Honorary consuls should play active role in attracting foreign specialists – Lithuanian PM

VILNIUS - Honorary consuls should play an active role in attracting investments and workers from Asian, Latin American and African markets, Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas told the country's diplomats on Wednesday as they met to discuss state policy priorities.

"Efforts to attract professionals must be active and well coordinated. We see that local capital in Lithuania is also looking for opportunities in non-traditional and still little-known markets, including Asia, Latin America, Africa," the prime minister said. 

"However, there are both cultural differences and subtleties of legal regulation that make people risk-averse and hesitant to invest. The role of honorary consuls and the entire diplomatic network is key here," he was quoted as saying in a statement release by the government press service.

At the meeting, Paluckas highlighted the country's strategic objectives and the particular importance of diplomacy in achieving them, and spoke about security and economic diplomacy as interlinked and complementary priorities.

"A strong NATO alliance has been and will remain an essential guarantor of Lithuania's security, as well as strong transatlantic ties with the United States and the smooth hosting of the German brigade in Lithuania by 2027. Our will to support Ukraine and to remind our partners that fatigue or other political issues must not overshadow the need to continue to help this country and its people under attack by Russia will not diminish," Paluckas said.

The meeting also discussed the issues raised by ambassadors, such as Lithuanian-language education and ways to strengthen relations with the diaspora, attract and integrate skilled workers and talent in Lithuania, preparations for Lithuania's upcoming EU presidency in 2027, cooperation with the closest strategic partners, strengthening security and defense, and other topics.