[ad_1]
“It can be assumed that the Lithuanian road freight sector will attract around 17 percent. (…) In 2021, growth in the sector would virtually take a similar boost to the decline and that recovery would be similar to the recovery in V-shaped, the sector could show quite positive results already in late 2020, “Eglė Stonkutė, the company’s CEO, said at a press conference on Thursday.
According to her, if a second wave of coronavirus were to occur later this year, the added value created by the sector would decrease further, by 27%, and commercial losses would be 1.12 billion. 48 thousand euros could be lost. people.
“And that recovery would be more like a U-shape and even an L-shape, if significant support were not directed at the sector,” said E. Stonkutė.
In the optimistic case, the sector would decrease by 9%. , its losses would reach 633 million. 34.5 thousand euros would be lost. people.
According to the head of the Baltic Institute for Research and Development, there are at least several factors that will determine the recovery of the sector: the services market and structural changes in the sector, the recovery of other markets and Lithuanian state support, including the protection of domestic carriers abroad.
“And another thing: since the cargo sector works a lot abroad, it is very important for him how he will be able to compete, knowing that other countries will also support their cargo sectors and economies,” said E. Stkutė.
Tomas Garuolis, Secretary of Transport Policy of the Lithuanian National Association of Linava Transporters of Lithuania, says that rapid and tangible state aid is needed to revive the sector.
“Only the state’s decision will determine whether this sector will continue to drive the Lithuanian economy or whether other sectors will be able to do the same.” It is obvious that in the face of this unprecedented crisis, an economic war is taking place, in which the weapon is really a state support for business, “said T. Garuolis.
E. Stonkutė emphasized that the transport sector can also be a guarantor of the economic recovery of the entire country.
According to him, Lithuania is probably the only one that currently provides direct assistance to the road transport sector, but specific support measures are lacking to finance new investments by reorienting to new markets.
“20 days ago, Lithuania notified the European Commission 5 million. A support scheme for small and medium-sized road transport companies in the time frame. The support is already working,” said T. Garuolis.
He noted that with the decline or even the disappearance of demand for some services in Western Europe (including due to the Mobility Package), the eastern region, together with the direct rail connection between Lithuania and China, may allow Lithuania to occupy a exclusive position as a key partner. Transport “highway” between China and Western Europe: the preconditions for this are: “We have made huge investments, there is a huge fleet of automobiles.”
E.Stonkutė emphasized that the transport sector can also be a guarantor of the economic recovery of the entire country.
“If we help the transport sector a little, we provide ourselves with professional tools (…) and if we defend some of our own in foreign markets, I think that the transport sector and the storage sector in general could help our economy to grow back faster, “said E. Stonkutė.
[ad_2]
