Prime Minister: as Lithuanian and German Governments increase cooperation, I do hope that our businesses will follow suite
Lithuania is open and ready to do everything necessary to make Lithuanian-German economic cooperation a true success story for both nations, said Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė, visiting Berlin.
On Wednesday, the Head of Government met with members of Bio Deutschland, the German biotechnology sector association, and participated in the Zukunftstag Mittelstand, an event held by the German Association for Small and Medium-sized Businesses, where she delivered a speech.
‘The fundamentals of our partnership are very natural. They are based on geographical proximity and, the most importantly, rooted in the values we share. However, it is the specific projects and close cooperation of our businesses, scientists, artists, and others that make our partnership truly blossom,’ said the Prime Minister.
At the Zukunftstag Mittelstand business and economic congress, an annual event organized by BVMW e.V., Germany’s largest Association for small and medium-sized businesses, the Prime Minister emphasized Lithuania’s focus on high-value-added sectors.
Lithuania sees significant potential for cooperation with Germany in pioneering economic sectors such as biotechnologies, IT, green energy technologies, and a vibrant, growing startup ecosystem.
SMEs are the backbone of the Lithuanian economy, the Prime Minister added. For its part, the Lithuanian Government is ready to continue to do its utmost to ensure favourable conditions for German companies to invest in Lithuania and to create new business partnerships.
‘It would be my dream to speak with you today only about our economic ties, green and digital transition, and vast opportunities this brings for our business cooperation. Unfortunately, across the world, we see the desire of autocrats to divide democratic societies, to weaken our resilience and to challenge the values of freedom, democracy, and rule of law,’ said the Prime Minister.
The victory of Ukraine, which is defending itself from Russian aggression, is in the interest of all countries that cherish freedom, and it is towards this goal that our greatest efforts must be directed, said the Prime Minister.
This context necessitates us to pay more attention to the sector politicians of democratic countries may be likely to forget – the defence industry, added Ingrida Šimonytė.
During her meeting with members of the Bio Deutschland association, the Prime Minister emphasized Lithuania’s economic flexibility as a small country, focusing on its key strengths, including in particular biotechnologies and life sciences.
Lithuania’s goal is to double the biotechnology sector by 2030, aiming to reach 5% of GDP. A long-standing and active partnership between the scientific community and business is an important contributor to the successful growth of this sector.
Germany is Lithuania’s key strategic partner in science, innovation, and technology, and we would like to take this cooperation ever further, the Prime Minister said.
Also on Wednesday, the Prime Minister attended a celebration of the Day of Restoration of Independence of Lithuania in Berlin, at the North Rhine-Westphalia Representative Office.