...ever since mid-summer, when it became possible to realistically assess the impact of the pandemic on the national economy, leading Latvian economists unanimously named timber processing, alongside food production, as the main lifeline.

The annual growth for both sectors in October was excellent – 2.5% and 8.2% respectively. It is worth remembering that such results would not have been possible if agriculture and forestry had not been able to provide producers with raw materials and resources.

At least in 2020, they succeeded. However, looking ahead to 2021 and subsequent years, there is a high probability that we will begin to strangle these sectors with our own hands, without realising the far-reaching consequences for us all...