Actualidad

 

Each year an increasing number of prominent business and political leaders visit Lithuania. But the impressive list of entrepreneurs and political figures arriving in 2013 is unmatched, reaffirming the country’s ascendance on the global stage as a promising place to do business.

 

In the next few months, Lithuania will welcome Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, and Sir Richard Branson, founder and chairman of Virgin Group. In April, at LOGIN2013, the biggest tech conference in the Baltic States attracting over 3,000 tech entrepreneurs and investors, Wozniak will share his unique insights into Apple’s success.  He will also comment on opportunities for innovators in Lithuania’s thriving tech sector, which has grown on the back of EU’s fastest internet speeds.  The country’s tech specialists now provide IT services for leading global financial and services firms and are the foundation of the country’s burgeoning start-up scene.

In June, Branson will present his perspective on effective leadership and offer formulas for business success during an executive forum in Kaunas. In announcing his visit, Branson showed his support of the country by donning a Lithuanian basketball t-shirt and commenting, “You have had a few successes in Lithuania.”  He is right.  Since 2009, when the global financial services company opened technical support centre in Vilnius, other foreign investors have capitalized on our first-rate IT infrastructure and work force. The main Scandinavians banks, a leader in global payment services and other companies followed with similar investments. Lithuania has since developed into a first-rate shared services cluster, employing over six thousand employees. What is more, Lithuania doesn’t just provide IT support for international firms; it’s developing its own brands.    

In the second half of 2013, Lithuania will become president of the European Union.  In that position, the country will head several task forces and host nearly 180 European Union events including meetings of the European Council, EU Ministerial Council, Committee of Permanent Representatives, as well as numerous political, security and economic committees.  The EU presidency offers a unique opportunity for Lithuania to demonstrate its vibrant culture and thriving business environment.  Lithuania will focus the EU agenda on its national priorities of enhancing energy security; developing close cooperation with EU’s eastern neighbors; strengthening EU’s borders; and enhancing regional cooperation around the Baltic Sea.