Now on the equipment, once purchased by Latvians for money of EU funds, will make sprat fishing in the farm “For the Motherland” in Kaliningrad
RIGA, 30 Sep — Sputnik. After the bankruptcy of one of the largest fish processing plants in the North of Kurzeme, its equipment has gone to competitors in Russia, according to transfer More personīga on channel TV3.
Difficult times for the Latvian processing come in 2015, when the Rosselkhoznadzor has banned imports of fish products from Latvia and Estonia due to system violations identified during inspections. Some businesses have adapted to the new conditions, but many did not.
From the EU funds to the farm
On one of the largest enterprises for the production of sprat in the North of Kurzeme, in mērsrags – Sabiedrība IMS worked two hundred people. Modern equipment is purchased on the money of EU funds, it cost more than three million euros. Something acquired after the closure of the Russian market.
To develop new markets failed. In 2017 the company Geton Energy, selling electricity, demanded to recognize the firm Sabiedrībai IMS insolvent.
Sabiedrībai IMS owes several million euros to the Bank Rietumu, more than 300 thousand Euro to the state. To satisfy the claims of creditors, the insolvency administrator in February this year, auctioned the equipment – refrigerators and other appliances. Equipment for 1.2 million bought the company Zītari LZ.
Three months later Zītari LZ perekupil equipment other bankrupt fish processing enterprises Kuršu zeme for 280 thousand euros. This firm has mastered the EU funding of 2.8 million euros. In 2017 she had purchased equipment for half a million.
The company Zītari LZ associated with the food services – dining rooms of its work in Riga and Ventspils. To do the processing it has no plans, and equipment purchased at auctions, selling on in Russia.
“I had the opportunity, came up with a new business. I know what happens in the processing of Latvia and dealt with the fish, I had a ship, so I know them all – just sell.
Part of the sell to Ukraine, part of Belarus, in Kaliningrad. (Equipment) IMS was taken in Kaliningrad part, not all”, – said the Executive Director of Zītari LZ Juris zeltins.
In Kaliningrad the equipment is purchased the company EnergoMehProm. Its head, Leonid Holosko is also the technical Director fishing collective farm “For the Motherland”. This farm has bought the Latvian fishing vessel. In recent years, the company expands production to including to replace the supply of sprats from Latvia to enter the European market.
Natural process
The President of the Union rybopromyshlennikov Didzis Smits sees no problem in that Latvia’s equipment goes to the competitors.
“I think this is a normal process. This equipment export and establish a Latvian company, including in Russia. What if the company no longer market and this equipment just costs – then the price is virtually zero, unless the place where such equipment is in demand – and in this case it is Russia,” said Smits.
The rural support Service, which oversees the allocation of EU funds, also do not see a problem in that the equipment sold in Russia.
“It is natural that this equipment purchase other – in this case the Russian enterprises, due to the fact that they are currently developing a fish processing, given that the canned food – it is their product that they consume, and our processing enterprises until now has been exemplary. The equipment that they purchased, good enough to now use on their premises,” said the Director of the Department of fisheries and state support Rinalds Vācers.
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