Rakennusteollisuus RT expected decisions that would create stability and confidence from the government's budget crisis. The construction industry, which has a strong impact on employment and competitiveness, offers good opportunities for these decisions, but they were only partially utilized in the rush.
Photo: Väylävirasto
RT expected traffic decisions that would increase growth and vitality from the budget rush, as well as income tax relief across the board that would support purchasing power. It was also seen as important that the growth-slowing additional regulation in the taxation of housing and construction be waived, and that the machinery sector dependent on light fuel oil be brought in line with the transport sector in terms of cost subsidies.
"We consider the government's policies to be in the right direction, especially when, at the same time as the rulings, a proposal to amend the law on temporary fuel subsidies for transport companies was submitted for comment. The purpose of the changes is to take into account, in addition to the transport sector, the difficult situation in the construction machinery sector as energy prices rise sharply", CEO of RT Aleksi Randell says.
However, RT points out that although a couple of steps forward were now taken, especially in the policies concerning traffic, at least three steps back were taken in the past.
"In the past, 100 million euros of funding was allocated to improve the Saimaa canal, which has remained unrealized as a result of the Russian war of aggression. Now, the investment directed to Eastern Finland remains small in comparison. Taking into account the sharp rise in costs, we still have to settle for the historically meager level even in basic bus maintenance," Randell sums up.
In order to balance the immediate effects of the cost increase, the government proposed an additional funding of 50 million euros for the main road maintenance in the budget meeting that ended today. The 15 million euro cut to basic road maintenance agreed earlier in the framework dispute was cancelled.
The increase in costs affects not only basic road maintenance but also transport investments. According to the government, the need for project mandate increases will be assessed in connection with the autumn supplementary budget proposal and supplementary proposal. The government's goal is, among other things, to ensure that the Joutseno-Luumäki double track is ready for construction by 2024. The financing of Oulu Poikkimaantie (30 million euros) conditional on Stora Enso's industrial investments is also still included in the government's proposal. As a new transport project, the government proposes to start the basic improvement of the Karelia line, to which 31,1 million euros would be directed.
However, RT urges the government to take actions that will allow large infrastructure projects that improve export competitiveness to move forward. From the point of view of our business life, it is extremely important that the funding level of the Transport 12 program is maintained and that future transport projects proceed slowly. This is also important for our social security of supply.
In the budget rush, it was decided to support household electricity and heating energy challenges, which is the right solution in an acute crisis. In addition to that, considerable investments would be needed to increase renovation construction and switch to more sustainable heating solutions.
More information
Aleksi Randell, CEO
Tel. 09 1299 201
aleksi.randell(@)rakennusteollisuus.fi
Lauri Pakkanen, social relations manager
Tel. 050 522 7797
lauri.pakkanen(@)rakennusteollisuus.fi