Eggert Benedikt Gudmundsson, HB Grandi’s CEO, wrote in the letter that the company is now experiencing a flood of negative press about sinister events and a difficult situation. He informed about the implications of HB Grandi. According to him the country is facing an acute shortage of foreign currency to meet their obligations. He appealed that the emphasis in seeking a solution to the situation has been in finding ways to obtain increased amounts of foreign currency.
Apart from other sources the genuine origins of foreign currency have to lie with those companies producing goods that can be sold on overseas markets, bringing foreign currency earnings to the national economy, says Gudmundsson. He added that the fisheries are at the forefront of this and account for half of our country’s exports. HB Grandi, accounts for a tenth of this, so it is said that every twentieth króna’s worth of foreign currency that Iceland earns is brought here by us. This is a huge proportion, giving us a vital role to play and a great responsibility, exclaimed Gudmundsson.
According to the CEO the company is now have a duty to safeguard this role with the greatest care, regardless of whether it play a part in fishing, processing, marketing or any other of the many roles that are vital to the running of a large company. It is told that the government’s main objective is to guarantee savings and to help households avoid bankruptcy. The government is also preparing aid for those who are in difficulties, such as with mortgage payments.
