Lithuanian moneymakers fear EU sanctions against Belarus

Lithuanian business is getting ready for Belarus's strike back.

Having swallowed a bitter pill of sanctions, the regime is determined to send cargo to other ports.

Lithuanian businessmen say they refuse to make investments in the unpredictable country, Lietuvos rytas writes.

Belarus planned to reduce transit via Baltic countries' ports, aide to the Belarusian president Valyantsin Rybakou said last week.

“The port receives 40% of cargo from Belarus. It is a billion litas of income,” Klasco director Audrius Pauza said at a seminar organized by the Lithuanian Manufactures Confederation.

President of National Road Carriers’ Association Linava Algimantas Kondrusevičius says losses of transport and logistics sectors would be Lt2.5m if Belarus shipped its cargo through other ports.

Manufactures and carriers think Belarusians are really able to choose other routes for their goods. Though bringing little financial profit to neighbours, it will be considered a good response.

“The probability is rather high. It is a real threat, because goods will go to Russian and Ukrainian ports,” Achemos Grupė president Arūnas Laurinaitis said.

“The EU takes decisions not taking into account that Lithuania is a transit country,” the concern president made an angry remark.