"Since Belgium closes its embassies in Lithuania and the other Baltic states, we trust that bilateral relations between Lithuania and Belgium will be further maintained, developed, and consolidated in every other way: visits by Belgium's top officials to Lithuania, as well as strong cooperation aimed at strengthening political ties and ensuring regional security", said Prime Minister Butkevičius and thanked the Ambassador for Belgium's active engagement in NATO's air-policing mission in the Baltic states.
The Prime Minister has noted that despite Belgium's decision to cut the number of diplomatic representations, bilateral trade relations have been getting stronger: last year Lithuania's export to Belgium grew by 20 per cent, and the Kingdom of Belgium ranked 8th in the list of importers to Lithuania. "We are interested in further development of economic cooperation and improvement of investment opportunities in food industry, transport and logistics, biotechnologies, pharmacy, and textiles, among other fields", said the Prime Minister and stressed that there was no doubt that more Belgian companies would find their business niches in Lithuania.
In the meeting, the Prime Minister said that relaunched cooperation with separate regions of Belgium would bring clear benefits. "Restoration of Flanders' Trade and investment Agency in Vilnius would strengthen our relations, especially in the area of economy", emphasized the Prime Minister. According to the Ambassador, Flanders' Trade and investment Agency has been reviewing its network of representations recently, and is seriously considering reinstating its office in Vilnius.
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Lithuania Peter Lescouhier has said that Belgium has been closing its embassies in a number of countries, including Lithuania, in line with the austerity policy. "18 embassies and consulates in total are going to be closed around the world. From now on, the Embassy of Belgium in Warsaw will be accredited for Lithuania", said the Ambassador.
