Going Dutch, with trade

VILNIUS - “Lithuania aims to become a modern economy which produces goods and services of high value added, thus, our country should be attractive to foreign investors,” proclaims Economy Minister Dainius Kreivys, reports news agency ELTA. At the first ever Dutch-Lithuanian business forum, held in Groningen (the Netherlands) on Feb. 19, Kreivys presented specific opportunities for investing in the most important infrastructure projects in Lithuania’s transport, energy and tourism sectors.
“It is high time to discover Lithuania as a business partner and as a favorable place for your investments. As the Lithuanian economy is recovering from the recession, investors have wonderful opportunities to make use of the potential of our country,” said Kreivys, who called on the Dutch businessmen present at the forum, the majority of them being heads of well-known companies, to pay attention to business opportunities in Lithuania and invest in the country.

Zivile Krisciuniene, head of the Investment and Export Department of the Economy Ministry, presented the projects for the development of Lithuania’s tourism infrastructure and opportunities to travel in Lithuania. The Dutch showed particular interest in cultural, business, medical, and active (for example, camper van) tourism.
In the business forum Lithuania was also represented by Eugenijus Gentvilas, director general of Klaipeda Port, Ruta Skyriene, executive director of the association Investuotoju Forumas, Zygimantas Vaiciunas, representative of the Energy Ministry, and Gediminas Rainys, director general of Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists.

Last year Lithuania’s exports to the Netherlands increased by 8.9 percent, which is a significant achievement demonstrating the increasing importance of the Dutch market for Lithuanian business. The Netherlands have gone up to  sixth place on the list of Lithuania’s main export partners.