Lithuanian foreign minister opens CPMA office in Kyiv

VILNIUS - Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys on Friday opened the Lithuanian Central Project Management Agency's office in Kyiv and says that this step will expand Lithuania's contribution in Ukraine.

"We continue with reconstruction projects, with humanitarian assistance," Budrys told a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Sybiha. "I am here to open the office of the Central Project Management Agency in Kyiv. This will now increase our presence and our efforts to attract development not only projects, but programs related to the reconstruction of educational institutions, shelters, and also to raise the level of capacity of institutions that help you to join the EU faster."

Sybiha said that the new office would coordinate all Lithuanian reconstruction projects.

The CPMA announced its intention to establish a branch in the Ukrainian capital back in December last year. At the time, the agency stated that the Kyiv office would be able to implement projects more quickly because it would be able to cooperate directly with the country's institutions and resolve issues rapidly.