Rezekne plans to resume the suspended industrial park project, the original cost of which was 14 million euros, but has now been reduced by almost half – to 6 million euros. Latvian media write about it.
However, despite the budget cuts, the city has encountered difficulties in securing its share of funding and intends to turn to the state for help. This issue was discussed at a recent meeting of the Latgale subcommittee of the Saeima Human Rights and Public Affairs Commission.
The project was conceived as a key initiative for the development of Latgale, capable of attracting investment and creating new jobs. The project was originally planned to be financed through the European Recovery Fund, with city co-financing of one million euros. However, due to financial problems, the Rezekne City Council suspended its implementation.
Now they want to include the project in the Action Plan for the Development of Eastern Latvia. Of the 6 million euros, 5 million will be covered by the Eurofund, and the city will have to contribute 750 thousand euros. However, this amount remains unaffordable for the city budget.
Deputy Head of the Rezekne Interim Administration Janis Belkovskis noted that without additional government support the project cannot be implemented. Despite previously receiving 4 million euros in state aid, the city still faces financial difficulties.
«We are optimizing the budget so that the industrial park project is implemented, but without a special subsidy this is impossible“- said J. Belkovskis at a meeting of the Seimas subcommittee.
The city administration asked deputies for additional assistance to submit the project early next year.
Chairman of the Latgale Subcommittee of the Seimas Edmunds Teyrumnieks emphasized the importance of industrial parks for the development of the region. He is confident that the creation of two such centers – in Rezekne and Daugavpils – will help stop the outflow of population.
«If we have only one center, the outflow of population will continue. Industrial parks in Rezekne and Daugavpils will become catalysts for economic growth“, noted E. Teirumnieks.
The Rezekne administration is already working on revising the project documentation and plans to submit it by February 2025. The area of the future industrial park will be about 40 hectares.
Source: www.gorod.lv
