Investments

Industrial parks being established in Lithuania bring a decade-cherished idea of regional development closer to reality. Industry is one of the engines of Lithuania’s economy therefore it is sought to strengthen its potential and create as favourable as possible the investment environment for development. Conditions for Lithuanian and foreign companies to expand, to co-operate, and business clusters to be created in regional centres will be created in industrial parks with modern infrastructure.

According to the Minister of Agriculture Dainius Kreivys, investments is one of the main instruments of encouraging revival of economy, which will enable a long-term growth of the country’s economy and competitiveness, as well as the creation of new jobs to be ensured. The objective set is that by 2015 Lithuania should be among 20 countries that are most attractive to make investments in. According to analysts, no matter what direction the state would take seeking to become competitive on an international scale in attracting foreign investments, the active policy in the sphere of the development of industrial zones is simply necessary.

At the present time eight industrial parks are already functioning: Šiauliai, Panevėžys, Alytus, Kėdainiai, Marijampolė, Naujoji Akmenė, Radviliškis and Pagėgiai.

Two free economic zones (FEZ) – Kaunas and Klaipėda – started to operate prior to the industrial parks. Over LTL 100 million has already been invested into the creation of the infrastructure of the free economic zones and ten parks. Thirty-two Lithuanian and foreign companies have been established there. A total of 900 jobs have been created and it plans have been made to create other 240 jobs additionally. Industrial parks are sought to be created in the places, which are easily accessible by railway, road or air transport. All modern engineering infrastructures have already been built in some parks with the help of the European Union, the state and municipal funds. Seeking to attract investors some municipalities release them from paying land and real estate taxes altogether, others reduce the taxes for them.

Seeking to obtain as great as possible economic and social benefit, attempts are being made to attract industry of high and medium-high technologies and knowledge-intensive services to these industrial territories. Eyes of large investors are directed more towards the industrial parks being created near the largest cities of the country. In Šiauliai, in the industrial park situated not far from the airport, two Lithuanian companies will start building factories soon. Negotiations are being held with six potential investors from abroad. It is calculated that upon completion of the development of the park, about 40 companies will be able to establish themselves in Šiauliai, which will invest over one million Litas within five years.

”Lithuania’s ambition is to become a transit country, the place, where logistics business can really be conducted. In this case Šiauliai is a highly attractive place for investors”, say Alfredas Jonuška, Director of Šiauliai Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts.

The vision of Panevėžys industrial park contains high technologies. The infrastructure suitable to the development of high technologies will be built in the territory covering 35 hectares, which is convenient from the point of view of communications and is located next to Via Baltica highway. It is planned that enterprises of electronics, mechatronics and electrical engineering, which will create products and services of high value added, will be established there. Panevėžys industrial park that has not been completed to be constructed yet is already drawing attention of potential investors from Norway and Great Britain.

”Panevėžys industrial park will be open to local investors who could make use of all the possibilities provided by the park, however, attention will be devoted to attracting foreign investments because this is not only capital but also “know-how”, easier access to the new markets, integration of local economy into international value-creating networks and clusters. It is sought to create conditions for Panevėžys region to create the high value added and ensure a long-term growth of economy”, state the authorities of Panevėžys town.

One of the largest investments has come to Alytus industrial park. The Spanish metal processing company Sopena Grupo will establish an aluminium profile plant there. The plant is planned to produce its first production in 2011. Specialisation of Alytus industrial park is not strictly defined, however, the investors would find it easier to find suitable labour force in the sectors of wood, processing and furniture manufacture, machinery and equipment, sewing and food and beverage production, chemistry, and building. Logistics is also adapted to this kind of industry.

Kėdainiai district, which has been among the most popular ones according to drawing investments for several years, seeks to attract companies engaged in logistics and warehousing, industry of building materials, manufacturing industry, manufactured articles assembling industry. It is planned that industrial enterprises of low or medium-low technologies will be established in the industrial parks situated near smaller towns.

Foreign direct investments - Lithuania EUR 9,9 billion
Foreign direct investment per capita - Lithuania EUR 2791