“The economies of Lithuania and Israel have similar traditions of innovation and building resilience. Both nations turn challenges into opportunities, proving that the size of a country is no barrier to world-class achievements. Israel and Lithuania share the same approach to innovation—we prioritize the commercialization of research, maintain close ties between the academic community and business, and focus on access to global markets,” President Gitanas Nausėda emphasized in his speech at the forum.
Speaking about Lithuania’s experience, the President noted that since regaining independence, the country has become one of the fastest-growing economies in Europe. Despite geopolitical tensions, Lithuania’s economy is growing steadily, increasing by 3 percent, which is a strong indicator in the EU context.
Lithuania’s information and communication technology (ICT) sector is also growing rapidly, with an annual growth rate of 10 percent. Lithuania ranks sixth in the global Cybersecurity Index, and the life sciences sector is expanding by 25 percent per year, opening up new opportunities for bilateral cooperation in the fields of medicine, gene therapy, and health data analysis.
“Today’s global challenges require innovative solutions—from security threats and climate change to healthcare access and sustainable development. Neither Lithuania nor Israel can face these challenges alone. That’s why our combined experience has the real potential to drive positive change,” Gitanas Nausėda underlined.
Lithuania’s decision to allocate 5 to 6 percent of GDP to defense in 2026–2030 reflects the understanding that security is essential for prosperity. This increase opens up significant opportunities to expand the defense industry, and Israel’s experience in military technology can contribute significantly to strengthening Lithuania’s defense and fostering new, mutually beneficial partnerships.
Three important business and science memorandums of understanding were signed at the forum. They aim to strengthen partnerships in research, research and development (R&D), and innovation; promote cooperation in the manufacturing and industrial sectors, with a particular focus on technology adoption and export development; and enhance international trade, business information exchange, and collaboration between small and medium-sized enterprises.
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