Sweden Reconsiders Maritime Policy
Swedish maritime newspaper Sjöfartstidningen reports that the country, which has faced a crossroads for several years regarding the future of its maritime policy, will implement reforms to strengthen the sector over the next few months.
An English translation of the article reads as follows:
"It is beginning to improve for Swedish shipping"
The past 20 years has maritime growth has been higher than the growth of world gross domestic product. Both the trade all over the world increasing demand for transport by land and sea. In that perspective plays Swedish maritime role from an international perspective, both economically and for employment.
With proven high quality can be a Swedish maritime authority to promote sustainability issues that are important to world shipping.With the longest coastline and good port depths responds shipping for the majority of the flows in the Swedish foreign trade.
Sweden's dependence on Swedish Maritime is clear: 90 percent of the 200 million tons of cargo annually passes through the country are transported by ship. Shipping is thus crucial for Swedish exports.
Strategy autumn 2014
To Swedish Maritime to become internationally more competitive, we finally see the tunnel's light approaching in the investigation of how a tonnage tax shall be imposed. It also requires a business environment that Sweden attractive to long-term establishment in order to reverse the flagging trend.
Efforts to develop a maritime strategy for Sweden is in full swing. The strategy will be presented in autumn 2014. This included how Sweden can best develop industries and new markets related to oceans and coastal areas. The basis of the strategy is the government's action plan for strengthening Swedish competitiveness of shipping. This requires a close dialogue with industry players.
The rule of thumb is that two jobs on the lake generates five jobs in the country is shipping a working generator and therefore it is an important part of the strategy, the conditions for enterprise and entrepreneurship will be improved with the goal of more jobs.
Tonnage provides conditions
As regards freight transport is Sweden considered as an island where shipping is the base of the transport system with the various modes of interaction. To make a reality of an intermodal approach to all areas of the maritime strategy, and the efforts alliance government set in motion, a step in the creation of competitive neutrality between modes.
The Government welcomes more inland waterway and has harmonized rules regarding technical requirements for vessels with EU directives and even opened up for municipal co-financing of state maritime infrastructure, which the opposition was received.
As with other industries plays the recently reduced corporate tax role. When also Tonnage Tax lands are the conditions necessary to regain role as a major international maritime operator for the benefit of the entire country's economy.
Hans Rothenberg (M) MP from Gothenburg, Moderate Maritime Group
Patrik Nordin, Moderate Maritime Group
April 9, 2014
