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On 8 February, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis visited Melbourne, Australia. One of the main objectives of this visit is to strengthen economic ties between Lithuania and Australia.

In Melbourne, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister met with coordinators of the Australian Lithuanian Business Council, representatives from the Business Council of Australia and the European Australian Business Council, as well as from Global Victoria - the Victorian Government's trade promotion agency.

The meetings focused on the potential of bilateral economic cooperation and trade relations. Companies wishing to deepen or establish trade relations with Australia were also presented.

In addition, Lithuania's economic opportunities were presented in a meeting with representatives from the Business Council of Australia. The Council's members represent a range of sectors including manufacturing, infrastructure, information technology, mining, retail, financial services and banking, energy, professional services, transport, and telecommunications.

Landsbergis highlighted the need to increase Lithuanian export volumes in high value-added sectors. “About 80 Lithuanian companies export to Australia. The companies work across different industries: lasers, electronics, biotechnology, engineering and automotive industry. These companies need help in order to be able to take greater advantage of the Australian market,” Landsbergis said.

Opportunities for business development and investment promotion were also discussed during meetings with representatives of  Global Victoria, the State Government of Victoria's investment attraction agency Invest Victoria, and the independent European Australian Business Council. “We consider Australia as a like-minded free trade partner, a market with significant purchasing power, great potential and opportunities for Lithuanian business,” said Lithuania’s Foreign Minister. He noted that it was important to seek to conclude a free trade agreement between the European Union and Australia as soon as possible, as this would significantly improve business conditions for EU and also Lithuanian companies in Australia.

Lithuania’s Foreign Minister welcomed the initiative of Lithuanian entrepreneurs living in Australia to resume intense activities of the Australian Lithuanian Business Council. Landsbergis expressed his belief that it would be a useful instrument to strengthen business relations between the two countries. 

In Melbourne, Landsbergis launched the Australian-Lithuanian Cyber Network, organised by the RMIT Centre for Cyber Security Research and Innovation and Mykolas Romeris University. According to Lithuania’s Foreign Minister, “we live in a time when cooperation between like-minded people and the exchange of experience in response to cybersecurity challenges posed by different actors are more important than ever before".