05.09.2011, 20:12
President of Latvia Visited Liepaja
OREANDA-NEWS. September 05, 2011. President Andris Berzins visited the city of Liepaja as part of a regional visit, touring several companies and discussing important issues with leaders and members of the local City Council.
At the beginning of his visit, President Berzins looked at several companies which operate at the Liepaja Business Centre – the metals processing company Lesjofors Spring LV, the plastics company Baltic RIM, and the Interspiro company, which manufactures breathing equipment. After the tour, Mr Berzins said with pride that this approach to new manufacturing facilities and the creation of new jobs is a success story for Liepaja: “The potential of Liepaja may have been dozing, but it has awakened now,” the President said. “Liepaja has always been one of Latvia’s key cities, and its role in future will only increase.”
At the Liepaja Port, President Berzins examined the construction of new piers for the Transite Services company, visited other companies at the port, and met with managers at the Liepaja Port LM company.
The owner of Transite Services, Sergejs Govorovs, asked the President to support the establishment of a Free Economic Zone in Liepaja, as well as the extension of the status of the local Freeport from 2017, which is the term at this time, to 2030 at least, as Lithuania has already done. Mr Govorovs said that otherwise the projects which have been launched at Latvia’s free economic zones will lose potential investments and competitiveness. President Berzins said that he understands the issue and promised to look at legislative options in that regard.
Visiting Latvia’s largest processing company, Liepajas Metalurgs, Mr Berzins reviewed company operations, watched as new electric kilns were tested for the melting of steel, and had a working luncheon with company managers to talk about the metals industry in Latvia. Among the issues to be discussed were the development of the energy market and the emergence of a new energy law in Latvia. Management asked Mr Berzins to evaluate the future law from a position that will promote, not reduce the competitiveness of companies which use a lot of energy in their operations. President Berzins fully agreed with this view and said that the government must do everything possible to enhance, not destroy manufacturing.
While at lunch, the President and the company’s representatives also talked about the ongoing ban on Liepajas Metalurgs exports to the United States – something that represents serious market losses for the company. President Berzins said that he discussed that matter with US Ambassador Judith Garber during their first meeting and that he will continue to discuss it with US politicians and government officials so as to find an appropriate solution.
At a meeting with members of the Liepaja City Council, President Berzins talked about the main directions of development in the city, not forgetting about education and economic issues. The chairman of the City Council, Uldis Sesks, told the President that Liepaja has always been an industrial city. Indeed, industry at this time represents fully 42% of all business operations in the city. Mr Sesks talked about how Liepaja has overcome the economic crisis, noting that Liepaja has seen a reduction in unemployment, as well as greater manufacturing output. The Council chairman said that much work is being done to deepen the Liepaja port, to add new territories to the port, to build transit roads, as well as to rebuild the runways at the local airport.
At the conclusion of his visit, President Berzins took part in the official opening of a traditional event in Liepaja – the Kurzeme 2011 speed festival and rally.
At the beginning of his visit, President Berzins looked at several companies which operate at the Liepaja Business Centre – the metals processing company Lesjofors Spring LV, the plastics company Baltic RIM, and the Interspiro company, which manufactures breathing equipment. After the tour, Mr Berzins said with pride that this approach to new manufacturing facilities and the creation of new jobs is a success story for Liepaja: “The potential of Liepaja may have been dozing, but it has awakened now,” the President said. “Liepaja has always been one of Latvia’s key cities, and its role in future will only increase.”
At the Liepaja Port, President Berzins examined the construction of new piers for the Transite Services company, visited other companies at the port, and met with managers at the Liepaja Port LM company.
The owner of Transite Services, Sergejs Govorovs, asked the President to support the establishment of a Free Economic Zone in Liepaja, as well as the extension of the status of the local Freeport from 2017, which is the term at this time, to 2030 at least, as Lithuania has already done. Mr Govorovs said that otherwise the projects which have been launched at Latvia’s free economic zones will lose potential investments and competitiveness. President Berzins said that he understands the issue and promised to look at legislative options in that regard.
Visiting Latvia’s largest processing company, Liepajas Metalurgs, Mr Berzins reviewed company operations, watched as new electric kilns were tested for the melting of steel, and had a working luncheon with company managers to talk about the metals industry in Latvia. Among the issues to be discussed were the development of the energy market and the emergence of a new energy law in Latvia. Management asked Mr Berzins to evaluate the future law from a position that will promote, not reduce the competitiveness of companies which use a lot of energy in their operations. President Berzins fully agreed with this view and said that the government must do everything possible to enhance, not destroy manufacturing.
While at lunch, the President and the company’s representatives also talked about the ongoing ban on Liepajas Metalurgs exports to the United States – something that represents serious market losses for the company. President Berzins said that he discussed that matter with US Ambassador Judith Garber during their first meeting and that he will continue to discuss it with US politicians and government officials so as to find an appropriate solution.
At a meeting with members of the Liepaja City Council, President Berzins talked about the main directions of development in the city, not forgetting about education and economic issues. The chairman of the City Council, Uldis Sesks, told the President that Liepaja has always been an industrial city. Indeed, industry at this time represents fully 42% of all business operations in the city. Mr Sesks talked about how Liepaja has overcome the economic crisis, noting that Liepaja has seen a reduction in unemployment, as well as greater manufacturing output. The Council chairman said that much work is being done to deepen the Liepaja port, to add new territories to the port, to build transit roads, as well as to rebuild the runways at the local airport.
At the conclusion of his visit, President Berzins took part in the official opening of a traditional event in Liepaja – the Kurzeme 2011 speed festival and rally.
Комментарии