Davostag

[Augustus]

 

The Government Proceeds with Revitalization Efforts Through the NADC

12 March 5664 | Kivonia, Davostag (backdated)

 
It has been roughly six months since the Government announced a program to revitalize the national automobile industry, and the activity of the past two and a half months shows the initiative is proceeding steadily, with officials reiterating the stated ten-year ambition. According to public sources, the investment is intended to spur long-term economic growth, reduce structural unemployment and inspire national pride for decades to come.
 
In early January, the Ministry of Industry, the National Development Commission and the National Electoral Union's (NVU) economic committee issued an executive decree establishing the 'National Automotive Development Council' (NADC). The NADC is a corporative organ under the Ministry of Industry tasked with drafting a national automotive roadmap covering research and development (R&D) priorities, production targets, export strategy and technical standards. The Council's 25 seats have been allocated to so-called government planners from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, the Ministry of Defence, the State Defence Industry Agency, the Ministry of Corporative Affairs, and the National Development Commission, as well as representatives of private manufacturers and industrial conglomerates, labour syndicates within engineering, metalworking, transport and electronics, and finally members of scientific and technical associations for innovation oversight. The two co-chairs of the NADC is the Minister of Industry, Oliver Hernman, and the chairman of the NVU's economic committee, Linus Bard.
 
In February the NADC launched the Davostar Revival Program, with the Government formally acquiring Davostar's intellectual property, patents and dormant designs from private holders, which is a step officials say would "remove legal barriers to a coordinated restart". The NADC has also announced immediate first-phase targets for the publication of a national roadmap within 90 days; a feasibility study for the Davostar Innovation Center in 120 days; and selection of candidate sites for the first production plant within six months. The Council has been authorised to open a public–private investment pool to finance initial works.
 
To ensure labour participation from the start, state-sanctioned syndicates, within the larger corporative state structures, will hold seats on the NADC as well as the Government having committed to an initial cohort of 1,000 scholarships and 2,500 apprenticeships over the coming three years for automotive engineering, metalwork and electronics. Pilot procurement agreements will see limited run vehicles supplied to police patrols, the postal service and selected municipal fleets for field testing.
 
Minister of Industry, Oliver Hernman:

"We are rebuilding an industry that belongs to Davostag, and it is done through the cooperation of worker, enterprise and state. This programme will not only secure jobs and develop new skills but it will also put Davostager engineering back on the map".

 
Union Representative, Tomas Eriksson:

"The Syndicate ("Landets Arbetarsyndikat", LAS) welcomes a seat at the table. Our priority is stable employment, fair training and safe workplaces, and the Government's early commitments on apprenticeships are a welcomed start".

 
Over the coming weeks the NADC will publish its membership list, open calls for proposals from industrial consortiums, and announce the date of its first public meeting.
 
News report written by Jonas Oliversson.