News
The Minister of Transport and Communications discussed with business and transport associations the possibilities of creating more favorable conditions for logistics and business
During a visit to Kaunas district on February 18, the Minister of Transport and Communications Marius Skuodis discussed the possibilities of creating more favorable conditions for logistics and business with the representatives of the country's business and transport associations. By strengthening the competitiveness of Lithuania as a transit country, the Ministry of Transport and Communications, together with AB Lietuvos Geležinkeliai and the Klaipėda State Seaport Authority, is looking for ways to increase the attractiveness of the country's logistics.
Various factors are assessed - setting tariffs, increasing the attractiveness of cargo transportation through Lithuania and increasing the speed and quality of services, investments in critical infrastructure - railways and the seaport.
"We value the entire logistics chain - it needs to be strengthened, because in the geopolitical context there are many challenges, so we are looking for the best solutions. In the near future, we will need to find possible joint solutions with the business community on the challenges facing business and the transport sector. It is important to emphasize that the change in the tariffs applied by our companies is not related to the situation of fertilizers in Belarus, this change began in 2020. At the end of 2007, this may become a problem of competitiveness compared to the neighboring countries, ”said M. Skuodis, Minister of Transport and Communications, at the meeting with business representatives.
The Ministry of Transport and Communications is coordinating an agreement with AB Lietuvos Geležinkeliai, according to which it is possible to allocate support to the railway infrastructure and thus reduce the losses incurred by the railway infrastructure manager, and at the same time maintain attractive fees for business use. The railway infrastructure services that could be affected by such support and the impact on business are currently being analyzed.
According to the Minister, the issue of subsidies to AB LTG Infra as railway infrastructure managers should be discussed at the Government level. Tariffs for the use of railway infrastructure may be reviewed and reduced, but they must be compared with other competing countries, first of all with Latvia. All the necessary systemic solutions are considered, from the attractiveness and speed of the procedures to the need for temporary or incentive state support, which would allow maintaining the attractive entire logistics chain - from Klaipeda port, railways, etc.
In addition, it is planned to perform a comparative analysis, assessing the fees, taxes or other payments applied by the Port of Klaipeda and other neighboring Baltic Sea ports of the European Union, as well as other existing mutual obligations and their fulfillment.
Discussions took place at the meeting about every component of the logistics chain where there are obvious shortcomings and where we could be better than our neighbors.
Representatives from the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists, the Lithuanian Business Confederation, the Lithuanian Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts Association, the Lithuanian Association of Grain Processors and Traders, the Lithuanian Association of Stevedoring Companies, the Lithuanian Association of Shipping Agents and Forwarders, and the Lithuanian National Freight Forwarders participated in the meeting with Minister Skuodas. and logistics associations LINEKA, Kaunas Region Association of Industrialists and Employers. Representatives of Klaipeda State Seaport Authority and AB Lietuvos Geležinkeliai participated in this way.
