RIGA, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Baltic Association of Transport and Logistics (BATL) on Monday called on the government to urgently develop a competitive offer for the transit cargo flow through Latvia's ports.
The association, which groups several Latvian port companies, made the call ahead of the 16+1 summit of Central and Eastern Europe and China that will take place in November in the Latvian capital.
The organization reminded that transit historically has been the second largest sector of the Latvian economy after timber processing and forestry, bringing more than 1 billion euros (about 1.12 billion U.S. dollars) into the economy each year.
At the same time, transit in a longer period of time has seen a considerable decline in cargo turnover -- by 5-7 percent a year, and this year the drop has been dramatic -- by 13.7 percent in the first seven months compared to January-July last year, which means that Latvia's economy has failed to receive at least 180 million euros, the organization said.
BATL said that there are significant changes underway in the world's cargo transport roads.
It noted that China has announced its ambitious plans for the New Silk Road, looking for the best cargo roads to Europe, and Western countries are looking for the best, fastest and most efficient transit roads to the East.
"Latvia as a transit country has stepped on historical crossroads. It is crucial for our country to be able to retain the status of a transit country and ensure the most profitable and competitive terms for the new global roads to cross Latvia. It is important to develop an attractive and unified offer of cargo flows to Latvia ports," the organization said.
The organisation is calling on top state officials on which Latvia's future as a transit country depends directly or indirectly, and all stakeholders to sit down to talks in order to create a competitive proposal that meets today's market requirements.
"We hope that all responsible and interested parties in the nearest days will be able to meet for a constructive dialogue," said BATL president Inga Antane.
The letter has been sent to Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis, Parliament speaker Inara Murniece, Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis, among other senior officials. (1 euro = 1.12 U.S. dollars)
