EU – Baltic States, Latvia, Legislation, Railways, Transport

Artis Birkmanis.

Birkmanis declined to comment the new train procurement contract, explaining that he would acquaint himself with the contract and the relevant documents this weekend. Monday, may 21, a meeting will be held to discuss the matter, and later next week Birkmanis will visit Brussels. Pasazieru vilciens will consider its further steps after that, writes LETA.

Birkmanis believes his main task to be bringing the new trains to Latvia. Commenting on any other possible reforms at Pasazieru vilciens, Birkmanis said that reforms should not be carried out just for the sake of reforms, and that reforms had to be well thought out, efficient and economically justified. At the moment, the operations of Pasazieru vilciens are stable, he said.

Birkmanis also said that he would cooperate with the former Pasazieru vilciens CEO Nils Freivalds and listen to his advice, taking into account Freivalds' prior experience of work at the company.

Birkmanis accepted the job offer yesterday, and said that he considered his new job a great challenge.

According to LETA archive, in the past Birkmanis has worked as CEO at Latvijas Biznesa banka, CEO at DNB Nord lizings and head of Hansa lizings.

Birkmanis has a master's degree in business management from the Riga International School of Economics and Business Administration.

As reported, Freivalds, the previous Pasazieru vilciens CEO, handed in his resignation today, and Transport Minister Aivis Ronis accepted the resignation.