Global tech giant Epson has chosen Riga, Latvia, as the home of its new European Business Services (EBS) center—an internal operations hub that the company says will help streamline and scale its back-office functions across the continent. The move follows a months-long evaluation of 28 cities across 18 countries, with Riga ultimately winning out thanks to its political stability, skilled multilingual workforce, competitive operating costs, and strong government backing.
The €6 million investment signals a meaningful boost to Latvia’s rapidly expanding global business services (GBS) sector, which has been attracting international players at a pace that’s turning the Baltic state into one of Europe’s quietest—but fastest-growing—business magnets.
Why Riga? Stability, Skills, and Support
Epson’s leadership—including Epson Europe COO Rob Clark—met personally with Latvia’s Prime Minister Evika Siliņa during the site-selection process. Government support proved to be a clincher.
Siliņa says the country offers exactly what multinational tech firms need: a stable, development-focused business environment backed by digital maturity, strong language capabilities, and a tax structure built to encourage investment. “Such investments strengthen our economy, create quality jobs and help grow export-capable services,” she noted.
Riga’s local government echoes that message. Mayor Viesturs Kleinbergs called Epson’s arrival another indicator that the city has become a serious contender on the European GBS map, citing its infrastructure, predictable regulatory environment, and rising innovation ecosystem.
The city’s momentum shows. With increased demand from multinationals, Riga continues to add premium office space, expand business services, and attract highly qualified talent—particularly in operations, finance, and shared services roles.
Epson’s Bet on Talent and Long-Term Presence
For Epson, the new center represents more than cost efficiency. Clark emphasized the company’s intention to build a long-term footprint in Latvia by investing in local talent and growing the site into a collaborative, diverse operational hub.
While Epson is usually associated with printers—and increasingly, sustainability-first print technology—the company reminded the market that its reach extends well beyond paper. Its portfolio includes robotics for manufacturing, projection systems powering Cirque du Soleil–level entertainment, and sustainability research such as plant-based packaging materials. It even contributes to space exploration.
The new Latvia-based teams won’t be customer-facing, but their work will be critical to keeping these innovations running smoothly across EMEA. Recruiting will be handled in partnership with Riga-based agency Grafton.
A Win for Latvia’s Growing GBS Sector
Epson’s decision puts Latvia in the spotlight at a time when the GBS market is reshaping Europe’s talent corridors. As global enterprises accelerate digital transformation, they are increasingly looking beyond familiar hubs like Dublin, Prague, or Warsaw to cities that balance stability, cost efficiency, and technical talent.
Riga fits that bill—and Epson’s arrival gives the region another major brand to cite as proof.
For Latvia, this marks another step in its ascent as a serious alternative destination for global shared services. For Epson, it’s a strategic move to support European operations at scale while tapping into a highly capable workforce.
And for the HR and talent community, Epson’s decision is yet another sign that the race for skilled multilingual operations talent in Central and Eastern Europe is far from over.
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