Conversations on security of supply
- At the meeting, I emphasized that our member companies both take and want to take responsibility and pointed out that now, during the corona crisis, it has shown that the industry has been well prepared, had foresight and thus been able to reduce the vulnerability of society, says Åsa Zetterberg.
The background to the meeting is the report presented in December 2019 on the role of business in total defense (SOU 2019:51). The report proposed, among other things, that new forms of collaboration between business and the state should be established and the strategic importance of security of supply was emphasized.
The government has now announced that an inquiry will be set up to focus on what a nationally coordinated security of supply should include, how it should be organized and financed. In the invitation to the meeting on 13 January, the minister wrote that he wants to get the participants' input and input before the inquiry is set up. A cross-sectoral business council will also be established with representatives from the business community and industry organizations. The meeting on January 13 can therefore possibly be seen as a first step in that work.
- It is important that any measures developed and decided upon do so taking into account that companies operate in a liberalized and competitive market. It is therefore of utmost importance that the measures do not distort competition. And I made this point at the meeting," continued Åsa Zetterberg.
At the meeting, several of the industry representatives also emphasized the importance of a clear target for the area. Without a political decision on the need and its scope, it is impossible to calculate what is required and what the cost will be. According to a report produced by PTS on behalf of the Government in February 2020, there are differences of several billion kronor in costs depending on the level of communication and postal services to be maintained.
Link to PTS report: Basis for the continued focus of civil defense - dnr: 19-9180 | PTS