“In the eyes of highly developed countries with a very strong economy Lithuania is establishing itself as competitive business partner capable of offering niche, specialized products and services geared towards the needs of customers. Norway is one of the most important trade partners for our traditional sectors as furniture making, construction and manufacturing services but such events as Norwegian-Lithuanian business days demonstrate that Norwegians are expecting and Lithuanians are ready to strengthen partnerships in sectors that require a very high level of competence,” says Daina Kleponė, the General Manager of Enterprise Lithuania.
Enterprise Lithuania regularly organizes business missions both to Lithuania and Norway for companies looking for partners and interested in developing business relations. Morten Rynning, a founder and CEO of the company that manufactures an innovative electronic bike CityQ, visited Lithuania for the first time this January with the help of Enterprise Lithuania and Norwegian Consul Martin Bodd. Mr Rynning is discussing and negotiating with Lithuanian suppliers that could help to develop the CityQ bike, improve it, assemble and produce its individual parts such as aluminium frame. On April 24-25 CityQ bike can be spotted at Kempinski Hotel where Norwegian-Lithuanian business days are held.
“I have been following Lithuania as interesting business partner for a long time. Our impression is very good both with the assistance we get and the professionalism and strong opportunities we find in the companies we visited. We are currently seeing Lithuania as a hub for assembly and distribution of CityQ to key markets in Europe. Together with our Lithuanian partners, we could further develop the product and possibly create a prototype of a new smart bike,” Mr Rynning says.
The Norwegian four-wheeled bike is tailored to the Nordic climate and needs. An electronic vehicle with weather protection has a capacity of including two children and extra baggage. According to Mr Rynning, the CityQ ebike can replace up to 50% of car trips which in average are less than 5 kilometres. “Norway is currently a pioneer within electric car adoption and we are quickly adopting ebike culture as well. However, we need transfer an innovation culture and green mobility to other countries,” Mr Rynning explains.
According to Enterprise Lithuania, last year Lithuanian exports to Norway reached 1.1 billion euros. The Lithuanian products exported in 2017 included furniture (31.55%), wood and products of wood (9.1%) and fabricated steel products (7%). Transport services (34.6%), manufacturing services (19.2%) and construction services (18.5%) accounted for the largest share of services export. Norway is the second largest foreign market for Lithuanian furniture makers, manufacturing services suppliers and construction services suppliers.
According to Enterprise Lithuania analysts, the development of trade relations with Norway is particularly favourable for companies manufacturing medicines, measuring instruments, lenses and prisms, medical devices and other high-tech products.
The Lithuanian-Norwegian B2B meetings organized by Enterprise Lithuania are part of the two day official visit to Lithuania of Crown Prince Haakon, heir apparent to the throne of Norway, and Crown Princess Mette-Marit. The Royal couple is accompanied by a high level business delegation.
On April 25, the Norwegian-Lithuanian business forum Technologies inspiring growth will be held. The main topics of the forum include innovations, information and cyber security and defence technologies. Norwegian-Lithuanian business days are organized by the Norwegian-Lithuanian Chamber of Commerce (NLCC) and the Norwegian Embassy in Lithuania in co-operation with Enterprise Lithuania and the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists.