Post by August II "Mocny Sas" on Oct 2, 2016 22:28:07 GMT
With the fall of Riga to Sweden the preceding century, the economy of northern and eastern Lithuania had stagnated, with the formerly productive cities of Polotsk, Vitebsk, and Dagavpils being deprived of access to the Baltic market. With only the local region to serve, investment dried up and productivity collapsed, with many returning to the forests and fields.
The recapture of Riga will now allow for these regions to come back on line, and the Lithuanian Crown seeks to speed up this process. To this intent, letters patent will be provided to each of the cities to support a return to past economic activity.
Letters patent are written giving Dagavpils a 10 year monopoly on Hemp production (excluding Riga itself and its environs) the core product for finest Riga rope. Polotsk will be exempt from tariffs on iron imports for 10 years, to restart their famed tool trade. Vitebsk is provided with letters patent for a 10 year monopoly of tar production.
It is hoped that, between these incentives and the renewed availability of imports from the Baltic, the region may once again become economically viable.
The recapture of Riga will now allow for these regions to come back on line, and the Lithuanian Crown seeks to speed up this process. To this intent, letters patent will be provided to each of the cities to support a return to past economic activity.
Letters patent are written giving Dagavpils a 10 year monopoly on Hemp production (excluding Riga itself and its environs) the core product for finest Riga rope. Polotsk will be exempt from tariffs on iron imports for 10 years, to restart their famed tool trade. Vitebsk is provided with letters patent for a 10 year monopoly of tar production.
It is hoped that, between these incentives and the renewed availability of imports from the Baltic, the region may once again become economically viable.