« Archives in September, 2013

Distrust in Latvia

September 24, 2013 / posted in Aivars Gobins, Baltic association transport and logistics, BATL, Daniels Pavluts, Latvian minister of the economy, Latvian Port duty, Latvian Transit Business Association, LTBA, Ostas nodeva, Riga free port, Ventspils free port, World Bank / Comments Off

as Baltic News Network reports on September 23rd, we have to learn, that more and more distrust is taking place against the Latvian ports.

The article explains, that: The hysteria of members of Latvian Transit Business Association (LTBA), different experts and some of Saeima deputies regarding any possible involvement in freeport Boards in fear of ruining the entire industry as a result in no longer surprising in any way. The very same people who sit in LTBA also work in the Boards of Latvia’s freeports. They are the same people who largely dictate the agendas of Transport Ministry and its subsidiaries, claims Baltic Association for Transport and Logistics.

BATL representatives comment the concerns over Latvia’s transit industry: “The industry’s competitiveness is definitely improved by the freeports’ forced, technologically expensive investment projects and have investors’ wallets hold up state owned hydro-technological structures’ decommissioning expenses and other multi-million costs? »Read More

BATL against port activities

September 23, 2013 / posted in Aivars Gobins, Baltic association transport and logistics, BATL, Daniels Pavluts, Latvian minister of the economy, Latvian Port duty, Latvian Transit Business Association, LTBA, Media and Press, Riga free port, Ventspils free port, World Bank / Comments Off

Again we have to read articles on corruption and mismanagement around Latvia and its free port.

As published on September 22nd, 2013 we read in Diena.lv, LA.lv, 10minutes.lv, labz.lv, delfi.lv, tvnet.lv and bnn-news.com the following worrying article:

“BATL supports the initiative to divert profits from port activities to Latvia’s state budget

The Biedrība Baltijas asociācija – Transports un loģistika (BATL) supports the initiative of the Economy Ministry to amend the current regulations to allow the transfer of a portion of Latvia’s ports’ revenue to the state budget starting January 1, 2014.

“It is not the introduction of new taxes on port Boards that will reduce the overall competitiveness of Latvia’s transit corridor but the state’s inability to prevent the arbitrariness of the management teams of Latvia’s ports, which often results in scandals, criminal accusations, irresponsible realization of investment projects and other unpleasant activities. This fact is proven with conclusions from the prosecutor’s office, Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau, the European Commission and courts,” – as BATL informed BNN.

“We are certain that it is not possible to increase the competitiveness of Latvia’s transit corridor while the arbitrariness of Latvia’s ports still remains, allowing port Boards to freely operate state and municipal assets, not pay taxes and freely manipulate port financial resources as they see fit,” – BATL states.

This is why BATL has decided to support the ministry’s initiative. The association believes that this step will become a signal for the improvement of Latvia’s transit corridor. »Read More