The Reader's Digest Association announced it was launching a book-publishing venture in Lithuania in partnership with Alma Littera, the country's leading book publishing house, as part of the association's expansion to Bulgaria, Kazakhstan and United Arab Emirates. "We are delighted to announce plans to enter these markets and bring our book publishing to more corners of the world," RDA president and CEO Eric Schrier said in a statement. The company added that Lithuania joined Serbia and Bosnia as the first RDA launches during fiscal 2006, and that the three have generated orders for approximately 300,000 books. RDA posted revenues of $2.4 billion for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005.
Lithuania and Latvia's economy ministers agreed to begin consultations in the near future on establishing underground natural gas storage facilities. Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas said recently that Lithuania must speak to Latvia about the possibility of building a large storage facility at Dobele, on Latvian territory, which is close to Lithuania's only cement plant in Akmene, in the northwestern part of the country. Lithuanian Economy Minister Kestutis Dauksys said it would be more feasible to expand Latvia's existing underground gas storage capacities at Incukalns than build new ones on Lithuanian territory.
Estonian Air said it would try to replace its leased 120-seat Boeing aircraft with a bigger one that would accommodate 170-180 people as part of the company's strategy to renew its fleet. Olev Schults, chairman of the supervisory council of Estonian Air, said the decision was made by the supervisory board at the end of last year. "We need heavier aircraft, that means aircraft with a longer flying range and higher take-off weight, in order to fly full capacity to more distant destinations," said Schults.
