The Latvian Ministry of Agriculture has announced a change in the representation of AS "Latvijas valsts meži" (LVM), with the new representative being Āris Jansons, the director of the Ministry's Forestry Department. This move was explained by Agriculture Minister Armands Krauze, who indicated that the appointment adheres to a historical norm requiring representatives with relevant educational and scientific backgrounds in forestry.

The decision to change the shareholders' representative also comes in the wake of concerns about potential conflicts of interest. It was noted that the former representative, Ģirts Krūmiņš, the Ministry's state secretary, had past friendships with Andris Ramoliņš, a multimillionaire in the timber industry, whose company, SIA "Stiga RM", is a client of LVM. Given these relationships, the ministry opted for a change to ensure no doubts remain regarding the independence and integrity of the LVM representation.

This development reflects a commitment by the Ministry to uphold transparency and ethical standards within its operations. By returning to the historical practice of appointing a knowledgeable professional to represent the shareholder interests, the Ministry seeks to restore public confidence in its governance, particularly concerning the significant and sensitive forestry sector in Latvia.