Latvia, which has been independent of the Soviet Union since 1991, lays at the crossroads of very significant trade routes, it has been a link between Western-Europe and Russia for a very long time. At the period of Latvia's Soviet Union membership, it was one of its most developed regions. At the time of its independence, Latvia's GDP was 135% of Russia's, which has fallen by 35% since then, because their trade relationships have drastically decreased with the former members of the SU. They joined the European Union is 2004 and introduced the euro in 2014. According to the World Bank, Latvia is the 22nd most entrepreneur-friendly state in the world. Its primary industries are mechanical and vehicle engineering, food, iron, and textile industry. The country lacks raw materials and energy; they mainly mine pale and raw materials used in the building industry. Their foreign trade balance shows a significant deficit, a third of their export consists of wood. Less than 60% of the population is Latvian; the other 30% is Russian. It's a huge problem for Latvia that since their independence more than 600 thousand people have left the country which currently counts only 2.7 million souls.