Flood damage at companies assessed at close to EUR 400m
Ljubljana, 10 August - The floods that hit Slovenia at the end of last week have caused almost EUR 400 million in damage to companies, according to data available so far, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) said on Thursday. This includes damage to infrastructure, equipment, materials and the loss of income.
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The flood damage the batteries maker TAB Mežica suffered in last weekend's floods.
Photo: STA
"Businesses in the worst-affected areas warn that they first and foremost need a functional transport infrastructure to be able to access their businesses, deliver materials and export products," the GZS said. The situation with the infrastructure is particularly worrying in the Koroška region.
The GZS welcomes the changes to the Natural Disaster Relief Act aimed at facilitating the clean-up efforts, which was unanimously passed on Wednesday. Companies were happy to hear they could receive up to 10% of the estimated damage as a prepayment for not being able to do business or their activities being hindered.
The aid scheme envisaged since 2004 under the Natural Disaster Relief Act should also be launched as soon as possible, the GZS said. A measure will also be needed to allow for a compensation for damage to buildings and subsidies for the purchase of new equipment.
Companies also expect help in securing liquidity and a moratorium on commercial loans, as well as a deferral of income tax, VAT and contributions for those directly affected. They also want instructions on how to deal with destroyed stocks and what to do about the state funds they had received for the purchase of equipment if it was destroyed in the floods, the chamber said.
As many companies want to help the flood-affected companies with donations, they call for legislative changes that would allow tax deductions also in the case of donations between legal persons.