News

On 28 February in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis officially opened the Lithuanian Embassy that moved from Almaty. After Astana was declared as the capital of Kazakhstan in 1997, the country’s main institutions and diplomatic representations of foreign countries were moved from Almaty to Astana.

Currently, Lithuania’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan is Rokas Bernotas. Lithuania’s diplomatic representation in Astana occupies rented premises at the Kaskad Business Center. In the future, there are plans to move the representation to a separate building, which would be especially adapted for the purpose. The Embassy’s division in Almaty will continue to provide consular services and services to the citizens of Lithuania.

The role of the diplomatic representation in this country has increased due to the intensifying economic ties of Lithuania and Kazakhstan. In 2010, Lithuania exported to Kazakhstan goods worth 814 million Litas (235.75 million EUR) and goods worth 133 million Litas (38.52 million EUR) out of them were of the Lithuanian origin. In 2009, the export volume reached 696 million Litas (201.58 million EUR), in 2008 it was 640 million Litas (185.36 million EUR), and in 2007 amounted to 834 million Litas (241.54 million EUR). According to the volume of Lithuania’s exports, Kazakhstan took the 18th place.

Together with exports, the volume of imports from Kazakhstan have also been rising. In 2010, it reached 177.9 million Litas (51.52 million EUR). Compared with 2009, the volumes of imports from Kazakhstan increased by 35.9 per cent. Import of fish and fish fillets constituted slightly less than a half (41 per cent) of total imports from Kazakhstan. According to the volumes of imports to Lithuania, Kazakhstan was in the 27th position. Both in terms of exports from and imports to Lithuania, among former CIS countries Kazakhstan is ranked fourth, after Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.