2.4. The Platform is available on the website www.business.gov.lv and on the mobile application Business.gov.lv.
2.5. Before using the Platform, the User shall read the Terms of Use of the Platform, as well as comply with them. LIAA may amend and supplement the Terms of Use of the Platform or issue new ones at any time, and such changes shall take effect from the moment they are published on the Platform.
2.6. If the User uses the Platform or performs any activities on the Platform, it shall be considered that the User has read and complies with the Terms of Use of the Platform in force at the time of use. The User shall regularly read the Terms of Use of the Platform in order to be informed in due time about the changes made to them. If the User does not agree to the terms of use of the Platform, he/she shall be prohibited from using the Platform.
2.7. For the purposes of the operation of the Platform, the electronic signature is the electronic data of the users specified in Clause 4.2 and 4.3, ensuring the authenticity of the electronic document and confirming the user's identity, and that the electronic document or data entry form on the Platform, which the user has signed with an electronic signature, is deemed to be signed by the user.

3. Registration on the Platform
3.1. In order to become a registered User of the Platform, a person must follow the registration procedure specified in the Platform.
3.2. The User can register on the Platform using the following authentication means:
3.2.1. online forms that verify a person's identity in the Unified State and Local Government Services Portal (www.latvija.lv);
3.2.2. Facebook authentication service;
3.2.3. Google authentication service;
3.2.4. Email and password.
3.3. The Customer (legal entity of public law) shall be registered on the Platform by LIAA after concluding an agreement on the use of the Platform with the relevant legal entity of public law.
3.4. In order for the Customer (foreign legal entity) to apply for e-services and use other options of the role “administrator” referred to in Sub-paragraph 4.3.2 of the Terms of Use, the Customer shall submit LIAA the company registration and representation authorisation documents by sending them to pasts@liaa.gov.lv or by post.

4. The User's Rights:
4.1. Non-registered users can access the information available in the public part of the Platform, i.e., all sections of the Platform, except for the section “Workplace”. Only the registered users specified in Clauses 4.2 and 4.3 of these Terms may apply for e-services, events, cooperation and real estate offers, start a new discussion in the chat room and comment in the chat room.
4.2. Users registered by means of Facebook, Google, email and password authentication can access the information available in the public part of the Platform, as well as the user's workspace, where the user sees personalised aid options, and may add a new company, fill in and submit an application for any e-service, collaboration and real estate offer, submit applications for the e-services categorised for the user role.
4.3. Users registered with www.latvija.lv authentication access the public part of the Platform and can add a Customer (legal entity of private law) at the user's workplace, as well as take the following actions:
4.3.1. View personalised aid options on behalf of the Customer (natural person), edit data in the customer’s profile, complete and submit e-services, cooperation and real estate offer, start a new chat in the chat and provide comments in the chat and news;
4.3.2. In accordance with the assigned role of representation of the Customer accordingly assigned by the Customer (on behalf of the legal entity):
4.3.2.1. User with the role “user” - can view personalised aid options, edit the Customer’s profile, add a new Customer, fill in and submit an application for submission for any e-service, submit a cooperation and real estate offer.
4.3.2.2. User with the role “administrator” - can view personalised aid options, edit the Customer’s data in the Customer’s profile and publish the Customer’s profile in the public part of the Platform, fill in and submit e-services, cooperation and real estate offers, start a new chat and comment in the chat and news, invite other users to represent the Customer, indicating the respective user role, remove the rights granted to other users.
4.3.2.3. User with the role “contact person of the agreement” - can view personalised aid options, edit the Customer's profile, fill in and submit an application for submission for any e-service, submit e-service applications.
4.4. The registered user shall:
4.4.1. not transfer or disclose the User's access data to another person;
4.4.2. update his/her personal information in the Customer’s account, including:
4.4.2.1. enter only true data;
4.4.2.2. update outdated data;
4.4.3. take responsibility for all actions performed on the Platform and the information posted, including all actions performed by third parties, if these parties gain access by using the access data obtained by them with the User's permission or as a result of his/her negligence;
4.4.4. be responsible for the secure use of the Platform, ensuring the protection of the personal device during each session of the Platform, by for example, secure internet connection, antivirus software, a firewall (a program that controls the flow of data between the customer’s computer and computer network) and the latest software and operating system updates; to take full advantage of the Platform's capabilities, we recommend using the following or the latest released browser versions:
4.4.4.1. Chrome 91.0 +
4.4.4.2. Safari 14.1 +
4.4.4.3. Mozilla Firefox 89.0 +
4.4.4.4. Microsoft Edge 91.0+
4.4.4.5. Opera 77.0 +
4.4.5. notify LIAA about problems with using the Platform by sending a description of the problem to the e-mail: helpdesk@business.gov.lv or by calling 670 39 499;
4.4.6. not take any action that would be prejudicial to the security, stability and speed of the Platform;
4.4.7. not take offensive, abusive and illegal actions, not use uncensored language;
4.4.8. when quoting or referring to the information obtained on the Platform, indicate the source of information www.business.gov.lv.

5. Duties and rights of LIAA:
5.1. LIAA shall:
5.1.1. ensure the continuous operation of the Platform and inform the User about unplanned interruptions in the operation of the Platform by publishing information on the Platform and on the LIAA website;
5.1.2. provide the User with access to the Terms of Use and the User Guide (instruction) of the Platform;
5.1.3. provide Users with access to E-services on the Platform;
5.1.4. inform the User about the planned interruptions of the Platform by publishing information on the Platform;
5.1.5. within 2 (two) working days, provide answers to the submitted User questions regarding the use of the Platform, notifications of errors on the Platform, availability of the Platform, etc.;
5.1.6. comply with the personal data policy of Platform Users when accumulating, correcting and deleting the User data from the Platform. All personal data of the Users placed on the Platform shall be protected in accordance with the laws and regulations of the Republic of Latvia and processed in accordance with the Privacy Policy of the Platform.

5.2. LIAA may:
5.2.1. change the procedure for the provision of the E-services of the Platform, change the amount of E-services and information available to the User, the functional and visual solution of the Platform, without notifying the User thereof in advance;
5.2.2. delete the customer’s profile in the public part “Companies” of the Platform, if the customer has been liquidated;
5.2.3. in order to ensure the safe use and receipt of the service, set restrictions on the technological solutions by which this service is to be received;
5.2.4. restrict, deny access or block the User's access rights temporarily or indefinitely, informing the User thereof, if the User does not comply with the Terms of Use of the Platform or has performed or attempted to perform illegal activities using the opportunities provided on the Platform; 
5.2.5. deactivate temporary Users who have not completed registration on the Platform within 10 (ten) days after the start of registration.

6. LIAA shall not be responsible for:
6.1. possible inaccuracies or errors in the E-service application submitted by the User, if they have not occurred due to the fault of LIAA;
6.2. any losses incurred or likely to be incurred by the customer in connection with the use of the Platform and its content, the user's access to the Platform, any technical problems with the Platform, changes to the customer's profile data and activities on the customer's account as a result of unauthorised access, including any losses incurred by the customer, if an unauthorised person has used the Platform on behalf of the User as a result of the User's intentional or unintentional actions;
6.3. unplanned interruptions in the operation of the Platform, if they have occurred due to communication disruptions or other technical reasons.

7. Settlement of Disputes
7.1. All disputes arising between LIAA and the User in connection with these Terms shall be resolved through mutual negotiations;
7.2. If disputes cannot be resolved through negotiations, they shall be resolved in accordance with the laws and regulations of the Republic of Latvia.

8. Peculiarities of using the platform for legal entities
8.1. The e-services on the Platform shall be used on behalf of a legal entity of private law by an authorised representative of the legal entity - a natural person who has registered as a User of the Platform.
8.2. If an official has registered the right of representation (signature) in the company in the Register of Enterprises and has been assigned a personal identification number in the Republic of Latvia, the Platform shall assign the role of “administrator” to the official when registering the User on the Platform and adding the company (please refer to Clause 4.3.2 of the Terms). If the right of representation of a legal entity is registered in the Register of Enterprises together with other persons, the Customer, when applying for the service on the Platform, shall be asked to submit an authorisation document confirming the right of representation.
8.3. The administrator of the Customer (legal entity of private law) may grant the User the following roles described in Clause 4.3:
1) the user,
2) contact person of the agreement.
8.4. In other cases, in order to apply for and receive e-services on behalf of a legal entity, the legal entity must submit a written application to LIAA indicating the official or representative of the legal entity to be assigned the role of Account Administrator of a legal entity (please refer to the sample application form here). The application shall be signed by a person who has the right of representation. If the right of representation has been determined jointly with other persons, the application shall be signed by all said persons.
8.5. An application signed with a secure electronic signature shall be sent to the e-mail: pasts@liaa.gov.lv. A handwritten application shall be sent to: Pērses iela 2, Riga, LV-1442.
8.6. LIAA shall review the application and make a decision on granting the rights of Account Administrator of the legal entity to the person indicated in the application:
1) for applications submitted electronically - within 3 (three) working days from the receipt thereof;
2) for submissions submitted by post or in person - within 10 (ten) working days from the receipt thereof.
8.7. The rights of the Account Administrator of a legal entity granted on the basis of an application of a legal entity may be revoked by submitting a written application to LIAA in accordance with the above procedure, except for when a person becomes an official in the company who has separate rights of representation (signature) in the company registered in the Register of Enterprises (it is the only official in the company or has the right to act separately).