Dzidzis Šmits

Didzis Šmits

Minister
Didzis.Smits [at] zm.gov.lv

Minister for Agriculture of the Republic of Latvia


Born: February 14, 1975

Marital status: married, has daughter and son

EDUCATION:

1999 - 2000  Paris Southern University (Université Paris-Sud), master’s degree in diplomacy of international organizations 

1993 - 1998  University of Latvia, bachelor’s degree in international relations 

1982 – 1993  Riga French Lycée

WORK AND POLITICAL EXPERIENCE:

As from 14.12.2022.  Minister for Agriculture 

As from 01.11.2022   Member of the 14th Saeima (Parliament of Latvia)

2018 - 2022   Member of the 13th Saeima (Parliament of Latvia)

2019 – 12.2022  President of the Latvian Fishermen's Association

2015 - 2018   President of the European Crab Fishing Association

03.2011 - 11.2011   Chairman of the Council of the Latvian Federation of Food Companies

2006 – 12.2022  President of the Latvian Fish Industry Association

02.2006 - 10.2006   Press Secretary of the party “Jaunais laiks” 

2005 - 2009   Member of the local government of Roja region 

2004 - 2005   Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, project leader

03.2004 - 09.2004   Head of the Office of the Minister for Foreign Affairs 

09.2003 - 03.2004   Deputy Head of the Office of the Minister for Foreign Affairs

11.2000 - 08.2003   Latvian Embassy in France, second secretary

12.1998 - 11.2000  Ministry of Foreign Affairs, third secretary of the Division of Western European Countries 

04.1997 - 12.1998  Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Protocol, Attaché of the   International Visits Division 

1993 – 1997      Presidential and Saeima Security Service, Deputy Officer

LANGUAGE SKILLS: 

Latvian - native 
French - fluent
English - fluent
Russian - fluent