The chairman of "Latvian Railways" Artis Grinbergs refused to publicly name the possible economic consequences of severing ties with Russia and Belarus, although such calculations have already been presented to the government. According to him, discussing specific figures now would be premature.
The management of the state company "Latvian Railways" (LDz) has already prepared various scenarios for the government in case of a complete cessation of economic ties with Russia and Belarus. This was reported by the company's chairman Artis Grinbergs in the program "Krustpunktā" on Latvian Radio, as noted by nra.lv.
The topic has become particularly relevant following the appearance of provisions in the new government's declaration regarding the cessation of economic relations with the two neighboring countries.
When asked how such a decision might affect the operation of the railway and the economy of the country as a whole, Grinbergs did not provide a direct answer. According to him, all necessary calculations have already been submitted to the company's shareholders and government representatives. Furthermore, this issue was discussed in a closed part of one of the Cabinet of Ministers' meetings.
However, the head of LDz refused to disclose specific figures and forecasts.
"We have prepared various scenarios. The current ministers have been informed," Grinbergs noted.
He explained that publishing such data now could provoke unnecessary speculation and complicate the discussion of the issue within the government.
Separately, the company’s leader pointed out that potential decisions directly affect workers in the railway sector. According to him, the consequences may also impact the number of jobs within the concern.
What is important to know: for now, it is only a political goal enshrined in the government declaration. No specific decisions regarding the complete cessation of railway economic relations with Russia and Belarus have yet been made.
Grinbergs emphasized that the impact of such a step should be assessed based on real decisions and actual results, rather than preliminary assumptions. At the same time, the very existence of several scenarios indicates that the state is already analyzing the possible consequences for the transport sector.
For LDz, the issue is particularly sensitive, as historically a significant portion of cargo transportation by Latvian railways has been linked to the transit of goods from Russia and Belarus. In recent years, the volumes of these transports have significantly decreased; however, certain types of cargo and routes still remain an important part of the sector's activities.
Judging by the statements from the company's management, the final conclusions about the consequences of a possible severance of economic ties will depend on the specific decisions made by the new government and the timelines for their implementation.
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