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Lithuanian production can receive attention in North Africa, but the success of entering this market depends on the level of preparation, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis said at the seminar “Business in North Africa: Opportunities and Challenges”, The seminar was held on 30 April in Vilnius.

According to the Minister, Africa is the second largest continent in area and in population, and this makes potential investors to search for non-standard solutions and fill new niches, where entrepreneurs could make new business connections and start trade.

The Minister said that Italy, France and Spain were the EU member states that maintained the most intensive economic relations with North African countries. Minister A.Ažubalis suggested for Lithuanian entrepreneurs to rely on the experience of these countries and to benefit from their best practice.

“Lithuania’s business relations with North Africa are weak and fragmented. In 2009, Lithuania exported to all North African countries goods worth just 291 million Litas. Our biggest export is to Libya, Egypt and Morocco, and import is mainly from Egypt, Morocco and Mauritania. We export wheat and meslin, and import citrus fruits and frozen fish,” the Minister said.

In the Minister’s words, consumers in North Africa buy such products from the EU, which seem to have nothing in common with local traditions. For example, every year the EU exports to Morocco alcoholic beverages worth 11 million Euros. Seed potatoes grown by EU producers also appear to be selling well in Morocco.

Participants of the seminar at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were acquainted with bilateral relations between Lithuania and the countries of North Africa, the EU trade regime with these countries and their political and cultural aspects, as well as with the EU’s financial instruments in the countries of North Africa. Businessmen, who have developed business relations with his region, shared their experiences. During the discussions, participants of the seminar attempted to find answers to the questions why the North African market had not yet been discovered by Lithuanian businessmen and what opportunities and challenges awaited Lithuanian businessmen there.

At the seminar, diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, director of public institution “PorReNata” Eugenijus Maldeikis, Head of Study Center of Asia and Africa at the Institute of International Relations and Political Science of Vilnius University Egdūnas Račius, Marketing Manager of Concern Achema Group Rimas Varkulevičius.

Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs organised the seminar in cooperation with the Lithuanian business confederation | ICC Lithuania.