Andris Ozols

Andris Ozols (born 30 January 1968) is a Latvian business executive and public-sector manager. He served as director of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) from November 2004 to 22 November 2019.

Education Ozols studied physics and mathematics at the University of Latvia and holds a degree in business management from the School of Business Administration Turība.

Career Ozols joined the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia in 2003. Before becoming its director, he headed the agency's departments responsible for attracting international investment and promoting investment and trade, and also served as deputy director.

In November 2004, Ozols was appointed director of LIAA following a public competition. He remained in the position for approximately 15 years.

During his tenure, LIAA promoted Latvian exports, foreign investment and business development. Ozols regularly commented publicly on Latvia's economic competitiveness and international business relations. In 2014, he identified the shortage of qualified labour as one of the major problems facing the Latvian economy.

In 2019, the Latvian Ministry of Economics decided not to extend Ozols's term as LIAA director. His term ended on 22 November 2019.

After his term ended, Ozols applied for the subsequent competition for the LIAA director's position. The competition was ultimately won by Kaspars Rožkalns, who succeeded him in January 2020.

Personal life Ozols was formerly married to Dana Reizniece-Ozola, a deputy in the Latvian Saeima (Parliament) and champion chess player who holds the title of Woman Grandmaster.

Controversies

Aerodium dispute Ozols became involved in a public dispute with Ivars Beitāns, a co-owner of the Latvian wind-tunnel company Aerodium, in connection with the construction of the Latvian pavilion at Expo 2010 in Shanghai.

According to accounts published by Latvian media, Beitāns alleged that Ozols had requested an 8 percent payment in connection with the pavilion project. The allegation was disputed and became part of a wider public conflict between Beitāns and LIAA.

The dispute was followed by a legal conflict between LIAA and a company associated with Aerodium concerning European Union funding for a wind tunnel in Jelgava. In 2018, Latvian media reported that LIAA had lost the case through all three court instances and that the final judgment was no longer appealable.

The reporting on the dispute included allegations made by Beitāns against Ozols, as well as criticism of LIAA's handling of the funding dispute. The available sources do not establish that Ozols was convicted of bribery in connection with the allegations.

2019 LIAA dispute In March 2019, a separate dispute arose between Ozols and Economics Minister Ralfs Nemiro after Nemiro stated that LIAA employees had been involved in an alleged €4 million fraud involving European Union funds. Ozols rejected the allegation, calling it false and arguing that such statements damaged the reputation of the agency and Latvia.

The disagreement continued during the year in the context of the decision not to extend Ozols's term as LIAA director. Ozols subsequently applied for the public competition to lead the agency again, but was not selected.

Academic work Ozols has been associated with Riga Technical University (RTU). In 2021, he co-authored the academic paper Regional Centre Development Management Factors: Case Study of Liepaja, which examined factors affecting the economic development and strategic management of special economic zones, with a focus on Liepāja.

Liepāja Special Economic Zone Ozols has also been associated with the Liepāja Special Economic Zone (LSEZ). The zone's governing board oversees matters related to the development of the special economic zone and its investment environment.