WORLD COMPETITIVENESS OPPORTUNITIES IN NOWADAYS: KEY OF LATVIAN FISH PROCESSING SECTOR

Modern world economy undergoes changes, which are mostly related to globalization processes, uneven development of countries as well as increase in competition. The potential of countries development and welfare more and more is determined and influenced by competitiveness of national economy. Ensuring competitiveness has become one of the main goals in planning development of states, sectors and companies. In the world economy, competitiveness is set as one of conditions for economic recovery. In development of Latvia's economy, fish processing sector has always had a significant importance. Assessment of the competitiveness of fish processing sector and its promotion is a topical issue not only among scientists, but also institutions involved in establishment of the policy of fisheries sector and companies working in the sector. The aim of the study is to evaluate competitiveness of fish processing sector in Latvia, determining further development opportunities. Based on the author's developed methodology, the author evaluated and analysed the level of competitiveness in Latvian fish processing sector, identified ensuring spheres influencing competitiveness and provided suggestions for further development of the sector. Significance of the factors and their influence upon competitiveness was checked through causation analysis. Methodology offered by the author may be used in order to evaluate competitiveness of fisheries sectors not only in Latvia but also in other countries. The elaborated methodology can help the institutions and entrepreneurs, involved in establishment and implementation of fisheries policy, to work more successfully, to develop, plan and improve the common policy of the sector.