“In today’s geopolitical situation, we need to review all funding opportunities for defence investments, therefore financial diplomacy with the leaders of neighbouring countries, European and Northern European financial institutions is one of the priorities in order to implement Lithuania’s defence investment projects. The Nordic Investment Bank is a very important financial partner in our region, which could contribute to defence investments in the long term,” R. Šadžius underlined.
The Minister emphasized that the most important task at the moment is to implement the planned projects, which are necessary to ensure the country's defence. The first is the deployment of the German Bundeswehr Brigade, the creation of our division. Another important task is the development of the defence industry. All these tasks require different tools and instruments, therefore, financial diplomacy, cooperation, joint investments with neighbours, procurement can help to implement projects not only in a high-quality manner, but also faster and cheaper.
“The Nordic Investment Bank has contributed to the financing of a number of projects of strategic importance to Lithuania, especially in ensuring Lithuania’s energy independence, therefore, in the context of today’s geopolitical realities, we are willing to continue this partnership with the Bank also in the area of defence capacity building,” the Minister of Finance said.
During his visit to Helsinki, the Minister of Finance will also meet Jussi Haarasilta, Executive Vice President of Finnvera, to discuss the possibilities of cooperation with the national development bank ILTE.
The Nordic Investment Bank is an international financial institution established in 1975 by the Nordic countries of Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway and Iceland. On 1 January 2005, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia became members of the NIB. The Bank’s objective is to finance projects that increase productivity and environmental protection in the Member States.
