International Internet Magazine. Baltic States news & analyticsThursday, 11.03.2010, 18:36
Estonian Post to expand business to Latvia and Lithuania
11.03.2010Estonian Post (Eesti post) is planning expansion to Latvia and Lithuania as on these markets there is a great demand for such logistics services that have been implemented in Estonia and have turned out to be successful, writes LETA/Postimees Online.
Keyword tags: Baltic Export, Estonia, Post Office, Transport
Bus company MootorReisi earned 3.2 mln kroons in profits in 2009
10.03.2010Hugo Osula’s company AS MootorReisi Group that had earned a loss in 2008 managed to get a profit of 3.2 million kroons in 2009, writes LETA/Postimees Online.
Lithuania downplays concern over Russian refinery
10.03.2010Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite on Tuesday downplayed suggestions that Lithuania opposed the inclusion of a Russian investor in the ex-Soviet Baltic state's only oil refinery. "Politically it is important, it's of symbolic importance, but economically this refinery is not strategic," Grybauskaite told AFP in an interview.
Wizz Air introduces WIZZ Flex
10.03.2010Wizz Air, the largest low fare – low cost airline in Central and Eastern Europe, is introducing new service, informed BC Kristine Toma.
Cargo turnover at Tallinn and Klaipeda ports continues to increase; decreasing in Riga
10.03.2010In the first two months of the year 2010, cargo turnover at the Port of Tallinn in Estonia and the Port of Klaipeda in Lithuania continued to increase, whilst cargo turnover at the Port of Riga fell once again, according to data from the business information portal Nozare.lv.
Cargo turnover of Liepaja Port increased by 13.3% in February
In February 2010, the Port of Liepaja handled 397,103 tons of cargo, which is 13.3% more when compared to February of last year, as the Liepaja Special Economic Zone's public relations officer Liga Ratniece-Kadege informed LETA.
Infortar won credit line extension
A large shareholder of listed ferry operator Tallink Group – Infortar which is controlled by three Estonian businessmen Enn Pant, Ain Hanschmidt and Kalev Jarvelill has won more time from banks to repay loans, LETA/BBN reports, referring to Aripaev.
Number of airBaltic passengers grew by 27% in February
Latvian airline airBaltic carried overall 186,512 passengers in February 2010 (from Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn), representing 27% more than in the same month in 2009, when airBaltic transported 147,425 passengers. In February of this year, the number of passengers at the base of airBaltic in Riga has increased by 33% compared to the same period last year, reported BC Janis Vanags, vice president of corporate communications in airBaltic.
Ryanair is pressuring Tallinn Airport for lower airport fees
Ryanair is aiming to pressure the Tallinn Airport to lower its airport fees for the airline close to zero for bringing 1.5 new passengers to Estonia, writes LETA/Eesti Päevaleht.
Nord Stream uncovers shipwrecks in Baltic Sea
A dozen previously unknown shipwrecks, some of them believed to be up to 1,000 years old, were discovered in the Baltic Sea during a probe of the sea bed to prepare for the installation of a large gas pipeline, LETA/Swedish Wire reported, referring to the Swedish National Heritage Board.
Baltic ferries slammed for 'Titanic syndrome'
The Swedish Maritime Administration – Sjöfartsverket – has sharply criticized ferry companies in the Baltic Sea for ignoring warnings and failing to change routes to avoid thick ice sheets, LETA/The Local reports.
Merko Ehitus eyes acquisitions in Baltic road construction
Merko Ehitus, the largest listed Baltic builder, has its "eyes open" for acquisitions in neighboring Latvia and Lithuania, where companies are reeling from a regional slump, Chief Executive Officer Tiit Roben said. Merko, which earned more than 90% of 2009 revenue from building projects, also wants to boost its share of the Baltic road construction market, Roben said in an e-mailed response to Bloomberg questions today.
Estonia to get a EU-funded pollution abatement vessel by 2013
The European Commission approved the decision of the Centre for Environmental Investments to allocate nearly 440 million kroons to the Police and Border Guard Board for purchasing a new multi-functional pollution abatement ship, writes LETA/Postimees Online.
European Commissioner Kallas: Rail Baltica project has a number of shortcomings
European Commissioner in charge of transport issues Siim Kallas stated that the Rail Baltica project is suffering from a number of shortcomings, similarly to other trans-European transportation projects, writes LETA/National Broadcasting.
Fitch: Orlen downgrade threat recedes as refiner cuts debt
PKN Orlen, Poland's largest oil refiner and owner of Lithuania's oil company Mazeikiu Nafta, is less likely to have its credit rating cut in the next 12 months, Fitch Ratings said, after cut debt in the fourth quarter, meeting requirements set by banks in loan agreements.
Closer cooperation model for the Baltics and the EU 
