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On February 9, the Office of the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (AUSTRADE) was officially in Vilnius. AUSTRADE promotes Australia’s international cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, and education. Until now AUSTRADE had only nine offices in Europe. This is the first representation of the Australian governmental institution in Lithuania. The opening of the representation office in Lithuania was agreed upon during the visit of Lithuania’s Foreign Affairs Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis to Australia in February of 2022.

“I welcome the launch of AUSTRADE operations in Lithuania. It is a highly important step allowing to strengthen trade, business, education, and tourism relations between Lithuania and Australia as well as between Lithuania and Indo-Pacific Region. It is yet another example of successful strategic diversification, the discovery of new markets, and cooperation with a country that shares the same values,” said the Minister in his letter.

Lithuania’s total exports to ten Indo-Pacific countries (Australia, Japan, India, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand) grew by 17 percent from January to November 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 (from 656.4 million euros to 770.7 million euros). Lithuania’s total exports to Australia alone went up by 55 percent up to 146 million euros over the same period. In 2021, the Lithuanian embassy was opened in the Australian capital Canberra.