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On 8 October, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kęstutis Budrys met with members of the Klaipėda Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts in Klaipėda. The meeting focused on geopolitical developments affecting regional businesses, international trade trends, export opportunities and economic security challenges.

Particular attention was paid to the situation in the Middle East and its impact on international shipping. The Minister stressed that Lithuania, together with its European Union partners, is working to ensure safe navigation, compliance with international maritime law and the free flow of trade along the world’s strategic transport corridors.

Minister Budrys also discussed near-term geopolitical trends and their implications for exports with representatives of the Klaipėda business community. He noted that it is important for Lithuania to strengthen trade relations with reliable partners and to play an active role in shaping European Union trade policy.

Budrys emphasised that Lithuania’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union will provide additional opportunities to advance new EU trade agreements and open up new markets for businesses.

“We must ensure that Lithuanian businesses are as resilient as possible to geopolitical crises and fluctuations in global commodity prices. This requires not only the diversification of supply sources but also investment in long-term energy and economic resilience. Our goal is to create the best possible conditions for Lithuanian companies to operate in global markets. We will work to ensure that the European Union continues to expand its network of trade agreements while strengthening economic security and safeguarding fair competition,” said the Minister.

The Minister and business representatives also discussed Lithuania’s updated list of priority export and innovation markets for this year, which aims to focus state efforts on the markets offering the greatest potential for Lithuanian businesses. According to Budrys, a more targeted export policy will help Lithuanian companies expand their international operations more effectively, attract investment and strengthen international innovation partnerships.

The Minister and business representatives agreed on the importance of maintaining a continuous dialogue to enable a swift response to changes in the global economy and geopolitical environment, while strengthening the competitiveness of Lithuanian businesses in international markets.