Minister invites Microsoft to expand in Lithuania

VILNIUS –  Economy and Innovation Minister Ausrine Armonaite on Friday invited the US technology giant Microsoft to expand in Lithuania.

Lithuania offers many opportunities for businesses and the public sector to work together to implement innovations, and Microsoft could contribute its expertise to strengthening the country's technological potential, according to Armonaite. 

"Microsoft is interested in working with the public sector on digitalization, digital skills and their development," the minister told BNS on Friday.

"The company has taken interest in Lithuania's latest solutions in the digital field, because few countries have such a legal framework," she added.

A law recently adopted by the parliament will allow diversification of data storage in public and private data centers and on the cloud, she said, noting that Lithuania stores data not only domestically, but also at NATO's headquarters in Brussels.

According to Armonaite, Microsoft is expected to help with the safe transition to cloud technologies and to provide insights and share its experience in developing a regulation for data classification.

"More detailed discussions are needed, but basically Microsoft is showing an interest in engaging with our public sector so that we have more smart solutions and stay ahead of the curve," she said.

The minister also informed Microsof's representatives about Lithuania's ongoing reforms in the areas of information resources, open data and digital public services.  

The US technology giant started operations in Lithuania back in 2002 and currently employs 17 people.