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On Tuesday, 29 July, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Kęstutis Budrys, paid a working visit to the Mažeikiai district. The Minister met with local business representatives and visited the Orlen Lietuva plant.

The Minister, along with representatives of Mažeikiai district municipality and local businesses, discussed the labour market situation in the district, as well as possibilities for attracting compatriots from abroad to Mažeikiai. Budrys emphasized that in addressing labour shortages in the regions, the priority was to attract the Lithuanians living abroad back to Lithuania. The meeting also addressed the international cooperation of the city of Mažeikiai and the prospects of attracting foreign investment. The Minister and business representatives also discussed export issues and changes to Lithuanian business brought by the EU-US trade agreement.

“Lithuanian regions are an attractive destination for Lithuanians living abroad to return and settle in. Our task is to present the existing opportunities to people and invite them back to Lithuania, because without people, there will be no prosperous regions. The Foreign Ministry is ready to collaborate with the self-government and businesses to promote the return of compatriots to both Mažeikiai and other areas of Lithuania," the Minister said.

The Minister and the CEO of Orlen Lietuva discussed development plans in Lithuania and challenges for activities in the European Union and global markets. The company is the dominant player in the Lithuanian oil sector and one of the most important foreign investors in the country, accounting for more than 10% of the country's exports. Following Lithuania’s complete abandonment of Russian oil in 2022, Orlen Lietuva’s role in the region’s energy resilience, security, and economic development has increased.