30-11-2012

During a meeting with the Minister of Transport was updated the issue of implementation of Daugavpils Airport project

On the 28th of November community members of Association of Big Cities of Latvia (ABCL), heads of local governments of large cities met the Minister of Transport Aivis Ronis. They discussed many important issues relating to the transport sector in the municipalities. The participants were unanimous that within conditions of limited funding we must focus on the arrangement of the existing transport infrastructure objects, not on the new and big projects, and need to finish the commenced projects.

Daugavpils City Council Chairperson Žanna Kulakova found this meeting very positive. She emphasized that there was a constructive dialogue with the minister, were received answers to many important questions of government. Very important for Daugavpils still remains the project of Daugavpils Airport, and during the meeting they spoke about the project.

"I am very pleased that the Ministry of Communications and the Minister himself supports the construction of our airport. A. Ronis sees real opportunities for the project, so the government should continue the work. Great support is the fact that the Ministry formed a special working group, headed by the Secretary of State, and this working group is a support for the government, which provides consultations, and this is proof that the Ministry of Transport is interested in the project, "explains Žanna Kulakova.

Minister was also reported about the activities planned by the Ministry of Transport for the planning period from 2012 to 2020, investment in the development of land transport networks, infrastructure of roads and streets, development and renewal of long-distance and interstate railway infrastructure, investments for ordering the basic infrastructure of large ports of Latvia and increasing their capacity ,as well as the upcoming events of the Ministry for formation and the resumption of transport infrastructure.

"Through the big cities are held the main state roads of transit and communications. Without the cooperation of the big cities the transit and communication corridor development is not feasible, "said A. Ronis to the leaders of the city. During the meeting of ABCL members was updated the issue of road fund and its activities. The participants were unanimous in their opinion that the industry of transport and the infrastructure cannot lose the funding for the benefit of other, equally important sectors. This was the first meeting with the Minister of Transport and ABCL.