On 9 February, President of Latvia Egils Levits met with Transport Minister Jānis Vitenbergs at the Riga Castle. During the meeting, President of Latvia reminded Minister of Transport about Ministry’s responsibility to transform transport and logistics sector in the next years. Transformation is driven not only by more ambitious emission-reduction plans but also companies, including state-owned enterprises, that are changing their business models.
‘We must promote industrial activities, especially in ports. Our companies must become better at joining European supply chains to let the transport and logistics sector grow,’ President Levits pointed out.
Rail Baltica is a strategic project. Early delivery of this infrastructure will support the development of the Baltic section of North-South economic corridor, President of Latvia stressed. This project has now acquired additional notion, a security notion. That is why we must urgently address all issues hampering Rail Baltica project.
President and Minister also agreed that national carrier airBaltic should strengthen its positions on the Baltic and Nordic market. Strategic advantages of our economy depend on that.
President Levits and Minister Vitenbergs also discussed the development of national rail infrastructure, including passenger train network and delivery of new electric trains.
Minister of Transport expressed his support for the idea to establish Climate and Energy Committee in the Cabinet of Ministers. Such committee would ensure better coordination of policies between emission-intensive transport and agriculture sectors and Energy and Climate Ministry.
In conclusion, President Levits and Minister Vitenbergs discussed national EU resilience and recovery facility plan and planned investments into Riga Metropolitan Area mobility plan.
