Industry

This year the third World Lithuanian Economic Forum is held. Prior to this significant event the organisers of this Forum – President of the Lithuanian Business Confederation Valdas Sutkus and Director General Algimantas Akstinas – answered to the questions posed by the Editor of the magazine Made in Lithuania Saulius Gudeliauskas.

- How did the idea to organise the first World Lithuanian Economic Forum occurred? Where were the earlier economic forums held?
Valdas Sutkus:
- According to preliminary data, more than a million people of Lithuanian origin live beyond the borders of Lithuania. Quite a number of them have become successful business people, managers of companies, corporations, owners or hired business professionals of the highest level. When organising numerous business delegations to foreign countries, which went together with the high-ranking officials, we met these people while visiting the Lithuanian communities. We saw their desire to see a different, better Lithuania, to contribute to the country’s life, to establish and strengthen economic co-operation. Thus the goal was set to seek to establish closer relations with the world Lithuanians. We think that this should be one of the most important objectives of the strategy of the state. The Diaspora is an invaluable source that is able to enrich Lithuania and contribute to the creation of its better future. The aim of the World Lithuanian Economic Forum is to draw world Lithuanians, business people, experts in economics, science and culture in Lithuania’s economic life, to strengthen their emotional relations with Lithuania and to encourage them to develop business in our country, to help attract investments in growing viable Lithuanian companies, to create a global network of the Lithuanians all over the world.

The idea to organise such a forum occurred in 2008. We received support and approval from several partners – state institutions and business organisations, and companies. The then Department of National Minorities and Lithuanian Living Abroad was the first to understand and support our ideas and aspirations, and it encouraged us to be sure of the success of the Forum. The first Forum was held in Vilnius in 2009, when commemorating the thousand-year anniversary of the first mention of Lithuania’s name. Its theme was “Competitive Lithuania: innovative economy, efficient business development and innovations”. In 2010, the World Lithuanian Economic Forum was organised in London under the title “Innovations of modern technologies and investments: from local towards global”. Both events aroused great interest on the part of society and the media. According to the tradition, this year’s World Lithuanian Economic Forum is returning to Vilnius again.


- What is the aim of the World Lithuanian Economic Forum of 2011? What themes of significance to Lithuania will be discussed during this Forum?
Algimantas Akstinas:
- We seek to achieve that there should remain as few people indifferent to Lithuania’s future as possible, especially among the youth. Ideas, thoughts, proposals and rational criticism of anyone must serve this purpose –creating the future of competitive Lithuania. Science, research, innovations, latest technologies, knowledge and constant striving for it should serve the development of business, increasing efficiency and raising the country’s competitiveness. The infrastructure being created in Lithuania – the integrated science and study valleys, technological parks, creation of models of adapting new ideas and their financing, co-operation between science and business – are oriented towards the results whose expression is economic benefit to an individual and the state.
In recent years work and projects with young people have occupied an ever-more significant place in the activity of our Confederation, as an initiator and organiser of this Forum. We do our best to motivate young generation to develop entrepreneurship skills, responsibility and personal ambitions not only at higher education institution but while at school. Therefore the World Lithuanian Economic Forum chose the following slogan in 2011 –“Competitive future of Lithuania: investments in personality, knowledge and innovations”. The novelty of this year is the second day of the Forum, which is devoted to young people. During the Forum the themes that are most topical at the present time will be addressed: entrepreneurship, career perspectives and brain drain.

- What result do you expect to achieve? Will the Forum have an impact on strengthening relations between foreign Lithuanians and residents of Lithuania, the choice of investments and encouragement of economy?
Algimantas Akstinas:
- We hope to heighten a sense of social awareness of as large a circle of the Lithuanian nationals as possible, to concentrate an ever-larger and stronger team of Lithuania’s friends who could help us realise ambitions of making Lithuania better known and increasing its economic power. We hope to draw people of Lithuanian origin in to creating Lithuania’s future, not only from Lithuania but also from beyond its borders, so that they should feel personally responsible for the future of the country. It is not necessary to live in Lithuania to contribute to its well-being. Much can be done at a distance; the most important thing is to have a will and positive determination.
We hope that high-ranking officials of the state and patrons of the event will hear the ideas expressed by the participants in the Forum and their constructive proposals and with the help of political means will make use of them to create the well-being of the people of our country. We seek to enhance mutual understanding between science, education, commissioned investigations and business representatives and to encourage them to co-operate.
We hope that the initiative of the Forum will give beneficial and prospective results. Our aim is to create a global network of Lithuanians with the help of modern technologies where co-operation and forms of a search for partners would become simple and accessible to everyone.

- Thank you for the talk.

In the photo:
Valdas Sutkus
President of the Lithuanian Business Confederation /ICC Lietuv